News

Omei And Heatherly Put Rivals To The Sword

20th Aug 2016

Omei Sword and Heatherly continued the great start to the new racing season of Inglis graduates winning the Group 2 ATC Silver Shadow Stakes and Listed MVRC Carlyon Stakes respectively in impressive fashion on Saturday.

Seven black type races in Australia have been run and won by Inglis graduates this month, including the aforementioned Omei Sword and Heatherly, plus Thronum (The Rosebud), Russian Revolution (Vain Stakes), I Am A Star (Quezette Stakes), Voodoo Lad (Regal Roller) and Sooboog (Aurie’s Star).

Omei Sword (High Chaparral x Irish Lights) ran away with today’s Silver Shadow by over three lengths in such impressive fashion that the filly has been propelled into favouritism for the Group 1 MRC Thousand Guineas, a race won by her dam Irish Lights in 2009.

"To see her travel up like she did I think it's the sign of a pretty good filly," said trainer Chris Waller.

"I wouldn't say we have high expectations this spring probably more high hopes is a good way of putting it.

"I wouldn’t completely rule out the Golden Rose. It’s not my preference to be running a filly in that race but the distance and the timing of the race will suit," added Waller.

By leading sire High Chaparral, Omei Sword is the first living foal of Fastnet Rock mare Irish Lights, which hails from the famous Fall Aspen family of Timber Country and Bianconi.

Omei Sword was purchased by her owner CC Lai for $675,000 from the draft of Coolmore Stud at the 2015 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale (pictured).

Heatherly (Lonhro x Dancing Heather) added more black type to her strong record winning the Listed MVRC Carlyon Stakes first up over the flying 1000m at Moonee Valley this afternoon. Owned by Barrie and Midge Griffiths, Heatherly was purchased for $90,000 from Broadwater Thoroughbreds at the 2014 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale and has won five of her 10 starts under the guidance of trainers Matthew Ellerton and Simon Zahra.

Thronum (Snitzel x Helena's Secret) became the first stakes winner for new training partnership of Adrian Bott and Gai Waterhouse when winning the Listed ATC Rosebud Stakes at Randwick on 6 August. The colt was purchased by owners Sun Stud for $300,000 from the draft of Highgrove Stud at the 2015 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.

Russian Revolution (Snitzel x Ballet D’Amour) extended his unbeaten record to three when winning the Group 3 MRC Vain Stakes at Caulfield last weekend for owners Newgate Farm, China Horse Club, Horse Ventures, John Stuart Investments and Mr D W Wallace. A $320,000 purchase from Vinery Stud's draft at the 2015 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, Russian Revolution is being aimed at the Group 1 VRC Coolmore Stud Stakes during the Flemington Spring Carnival by trainers Peter and Paul Snowden.

I Am A Star (I Am Invincible x Star Band) led home an Inglis trifecta when winning last weekend in the Group 3 MRC Winslow Group Stakes for three-year-old fillies at Caulfield, defeating Leotie and Athena Lass. The Shane Nichols trained filly was purchased for $40,000 by James Harron Bloodstock for owner Matthew Sandblom at the 2015 Inglis Sydney Classic Yearling Sale from the draft of Broadwater Thoroughbreds.

Voodoo Lad (I Am Invincible ex O'Fortuna) took his career earnings past $400,000 with victory at Caulfield in the Listed MRC Regal Roller Stakes over 1200m on 13 August. Trained by Darren Weir, Voodoo Lad was sold for $36,000 from the draft of Yarraman Park Stud at the 2013 Inglis HTBA Scone Yearling Sale and is raced by Segenhoe Thoroughbreds Australia, Mr N S Leckie, Mr D G Anderson and Mr P W Blackburn.

Sooboog (Snitzel x Monte Rosa) recorded tremendous sectionals when a two length winner of the Group 3 VRC Aurie's Star Handicap at Flemington on 6 August. A $1,500,000 purchase from Arrowfield Stud at the 2014 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, Sooboog has the pedigree, looks and now valuable Group winning race record for owner Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Maktoum.