John Sargent will return to Australia from New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale with the half-sister to his Group One-performing filly Powers Of Opal, after securing lot 335 for $700,000.
Sargent outlaid $130,000 to purchase Powers Of Opal at the 2023 sale from the draft of Curraghmore, the daughter of Ocean Park going on to finish runner-up in the Gr.2 Wakeful Stakes (2000m) and Gr.1 VRC Oaks (2500m).
Curraghmore presented her younger half-sister by Proisir, out of Strada Cavallo, who was a stakes winner and Group One placegetter in the New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) and New Zealand Oaks (2400m). The daughter of Alamosa has also produced race winners Dajieda and Khufu
There was plenty of interest in the filly, with Sydney-based trainer Sargent and bloodstock agent Duncan Ramage the successful bidders, combining with Spicer Thoroughbreds.
“She is identical to Powers Of Opal,” Sargent said.
Photo: Kirstin Ledington
“She’ll probably need a bit more time looking at her, she’s a late foal, but that’s what we think with Powers Of Opal, that hopefully she’ll have a very good autumn and put some more value onto this filly.
“She’ll probably go to Curraghmore for a couple of months to get over it, then she’ll be broken in here and come over (to Australia).
Ramage has a formidable record of selecting quality yearlings at Karaka and he was delighted to secure the filly.
“She (lot 335) is a particularly athletic filly, she looks much like Powers Of Opal,” Ramage said. “We know through her, we’ve got residual value in this filly.
“I’ll say for the record, the last time we bought a filly here for $700,000, ended up being First Seal, so hopefully she can follow in her footsteps.”
