The Opera House Filly Runs Third in Japan

Mark Smith - Sunday May 28

Snow-white filly Casta Diva showed she is more than a pretty face when finishing a promising third in a three-year-old maiden over 1800 metres at Tokyo on Japanese Derby day.

The highly publicised daughter of High Chaparral (IRE) and The Opera House improved considerably on her debut tenth in a newcomers race over the same track and distance on February 19.

Ridden by Keita Tosaki for trainer Yasuhito Tamura, Casta Diva (pictured above as a yearling and below on the Breednet Foal Gallery) was strung up on the fence behind a tiring leader.

Though she found a run in plenty of time, Casta Diva was a sitting shot for the swoopers Namura Murasaki and Parfait Quartz and was beaten by one and a half lengths.

Purchased for $450,000 by Dearest Club, Japan, from the Windsor Park draft at the 2016 NZ Bloodstock Premier Yearling Sale, Casta Diva is the third foal of the pure white Zabeel mare The Opera House.

A three-quarter sister to the champion Might And Power, The Opera House had had two white foals since Casta Diva.

A colt by Shamexpress was knocked down to China Horse Club / Ciaron Maher Bloodstock for $510,000 at this year's NZ Bloodstock Premier Yearling sale.

Making it a white trifecta is a weanling filly by Charm Spirit (IRE).

The Opera House was covered by Mongolian Khan last spring.

Advertisment

More Reading...

Too Darn Hot Colt Perspiration in a Class of his Own in Mornington Sires

After finishing second at his first two starts at Randwick and Caulfield, Perspiration made short work of six opponents in Saturday’s $150,000 Asset Painting Services Mornington Sires (1100m) to ring up the eighth winner from the first crop of Too Darn Hot (GB).

Vale, Lonhro - The Ultimate Thoroughbred

It is with a heavy heart Godolphin Australia announce the passing of former Darley stallion, Lonhro.

Pinhook Statistics – All You Need to Know

The release of weanling catalogues by Inglis and Magic Millions has drawn our attention to pinhooking results for this year as for investors involved in that sector of the market now is a super busy time of year when you are looking to plant the seeds of success that will hopefully come to fruition at yearling sales in 2025.

Sires With Winners - Thursday April 18

Here is the full list of 48 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.

Frankel Superstar to Shuttle to Cambridge Stud

Juddmonte’s newest recruit to their European stallion roster, Chaldean (GB), will shuttle to Cambridge Stud in New Zealand for the 2024 Southern Hemisphere season.

Which First Season Sire Will Break Out the Champagne?

The $1million Group I ATC Champagne Stakes (1600m) this afternoon will have a big bearing on the Australian First Season Sires List with five stallions vying for the title of Champion First Season Sire.

Juvenile Trial Watch – Canterbury

There were eight heats for two year-olds at Canterbury on Friday and with the rich Brisbane Winter Carnival on the horizon it’s well worth keeping an eye on the progress of these late season unraced juveniles that include the most expensive filly sold in Australia last year.

Sires With Winners - Friday April 19

Here is the full list of 47 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.

Inglis April (Late) Sale capacity 540 quality lots - Yulong Draft of 31

Extraordinary demand has resulted in a ‘full’ catalogue of 540 lots for the Inglis Digital April (Late) Sale.

Two by Tassort for Inglis Gold

It’s been a busy and rewarding yearling sale season for Blue Gum Farm and it’s not quite over with a select draft of seven to be offered on Sunday April 21 at the Inglis Gold Yearling Sale with the consignment featuring the only two yearlings in the sale by exciting young sire Tassort.