Unbelievably, there was a more expensive yearling purchase than My Ophelia (Wootton Bassett) in Saturday's mile novice at Newbury but it was Tony Bloom and Ian McAleavy's 1.7million gns Tattersalls October Book 1 sensation who emerged as the TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard.
While the William Haggas-trained half-sister to the top-flight performers My Prospero (Iffraaj), My Oberon (Dubawi) and My Astra (Lope De Vega) played second fiddle to Alpinista's sister Alpinara (Frankel) at that auction, she was the one making headlines on the track as she rewarded even-money favouritism in style.
At the line, the blueblood bred by Sunderland Holdings had two lengths to spare over stablemate Earth Shot (Time Test) as Alpinara faded to be seventh. The winner's late sire now has 17 TDN Rising Stars includes the likes of Camille Pissarro, with his current crop of juveniles including Albert Einstein, Italy and Dorset. “She looks a nice horse and is bred to be nice,” Maureen Haggas said. “We've had quite a lot of the family and been lucky with them and she looks like she can go a bit.”
“He couldn't pull her up and she is still pretty raw,” she added. “You'd probably start at a mile next year and see, but she needs a little bit more practice yet.”
Pedigree Notes
My Ophelia is the sixth foal and fifth runner out of Sea The Stars' My Titania, who captured the C L Weld Park Stakes and was third in the Kilboy Estate Stakes. Her first three mentioned above were all trained by Haggas, with My Oberon successful twice in Group company and placed in four Group 1 contests, My Astra finishing runner-up in the Pretty Polly and My Prospero a dual Group winner who was third in the Champion Stakes and St James's Palace Stakes.
My Titania's half-brother Muthmir (Invincible Spirit) was a talented sprinter also trained by Haggas who captured the King George Stakes and two renewals of the Prix du Gros-Chene and was third in the Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp. Other smart members of the clan include the Group and Graded-Stakes scorers Dress Rehearsal (Galileo) and Majestic Queen (Kheleyf). Next up from the dam is a colt foal by Too Darn Hot.
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