breednet.com.au

The Opera House's Grandson wins in Japan

Mark Smith - Sunday May 26

A snow-white grandson of the cult mare The Opera House,  Aoraki (JPN) chalked up his second win in 22 starts at Kasamatsu on Friday.

In a lesson of perseverance, the 4-year-old son of Gold Ship (JPN) took 19 starts to break his maiden and has now won two of his past four on the dirt.

Aoraki’s dam Casta Diva (High Chaparral) was a $450,000 purchase for Dearest Club, Japan, at the 2016 NZB Premier Yearling Sale at Karaka.

Casta Diva won a 2600m maiden at Hakodate and placed twice in eleven starts.

She is the third foal and the first of three consecutive white foals for Might And Power’s three-quarter sister The Opera House (Zabeel).

Costa Diva $450,000 Karaka yearling

Aoraki is her first foal, and the second Pounamu (Satono Diamond) is bay. Casta Diva struck gold again with her latest foal, a white daughter of Deep Impact’s 3-time Group 1 winning son Fierement (JPN).

The Opera House’s first two foals were a bay and chestnut, born in Australia. The next three born in New Zealand were all white. The Shamexpress colt Grand Bernini and the Charm spirit filly Utzon followed Casta Diva. The following four foals were all bays.  

Utzon shares a paddock with many other celebrities at Yulong. She has a white yearling filly and a white weanling filly by Alabama Express.  

Advertisment
More Reading...
Cambridge Stud Spring News
It’s been another huge week for the Cambridge Stud team with Group I success courtesy of Snazzytavi, a new stakes-winner for Embellish in homebred mare Luberon and a new stakes-winner bred and sold by the farm in El Castello.
Ready to Run Sale’s Class of 2023 Deliver Rapid Returns
The NZB Ready to Run Sale’s class of 2023 has wasted little time in delivering returns to buyers with several having already won races, including highly impressive starts to the careers of three of the highest-priced lots.
One to Watch – Ballarat
This three year-old son of Trapeze Artist was a popular winner at Ballarat on Thursday going two for two to the great delight of his trainer Charlotte Littlefield and his big group of happy owners.
Almanzor Mare Ready to Fire for Forsman
Andrew Forsman is no stranger to big-race success on Caulfield Cup Day, and he is hoping the 2024 edition of one of Australia’s biggest racedays will deliver more of that winning feeling.
Sires With Winners - Thursday October 17
Here is the full list of 29 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Best On Breeding
The Group III James Squire Angst Stakes plays a minor role amidst a sea of multi-million dollar races at Randwick on Everest Day, but it presents a chance for Hinged to break a drought stretching back over two and a half years.
Change is Coming Quickly
This weekend is a pivotal one in terms of the Australian General Sires List with the $20million Everest (1200m) and $5million Caulfield Cup (2400m)and King Charles Stakes (1600m) poised to deliver a big shake up and there is only one stallion that has a legitimate contender in all three races and that is a feat in itself given the distance range involved and the quality.
Juvenile and Spring Trial Watch – Rosehill
Interesting set of trials at Rosehill on Friday morning featured a two year-old heat won by a son of Zoustar as well as two intriguing stakes-winning older horses that both won heats and all three were bred and or sold by Widden Stud.
2YO's Scheduled to Breeze Up Next Week
Breeze Ups for the world’s best sale of two-year-olds are set to take place next week on Monday 21 and Tuesday 22 October at Te Rapa Racecourse.
Quintessa Primed to Bounce Back for Te Akau
The departure of 10-time Group One winner Imperatriz has done little to slow Te Akau Racing’s progress in Australia, and trainer Mark Walker hopes the stable’s strong spring momentum will continue at Caulfield on Saturday.