"O" stands for ...

Opulent!

After already looking the part at the trials, Opulent (2 f Keeper - Silk Slipper, by Woodman) takes the hopes of the Te Akau Opulent Syndicate into a new season.

“She is pretty smart and works effortlessly,” said assistant trainer Pam Gerard.

Having won her first trial with plenty in hand on good footing in December at Te Aroha, Opulent came from five lengths off the pace with a strong close for second over 850 metres when trialling on slow ground in May at Te Awamutu (main picture). She is currently preparing for the first lot of trials on Aug. 5 at Te Teko.

You can enjoy a sample of her recent trackwork by clicking this link (or copy and paste into your browser): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kOfSZrOYyrQ

When Te Akau principal David Ellis purchased "Kate" (as she is known around the stable) for $205,000 at the 2013 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Yearling Sale, from the draft of Cambridge Stud, he said:

“This filly is from one of the best families in the studbook. She is a beautiful filly, with plenty of strength and she really has great balance. We will get her ready for the Filly of the Year series.

"I'm thrilled that in this market we can buy fillies with this type of pedigree, with the second dam being by Nijinsky (Northern Dancer) and Group One winners: Redoute's Choice, Platinum Scissors, Manhattan Rain, Umatilla, and Hurricane Sky, all in the family. And I'm also thrilled that in this market we can buy fillies like this that New Zealanders could not previously have afforded to do.

“Keeper (Danehill) is a great sire of fillies and we have already trained the NZB Filly of the Year by Keeper, Insouciant,” said Ellis.

Silk Slipper was retired through injury after finishing second in her only start, recalled Sir Patrick Hogan, Cambridge Stud.

“I bought her dam Dancing Show (Nijinsky) in foal to Thunder Gulch (Gulch) which I sold for $1.2m in the Sydney sale. I bred her to Woodman to produce Silk Slipper and then to Danehill to get Dane Dancer.

“Opulent was a special foal, she was a special yearling and a special type of yearling when she went through the ring at the sales,” said Sir Patrick. “Right from the start, she was a very good-looking and smart filly."

Of note, a family member was purchased for $1.9 million at the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale on the Gold Coast in May. The Broken Shore (Hussonet - Shantha's Choice) was amongst the Teeley Assets Dispersal. Shantha's Choice is the dam of Redoute's Choice (Danehill) and a half-sister by Canny Lad to Silk Slipper, with both mares being out of Dancing Show.

Institute and Napier, half-brothers to Opulent, both by Zabeel (Sir Tristram), have won from 1600 metres to 2200m in Australia, while there is enough evidence of early speed and sheer class in the family to suggest she could become a very versatile filly with an Oaks trip (2400m) seemingly not beyond her.

It seems "O" might stand for an outstanding future if she delivers on the track - an exciting season ahead for her ownership team (below middle).