Karaka Gamble Pays Off in Poseidon Stakes

Inside Agent (NZ) (Stravinsky) is the most expensive yearling Nigel Blackiston has ever bought, but his purchase paid off when the three-year-old won Sunday’s A$120,000 Listed Poseidon Stakes (1400m) at Flemington.

In just the second start of his career, Inside Agent raced to victory by half a length from Magnarock (Magnus) and Peacock (Lonhro).

Blackiston paid $180,000 to purchase the colt out of Cambridge Stud’s draft at the 2015 Premier Sale.

“We saw him over in New Zealand about six months before the Sale and I loved him then,” he said. “We wanted to buy him but I wasn't sure we could afford him.

“It's the most I've spent, but I got people involved and it's worked out really well. It's a beautiful pedigree and it's very exciting to come and win a Listed race at his second start.”

Inside Agent is out of the Octagonal mare Octapussy (NZ), who won six races and placed in the Group 1 Doomben Cup.

Octapussy is the dam of five foals to race, all of them winners. Inside Agent is her third stakes-winning foal, following in the footsteps of Group 2 Wakefield Challenge Stakes winner Pussy Willow (NZ) (O’Reilly) and the Listed winner and Group 1-placed Pussy O’Reilly (NZ) (O’Reilly).

Octapussy was also a star attraction at the 2016 Premier Sale, where her yearling filly by Power sold to the China Horse Club for $600,000.