Kiwi filly Holy Moly gave Coolmore stallion Holy Roman Emperor his first Hunter Valley bred winner at Te Rapa on Saturday.

Holy Moly (2f Holy Roman Emperor – Clarissa by Zabeel) started a short-priced favourite and was untroubled to win on debut from Richard (Chianti) and Know When To Hold (Exceed And Excel).  

“She’s a very smart filly,” trainer Roger James said.  “I haven’t pressured her at yet and she should measure up to stakes class.”

Holy Moly was sold for $200,000 at the 2010 NZ Bloodtsock Premier Yearling Sale at Karaka.  She was a member of the Curraghmore draft and was purchased by agent Barry Lee on behalf of Waimarie Partnership.

Holy Roman Emperor (Danehill) will finish second on the European first-season sires’ premiership in the winners and prizemoney categories this year.  He has sired 22 individual winners but is well behind Darley shuttler Iffraaj who is on 35 winners.

Holy Roman Emperor was a G1 winner of the Phoenix Stakes and Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere in 2006 but Coolmore drafted him into stud duties at short notice in 2007.  He replaced ill-fated colt George Washington who had fertility issues.

He covered 150 mares in his first season at stud in Ireland and later that year shuttled to Australia to serve another 131 mares.  The heavy workload, when still only a three year-old, affected his performance in the Hunter Valley.  His fertility panned out at just 63%.

Holy Roman Emperor is currently serving his fourth book of mares in Australia at a fee of $27,500.  He averaged 140 mares in his first three books in the Hunter Valley.