The one that Murray missed

A broodmare who was purchased at a Gavelhouse online sale for just $900 five years ago has become the dam of one of Western Australia’s most promising three-year-old fillies in Grace Ella.

It is Eva Sophnally, a Christian Cullen mare from the noted Trix Pointer tribe who was bred by Barry Nyhan, of Lordship fame, and his wife Val and originally trained by Canterbury horseman Murray Edmonds.

“Murray and I finished breaking her in for Barry and Val and qualified her. We had a few starts with her and won a three-year-old race at Addington one day,” Kelly Edmonds said.

Eva Sophnally was later prepared by Woodend Beach couple Greg and Nina Hope and won a further five races including a mares’ feature at Ashburton in a career-best 1:55.3. She finished up with a stake tally of $65,350.

“Val bred the first three foals out of her but when she got sick she put Eva Sophnally on Gavelhouse and Murray and I bought her,” Kelly said.

“We put her in foal to Downbytheseaside and Grace Ella was the result. Unfortunately Murray never got to see the foal as he passed away after suffering a brain tumour.

“I named Grace Ella after our twin granddaughters Grace and Ella.”

Grace Ella won a qualifying trial at Addington in April for Steve and Amanda Telfer and was subsequently sold by bloodstock agent Peter Lagan to clients of Aiden De Campo’s stable in Perth.

“It was always the aim to sell her. Unfortunately I have to turn them over,” Kelly said.

Grace Ella has had four starts so far in WA for three wins, including two at Gloucester Park, and a third, and looks a filly of well above average ability. She gave a sample of her class when she led from end to end in a $21,000 race at Gloucester Park last Friday night, earning a new speed badge of 1:55.8 over 2130 metres.

Coincidentally, Eva Sophnally’s first foal, Heaven On High (by Rock N Roll Heaven), scored in 1:51.2 at Northfield Park, Ohio, three days after Grace Ella won in Perth. He has a career mark of 1:50.2 and earnings of more than $330,000.

Eva Sophnally has since produced a weanling filly by Sweet Lou named Sweet Sophie.

Kelly is currently breeding from four broodmares including three trotters.

“Two of the trotters in Chivasion and Unique Rose are mares that Murray won races for our great owner Sue England and myself. The others are the trotter Kiitos and Eva Sophnally,” she said.

Kiitos, a Great Success mare, left the dual Melton and Albion Park trotting winner Gracias.

Grace Ella was one of five New Zealand bred performers to salute at the Gloucester Park feature meeting.

I’m Stealthy (Downbytheseaside – Bay Jet), who was bred by Brent McIntyre’s Macca Lodge, captured the Group 1 $200,000 WA Derby; Minstrel (Rocknroll Hanover – Ovaride), bred by David and Catherine Butt’s Birchbrook Breeding, Penny Calder and Jackie Butt, won the Free-for-all; Delightful Peg (Bettor’s Delight – Elite Medley) took out the Norm’s Daughter Preview for breeder Tony Barron; and Here’s Herbie (Sportswriter – Just Rose), bred by the late Don Stenhouse and his partner Denise Weaver, won the Listed $30,000 San Simeon.