Joseph O’Brien unleashed an impressive debut winner by Coolmore shuttler Wootton Bassett (GB) overnight at the Curragh and exciting two year-old colt Islandsinthestream is from an Australian bred mare that comes from a very well known Aussie Black Type family.
Ridden by Declan McDonogh, Islandsinthestream charged home from last to win a competitive looking 7f juvenile maiden by a length.
Bred by Haras D'Etreham and Australian based Katelanis Bloodstock, Islandsinthestream was bought by Blandford Bloodstock/ Joseph O’Brien for 135,000 euros at the Arqana Deauville October Yearling Sale.
His trainer has stakes goals on the radar for Islandsinthestream following his impressive debut victory.
“He really got the hang of things late, but was green when he hit the front, but he does look really smart,” said Joseph O’Brien.
“We weren’t surprised when he was slowly away and a bit green, but we knew he would run though the line.
“We though if he could run into a place he’d be very hard to beat here in a month’s time. HE looks a very classy horses and will probably be making his way into a Tyros (G3 Stakes) or a Futurity (G2) at his next start.”
Islandsinthestream is the first winner for Sydney metro winning Foxwedge mare A Mist Opportunity, who made $440,000 at the 2015 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale when offered by Three Bridges Thoroughbreds for breeder Peter Katelanis and bought by Astute Bloodstock.
Exported to the Northern Hemisphere to begin her stud career, A Mist Opportunity is a half-sister to Group II winenrs Shrouded in Mist, Into The Mist and stakes-winner Instinction being from Group II winning Encosta de Lago mare De Lago Mist.
It’s a prolific Black Type family that has also produced Group I winner Wanted and this year’s Group III winning Not a Single Doubt mare Snapped.
A lot of Aussie breeders have a piece of this family, so there will be much interest in the progress of Islandsinthestream.
Wootton Bassett is back at Coolmore Australia this spring at a fee of $93,500.