Prix de l’Opera winner Barnavara heading to Waller
Group 1 winner Barnavara (Calyx), who became the highest-priced filly in training sold anywhere in the world last year when going through the ring at 4,800,000gns, is set to go into quarantine near Newmarket ahead of an intended switch to Chris Waller.
The daughter of Calyx (Kingman) has been under the supervision of James Ferguson in Newmarket since her purchase at the December Sales at nearby Tattersalls, like Via Sistina (Fastnet Rock), who went on to rack up a remarkable 11 Group 1 wins in Australia.
Barnavara won four of her last five starts for Jessica Harrington, claiming a Listed win at Navan and a Group 3 success at Naas before finishing third behind Red Letter (Frankel) in the Snow Fairy Stakes (Gr 3, 1m 1f) at the Curragh in August, when she carried a three-pound penalty.
The following month she gained her revenge on Red Letter in the Blandford Stakes (Gr 2, 1m 2f) back at the Curragh, before finishing her three-year-old campaign with a breakthrough Group 1 win in the Prix de l’Opera (Gr 1, 2000m) on Arc day at Longchamp.
A couple of months later, she brought the hammer down at 4,800,000gns at Tattersalls to the bid of Sugar Whiskey Trading, having been consigned by Baroda Stud on behalf of owners Alpha Racing.
Dual Cox Plate (Gr 1, 2040m) heroine Via Sistina, who herself changed hands for 2,700,000gns at Tattersalls in 2023, kicked off her lucrative Australian career with a win in the Ranvet Stakes (Gr 1, 2000m) at Rosehill in Sydney the following March, and Barnavara could follow the same route.
Ferguson said: “We’ve had Barnavara since the sale and she’s been working away nicely on the all-weather in recent weeks.
“The plan is to take her to Kempton for a racecourse gallop next Thursday. After that, she’ll go into quarantine at a new place over in Chippenham, before shipping out to Chris Waller’s early next month.
“She’s been a pleasure to train and all is good with her as she heads into the next chapter of her career.”