Both Peter Walker and his good friend Sir Patrick Hogan, have been a little under the weather recently and both received a boost of "cheer germs" when Inside Agent (Stravinsky[IRE]-Octapussy) won the Listed Poseidon Stakes for three-year-olds at Flemington.
"There was plenty of talk coming out of the stable about his ability," said a delighted Peter Walker who bred the horse with Sir Patrick Hogan, "but he had no experience, having had only one start, and he certainly has a lot to learn, but boy he showed a great turn of foot."
In the hands of Michael Walker the smart looking bay colt got up to win the 1400 metre event by half a length.
"Apparently the trainer has loved him since first sight, and he said to Patrick at the sales that he would have to stretch his budget to buy him and would the vendors been keen to take a small share in him. So Patrick and I have ended up with 10% which is a bit of a thrill, and we could have some fun going forward," he enthused.
"It's the third Stakes winner this mare has left and it's a great family, a family that has just keep on improving, and it will continue to do so I am sure, now that Vavasour has gone to stud and I am sure she will get every opportunity and do well."
The mare he is referring to is Octapussy the Group One winning daughter of Octagonal that Walker raced in the early 2000's. She won six races and was second in the Group One BTC Doomben Cup and the Group Two AJC Emancipation Stakes, and fourth in the Group One International Stakes at Te Rapa.
Inside Agent is her seventh foal and early in her stud career she produced the Stakes winning O'Reilly fillies Pussy O'Reilly and Pussy Willow. Pussy O'Reilly won two races at two including the Group Two Wakefield Challenge Stakes and Pussy Willow won five races including the Listed Manawatu Flying Handicap. She was also second in the Group One Makfi Challenge Stakes, the Group Three ARC Westbury Classic, and Foxbridge Plate, and fourth in the Group One ARC Easter Handicap, Group Two Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes and the Group Three Gold Trail Stakes.
Her first foal, Clues by Exceed and Excel(AUS) is also a winner along with her four-year-old Commands (AUS) Camari. She has a two-year-old filly by Power (IRE) who at $600,000 was the highest priced yearling by that sire in the 2016 NZB Premier Sale, when purchased by the China Horse Club.
"We have a Power colt from her going to the sales this year, and she is due to foal to Tavistock, which is pretty exciting. I am not sure which stallion she is going to this year, I leave that up to Patrick," he said.
"He is the one with the luck of the Irish. I was a bit surprised when he sent her to Power in his first season but you can't argue with a $600,000 result can you?"
Octapussy is the third foal from the Group Two winning mare Dopff, a winner of eight races including the ARC Bluebird Handicap, and the Listed Waikato Sprint and Evergreen Stakes. She is the dam of eight winners from 10 foals including the Stakes placed Irion the winner of four races, and Reisling the winner of four races and the dam of the dual Stakes winner Valpolicella (Red Ransom[AUS]), herself the dam of the Group Two winners Vavasour (Redoute's Choice[AUS]) and Vilanova(Commands[AUS]).
Another winning daughter, Pineau, is the dam of the Listed CJC Welcome Stakes winner Dancer's Tale (Tale of the Cat[US]). Dopff herself is a half-sister to the Stakes winners Rizon and Ready To Lift, and her half-sisters have left the Stakes winners Currigee, Sir Clive and Ascending. She is out of On The Rise, a winning daughter of Crested Wave (USA) and Lavender Hill (Sovereign Edition- Rosehill), who also left the Stakes winners Kharmacruz and Snow Chief.
She in turn is a half-sister to Rosie's Girl and both are descendants of Haunui Farm's foundation mare Foxona.
Inside Agent carries a nomination for several group events over the Melbourne spring carnival.
- Michelle Saba
"There was plenty of talk coming out of the stable about his ability," said a delighted Peter Walker who bred the horse with Sir Patrick Hogan, "but he had no experience, having had only one start, and he certainly has a lot to learn, but boy he showed a great turn of foot."
In the hands of Michael Walker the smart looking bay colt got up to win the 1400 metre event by half a length.
"Apparently the trainer has loved him since first sight, and he said to Patrick at the sales that he would have to stretch his budget to buy him and would the vendors been keen to take a small share in him. So Patrick and I have ended up with 10% which is a bit of a thrill, and we could have some fun going forward," he enthused.
"It's the third Stakes winner this mare has left and it's a great family, a family that has just keep on improving, and it will continue to do so I am sure, now that Vavasour has gone to stud and I am sure she will get every opportunity and do well."
The mare he is referring to is Octapussy the Group One winning daughter of Octagonal that Walker raced in the early 2000's. She won six races and was second in the Group One BTC Doomben Cup and the Group Two AJC Emancipation Stakes, and fourth in the Group One International Stakes at Te Rapa.
Inside Agent is her seventh foal and early in her stud career she produced the Stakes winning O'Reilly fillies Pussy O'Reilly and Pussy Willow. Pussy O'Reilly won two races at two including the Group Two Wakefield Challenge Stakes and Pussy Willow won five races including the Listed Manawatu Flying Handicap. She was also second in the Group One Makfi Challenge Stakes, the Group Three ARC Westbury Classic, and Foxbridge Plate, and fourth in the Group One ARC Easter Handicap, Group Two Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes and the Group Three Gold Trail Stakes.
Her first foal, Clues by Exceed and Excel(AUS) is also a winner along with her four-year-old Commands (AUS) Camari. She has a two-year-old filly by Power (IRE) who at $600,000 was the highest priced yearling by that sire in the 2016 NZB Premier Sale, when purchased by the China Horse Club.
"We have a Power colt from her going to the sales this year, and she is due to foal to Tavistock, which is pretty exciting. I am not sure which stallion she is going to this year, I leave that up to Patrick," he said.
"He is the one with the luck of the Irish. I was a bit surprised when he sent her to Power in his first season but you can't argue with a $600,000 result can you?"
Octapussy is the third foal from the Group Two winning mare Dopff, a winner of eight races including the ARC Bluebird Handicap, and the Listed Waikato Sprint and Evergreen Stakes. She is the dam of eight winners from 10 foals including the Stakes placed Irion the winner of four races, and Reisling the winner of four races and the dam of the dual Stakes winner Valpolicella (Red Ransom[AUS]), herself the dam of the Group Two winners Vavasour (Redoute's Choice[AUS]) and Vilanova(Commands[AUS]).
Another winning daughter, Pineau, is the dam of the Listed CJC Welcome Stakes winner Dancer's Tale (Tale of the Cat[US]). Dopff herself is a half-sister to the Stakes winners Rizon and Ready To Lift, and her half-sisters have left the Stakes winners Currigee, Sir Clive and Ascending. She is out of On The Rise, a winning daughter of Crested Wave (USA) and Lavender Hill (Sovereign Edition- Rosehill), who also left the Stakes winners Kharmacruz and Snow Chief.
She in turn is a half-sister to Rosie's Girl and both are descendants of Haunui Farm's foundation mare Foxona.
Inside Agent carries a nomination for several group events over the Melbourne spring carnival.
- Michelle Saba
