Oh La La Opulent

Opulent (3 f Keeper - Silk Slipper, by Woodman) gained a well-deserved win for the Te Akau Opulent Syndicate, including Karyn Fenton-Ellis,  in the $10,000 Whangarei Bus Services Maiden 1600 metres on Saturday June 27 at Ruakaka.

Purchased by Te Akau principal David Ellis for $205,000 at the 2013 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Yearling Sale, from the draft of Cambridge Stud, Opulent was beaten by the narrowest of margins on debut. Unlucky when second and third respectively at her two recent starts on the course, she justified favouritism at her eighth start under premiership leading rider Matt Cameron.

Again from an awkward barrier (9), Cameron was able secure a lovely spot one off the rail in fourth and after taking over at the 200m she quickly established a two length advantage to win easily.

Opulent ran the mile in 1:36.6, last 600m in 36.6, to record the second success for the new Autridge & Richards training partnership after Stella Di Paco (Paco Boy) took out the Castletown Stakes (Listed, 1200m) at Wanganui.

On course with the horse, co-trainer Jamie Richards said: “She has always shown good ability and after a couple of things went awry with her in the spring the win is a great reward for the patience of the owners.

“She got away cleanly from the gates, which has been a problem for her at times, and it was a great ride by Matt (Cameron). She has a lovely pedigree and on the strength of the win it won't be her last.

“She cooled out super after the race and we are really happy with her,” said Richards.

With victory under her belt, in a decisive manner, Opulent has shown to match her pedigree with performance potential and give further credence to the insight of David Ellis at the time of purchase - “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. 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”, Ellis had said.

A product of Cambridge Stud, Sir Patrick Hogan said: “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 and right from the start she was a very good-looking and smart filly,” said Hogan.

Half-brothers to Opulent, Institute and Napier, both by Zabeel (Sir Tristram), have won from 1600 metres to 2200m in Australia, while there is enough evidence speed and sheer class in the family to suggest she could become a very versatile filly.

Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz