The promising younger sibling of champion mare Verry Elleegant has recently been acquired for a substantial $260,000 at the esteemed Inglis Easter Yearling Sales in Sydney. This impressive Zed x Opulence colt is set to make waves in the racing world, as it will be entrusted to the skilled hands of renowned trainer Chris Waller by purchaser Brae Sokolski.
Waller, who secured his first Melbourne Cup victory with Verry Elleegant in 2021, had been keeping an eye on the Zed x Opulence colt before the sale. Sokolski mentioned, “Chris loved the horse. He would have bought the horse had I not. No doubt about that, so he was quite taken by him.”
Sokolski was adamant that Waller should train the colt, saying, “I wouldn’t have dared to send it to another trainer.”
While bidding for Lot 281, Sokolski attempted to focus on the horse’s individual merits without drawing comparisons to Verry Elleegant, who is currently in Ireland, in foal to champion sire Sea The Stars. He shared, “I was trying not to let my emotion get in the way of a pragmatic decision… but I couldn’t help but love him on type.”
Sokolski found the $260,000 price reasonable, given the colt’s pedigree and his sister’s accomplishments. He also highlighted the differences between the two horses, describing the colt as “strong and robust,” compared to Verry Elleegant’s greyhound-like appearance as a yearling.
With an eye on the colt’s potential as a stayer, Sokolski plans to race him in partnership with others, including his long-time racing partner Ozzie Kheir.