Omei Sword Wins Silver Shadow

Combining the blood of two champion Coolmore sires is Omei Sword (3f High Chaparral x Irish Lights, by Fastnet Rock), a brilliant winner of the Group II ATC Silver Shadow Stakes at Randwick on Saturday. The first living foal for Group I MRC Thousand Guineas winner Irish Lights, Omei Sword was foaled and raised at Coolmore and has been a stunner from the day she was born. A $675,000 Inglis Easter purchase for her trainer Chris Waller from the Coolmore draft, Omei Sword quickly showed ability with a debut win at Rosehill earlier this year and was second in the Group II ATC Magic Night Stakes. Resuming from a spell in the Silver Shadow over 1200 metres, Omei Sword was utterly dominant in racing away to win by three and a quarter lengths. "To see her travel up like she did I think it’s the sign of a pretty good filly,” Waller said. "I wouldn’t say we have high expectations this spring probably more high hopes is a good way of putting it. "I wouldn’t completely rule out the Golden Rose. It’s not my preference to be running a filly in that race but the distance and the timing of the race will suit.” Waller indicated the main aim for the spring for Omei Sword would be the Group I Flight Stakes (1600m). The current two year-old from Irish Lights is a Pierro colt that made $480,000 at the Magic Millions this year when bought by New Zealand based buyer David Ellis. Named Seirios, he is also tipped to have above average ability. Omei Sword is the 76^th stakes-winner for ill-fated High Chaparral and is the eighth for Fastnet Rock as a broodmare sire.