Lot 449 Shamexpress - The Opera House colt
Trish Dunell
Colour played no part in Michael Wallace's purchase of a unique individual at Karaka on Tuesday.
The China Horse Club's bloodstock and racing manager went to $510,000 to secure the unusually-coloured son of Shamexpress from Windsor Park Stud's consignment.
"You have to discount the white factor – he is a beautiful horse," Wallace said. "There is no softness about him at all, he's just full of hard muscle."
The youngster's temperament was also another major attraction.
"He's probably been out of his box more than any other horse on the complex – he's got a great brain on him and that will take him a long way."
His new home will be with Group One-winning Caulfield trainer Ciaron Maher.
"Ciaron has bought him with us and the remainder will be syndicated, it's all good," Wallace said.
The colt is out of the winning Zabeel mare The Opera House, whose daughter by High Chaparral now named Casta Diva was sold to Japanese interests at Karaka 12 months ago for $450,000.
"The mare is doing a great job and that filly set the line in the sand so we always thought we would have to pay about what we did," Wallace said.
It is a strong pedigree with the second dam an unraced half-sister to the two-time Australian Horse of the Year and multiple Group One winner Might And Power. – NZ Racing Desk.
The China Horse Club's bloodstock and racing manager went to $510,000 to secure the unusually-coloured son of Shamexpress from Windsor Park Stud's consignment.
"You have to discount the white factor – he is a beautiful horse," Wallace said. "There is no softness about him at all, he's just full of hard muscle."
The youngster's temperament was also another major attraction.
"He's probably been out of his box more than any other horse on the complex – he's got a great brain on him and that will take him a long way."
His new home will be with Group One-winning Caulfield trainer Ciaron Maher.
"Ciaron has bought him with us and the remainder will be syndicated, it's all good," Wallace said.
The colt is out of the winning Zabeel mare The Opera House, whose daughter by High Chaparral now named Casta Diva was sold to Japanese interests at Karaka 12 months ago for $450,000.
"The mare is doing a great job and that filly set the line in the sand so we always thought we would have to pay about what we did," Wallace said.
It is a strong pedigree with the second dam an unraced half-sister to the two-time Australian Horse of the Year and multiple Group One winner Might And Power. – NZ Racing Desk.