Caravaggio's sister heading to Europe for Niarchos family

$550,000 yearling has breeding potential however she fares on the track

This $550,000 sister to top sprinter Caravaggio has joined the Niarchos family stableCredit: Michele MacDonald

The yearling full sister to Coolmore's Caravaggio, brilliant winner of the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot from Harry Angel, will be heading to Europe on a mission to duplicate her brother's feats – and will do so, following her sale on Monday evening, on behalf of the Niarchos family.

Alan Cooper, the family's racing manager, plucked the filly from the opening session of the Keeneland September yearling sale, paying $550,000 for the grey daughter of Scat Daddy out of Mekko Hokte, by Holy Bull.

"She is a beautiful filly who pleased my principals," Cooper said. "Let's hope she can emulate her brother."

A decision has yet to be made as to a trainer for the filly, who is also a half-sister to Grade 2 winner My Jen, currently a member of Teruya Yoshida's broodmare band at Shadai Farm in Japan.

Bred by Windmill Manor Farms and the Petaluma Bloodstock of Charlie O'Connor, Coolmore's director of sales in America, the filly was consigned by Paramount Sales.

Caravaggio, undefeated as a juvenile including in the Phoenix Stakes, regained his form last weekend when prevailing in the Group 2 Derrinstown Stud Flying Five Stakes. He had finished fourth in the Darley July Cup won by Harry Angel, and sixth in Brando's Prix Maurice de Gheest last month.

"There are no more Scat Daddys coming along," Cooper said of the late sire. "This filly has a fantastic brother and we're hoping that in the future she'll be a good broodmare."

The Niarchos family also featured among the sellers at Keeneland. A yearling colt by Into Mischief, bred by its Flaxman Holdings in Kentucky, was sold for $550,000 to Robert Baker and William Mack, who were seated with their longtime trainer D Wayne Lukas. The colt is out of the A.P. Indy mare Divine Presence, a daughter of European champion Divine Proportions.

Early in the session, a Flaxman-bred colt by Hard Spun out of English Group 2 winner Enthused (and thus a half-brother to Irish Group 3 winner Norman Invader), was sold for $150,000 to Merites Stable.