Bred to win an Oaks, High Chaparral (IRE) filly Omei Sword
showed she had few peers among her age group at 1200 metes when careering away
with Saturday's $175,000 Group II Silver Shadow Stakes at Randwick.
There was drama before the start of the race with heavily
backed second favourite Calliope scratched after becoming cast in the barriers
while last start Gosford winner Rather Sweet was kicked behind the barriers and
was also scratched.
Brenton Avdulla had Omei Sword travelling sweetly back in
the field on the inside of Manaya who race fiercely at her first start back
from a spell.
With a lapful of horse, Avdulla edged Manaya out of the way on
straightening and with clear running Omei Sword put the issue beyond doubt in a
matter of strides.
The Chris Waller-trained filly opened up by three and a
quarter lengths over the Gary Moore-trained Baracella (Beneteau) with the Peter
and Paul Snowden-trained Quick Feet (Northern Meteor) a further long neck away
in third. (photo Lisa Grimm)
"To see her travel up like she did I think it's the
sign of a pretty good filly," Waller said
'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."
Waller indicated the
main aim for the spring would be the Group I Flight Stakes (1600m).
Brenton Avdulla was very upbeat on the filly's future.
"She is very good," Avdulla said. "I remember
riding her last preparation when she got beat by Calliope and things just
didn't happen for her.
"She was just a
bit new but I told Chris (Waller) you have a serious horse.
"I am very
fortunate to ride her. Hugh (Bowman) trialled her on Monday and the first thing
he said to me was you are going to have a lot of fun on Saturday.
"So I am very
fortunate she didn't pick up much weight and I was able to ride."
Last season, Omei Sword won on debut at Rosehill before
being narrowly defeated by Calliope in the Group II Magic Night Stakes.
The daughter of High Chaparral (IRE) rounded out her juvenile
year when unplaced in the Group 1 ATC Sires Produce Stakes won by Yankee Rose.
A $675,000 Inglis Easter purchase by her trainer from the
Coolmore draft, Omei Sword was the most expensive yearling by High Chaparral
sold in 2015.
She is the first living foal of 2009 Group 1 One Thousand
Guineas heroine Irish Lights (Fastnet Rock) who lost her first two foals, both
by High Chaparral, after birth.
After foaling a colt by Pierro, which was sold at this year's
Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling sale to David Ellis for $480,000, Irish Lights
has sadly slipped for the past two seasons.
