The half-sister to Tasmania’s cult hero Turk Warrior (Outreach) will remain in the state after leading syndicator Denise Martin earlier in the session paid $105,000 for the daughter of Stratosphere (Snitzel), who sold as Lot 47.
The filly was the second highest-priced lot sold at the one-day Tasmanian sale with Devonport trainer Barry Campbell to take charge of the Grenville Stud-bred-and-sold yearling for the Star Thoroughbreds’ principal.
Sydney-based Martin, a native of Tasmania, was one of a throng of mainland buyers who bought the seven most expensive horses, once again underlining the importance of interstate trainers and owners participating in the local market.
The Stratosphere filly is the seventh live foal of two-year-old stakes winner Ehor (Val Royal), who has produced six winners from as many foals to race, led by the Glenn Stevenson-trained Turk Warrior who brought up his 11th win from 18 starts on Sunday
Randwick Bloodstock’s Brett Howard, Martin’s trusted adviser, said the filly was their “pick of the sale”.
“Not just on the pedigree page, but physically as well,” Howard said. “Barry Campbell will train her and both Barry and I think she’s the best-looking foal out of Ehor (Val Royal), so hopefully she’s the best racehorse.”
Star Thoroughbreds races a first crop two-year-old filly called Cairns by Grenville’s Stratosphere. Trained by Martin’s brother-in-law Campbell, Cairns was runner-up in Sunday’s $85,000 Magic Millions 2YO Classic (1200m) at Launceston.
Howard said: “She is a nicer filly than Cairns and her price reflects that, but she is also out of a better mare, too, so hopefully we can go one better next year with this filly in the Magic Millions two-year-old race.”
Star Thoroughbreds is affiliated with premier Sydney trainer Chris Waller, with Group 3 winner and Group 1-placed mare Espiona (Extreme Choice) sporting the distinctive purple with white star silks, but Martin has also remained fiercely loyal to Tasmania and its racing industry.
“She has something like 15, 16 or 17 horses in training at the moment down here. They’re all trained by Barry Campbell; and Barry is married to Denise’s sister Anne, so that’s the connection there,” Howard said.
“Unfortunately, she’s not here at the sale, but she is coming down (today) for the Launceston Cup as she has a runner in that called Assaranka. She is a filly Denise purchased here at the sale a few years ago, so hopefully she runs a nice for connections.
Copy: ANZ Bloodstock News
