Bizza does the bizzo for O'Reilly at Nelson
Harness Racing New Zealand • January 12th, 2026 11:14 AM • 4 min read
A breakthrough success with Bizza To'o at Nelson yesterday was a triple treat for Sarah O'Reilly.
Not only was his success her first training win, at her 14th attempt, but she also drove and part owns the horse.
"It's just nice to have your own horse and put the work in and get the reward," says O'Reilly.
"It's a bit different when you do it yourself."
The Ashburton-based trainer-driver had a winning double on the day, her first wins in 2026, with Bizza To'o's success being followed by half-brother Moses in the day's feature trot.
Bizza To'o, named after the Penrith Panthers rugby league star Brian To'o, was having his sixth start, with O'Reilly thinking pre-race that he was up against it in the Nelson OTB Handicap Trot.
"I was a bit surprised because I thought Whiteys' one was going to be too good for them," says O'Reilly.
That horse, the Brent and Tim White-trained Ridge started a short-priced favourite and was leading by six lengths at one stage before Bizza To'o improved to second just before the home turn.
O'Reilly then got a nice split down the inside to hold out a fast-finishing Zhutee, with Ridge fading to third.
And O'Reilly's day was far from done.
In Race 8, she won the Mike Austin Memorial with Moses, trained by her father Gerard.
Moses and Bizza To'o are half-brothers, being out of one-race winner Loveyoutodoit. Moses is by Father Patrick, Bizza To'o by Muscle Mass.
Paying $23, Moses settled fifth and then went out to sit parked with 850 to go.
He then reeled in the pace-making Roydon Muscle, going on to win by a neck from favourite Nellie Doyle who was huge after starting off 30 metres.
"When I had to sit parked he travelled good all the time up on the bit so I was really happy," says O'Reilly.
It was Moses' fifth win in 38 starts.
For O'Reilly the year has got off to a great start after a challenging 2024-25.
She was sidelined for 15 months after breaking her arm in a trackwork accident in July 2024.
It was a long and frustrating recovery.
"But it's perfect now," she says.
Yesterday's training success is a significant milestone for the 26-year-old.
She adds race-winning trainer to a list of achievements that include being a two-time Junior Driver Premiership winner (2022-23) and a four-time NZ Junior Driver Championship winner (2019-2021-2022-2023).
