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...
Willydoit Chasing Classic Success for My Racehorse
Shaun and Emma Clotworthy are enjoying the best of both worlds with their highly regarded three-year-old Willydoit.
Sires With Winners - Tuesday December 17
Here is the full list of 23 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Family Legacy Delivers Blue sky at Night
Blue Sky At Night gave owner-breeder’s Isabel and Alistaire Barker a massive thrill last Saturday at Te Rapa when taking out the Gr.3 Waikato Cup (2400m), extending the couple’s great association with her family.
Hong Kong Runners for Sebring Sun in 2025
Bargain priced sire Sebring Sun has done a remarkable job with small numbers for Craig Ruttley’s Glenthorne Park Thoroughbreds and while his 25 lifetime winners from 41 runners have all come in Australia, that is set to change in 2025 with the export to Hong Kong of two of his promising three year-olds.
OTI Move on Promising Pierro 3YO
Tony Pike is confident Golden Century can realise his full potential over ground and his opinion has been endorsed by a major international player.
Late 210,000 guineas Sale for Savabeel Mare in foal Too Darn Hot
The five-year-old broodmare SEDAKA, offered in foal to TOO DARN HOT on a Southern Hemisphere cover, has been sold for a record 210,000 guineas to Kestrel Thoroughbreds’ Bruce Slade on behalf of Nocab Racing, making her the top priced lot in the Tattersalls Online December Sale and the highest priced broodmare ever sold on the platform.
Pause for Thought
You see a yearling and you love the yearling, but then you see the x-ray and you are given pause for thought - what happens next?
The Land of Plenty For All – Why Australian Racing is the Best in the World!
We all know the champion racehorses of 2024 that are household names, but what about the horses that are legends in the homes of their owners?
$1.53 Million Showjumping and Polo Add to the Magic Millions Carnival
Magic Millions confirmed the much-anticipated line-up of teams and competitors across the entertainment-packed Pacific Fair Magic Millions Polo & Showjumping on Sunday, January 5, 2025 at Doug Jennings Park on Queensland’s Gold Coast.
Sharp 'n' Smart Ready for Summer Campaign
Former New Zealand Horse of the Year Sharp ‘N’ Smart is set to head to Trentham on Saturday to kick-off his summer campaign and ready for a Group One assignment at the Upper Hutt track next month.