It's no secret that horses with the best bloodlines in horse racing do not come cheap.
Some of the wealthiest people have paid huge sums for exceptionally well-bred thoroughbreds. None more so than former Manchester United owner John Magnier, the owner of Coolmore Stud and world famous stables at Ballydoyle.
He has achieved incredible success with trainer Aidan O'Brien, a record-breaker preparing horses to perfection for high-profile targets. Two of the big races he has won multiple times come up this weekend – the Qipco 2,000 and 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket.
O'Brien chases a record-extending 11th success in the colts' Classic, while he has taken five out of the last six renewals of the fillies' version. Unbeaten duo Luxembourg and Tenebrism are his principal representatives in each race on Saturday and Sunday.
Both carry the maroon and blue silks of Westerberg, the racing operation of billionaire Georg von Opel. The 55-year-old founded it in 2018 and he is becoming an increasing presence on the ownership scene.
Miss Yoda, the 2020 German Oaks heroine, was one of his early equine flagbearers, when she made a flying start to her career in 2019.
That year, his public auction purchases with Coolmore included Espania, the €3 million sister to Group 1 winners Forever Together and Together Forever and the 2,100,000gns sister to Lancaster House, Drummer Girl.
Von Opel has an interest in a full-brother to retired sprint sensation Battaash, The Antarctic, a 750,000 guineas buy who struck at the first opportunity on the track.
In 2021, the great-grandson of the founder of German car manufacturer Opel took a stake in Classic contenders High Definition and Santa Barbara.
At the time, his racing and bloodstock adviser Jamie McCalmont told the Racing Post. "Mr Von Opel is new into the business and is a partner in quite a few horses at Ballydoyle now."
He revealed that the businessman, estimated by Forbes to have a net worth of $1.8 billion, was upping the number of horses in his string.
"It's growing all the time," he added. "It's very much in its infancy so it's still expanding. Mr Von Opel is very keen to have the best bloodlines, that's very much the policy."
Among the group is 3,400,000gns purchase Skylark, a Galileo sister to Group 1 winners Japan and Mogul – and the most expensive yearling filly in the world at the 2020 sales.
Her top pedigree has made her one to watch at the big meetings this year for racing enthusiasts.
The weekend's Newmarket contests, at the highest level of the sport, are the first true test of the Classic generation. It would be a huge feat if Westerberg Limited can land the double at Flat racing HQ.
Von Opel's business also has a share in another 2000 Guineas runner saddled by O'Brien, four-time winner Point Lonsdale. But the bookmakers suggest his strongest chance lies with Tenebrism, the 11-4 favourite for the 1,000 Guineas with William Hill. Her task has been made slightly easier due to the defection of original market leader Inspiral.
Alongside his sporting interests, Von Opel and his wife Emily set up a charitable trust that aims to improve the lives of young people in the developing world.
