4 WIN SATURDAY - Our Queen Reigns

It was a four-win Saturday afternoon with three New Zealand victories, including a Group 3 success, and a Victorian winner to cheer home to boot!   Here's the first ...

Fashioning a good record, Queen’s Evidence (4 m King’s Legacy – Enjay, by High Chaparral) produced another smart winning performance in the $40,000 Rating 65 1200 metres on Saturday at Riccarton.

A dual winner and twice stakes' placed to 1200 metres, Queen’s Evidence kept closing for fifth after getting back from a wide draw (13) when resuming in the corresponding event on 4 October at Timaru, and rated a top three chance from barrier one. 

Ridden by former Te Akau apprentice Wireum Pinn, Queen’s Evidence received an economical trip behind a sharp pace and timed her run perfectly when getting off their backs with a strong finish.

“We never spent a penny in the run and I knew I was always going to catch them, with how quick they went,” Pinn said. “It was a good win.

“She was showing good signs up North (Te Akau stable at Matamata), but Hunter (Durrant) and the staff are doing a good job with her down here, too.

“She’s a progressive type of horse and it was good to get a win on her.”

It was a lovely ride by Pinn, keeping his mount balanced and only asking for acceleration over the final furlong, and the type of performance by Queen’s Evidence that suggests she could secure more spoils during Cup Week (Nov. 7, 11, 14) at Riccarton. 

In the race named Cup Week Tickets Selling Fast, Queen’s Evidence scored by a neat length, running 1200 metres in a slick 1:08.4, on footing upgraded to Good4, and paid $3.20 & $1.60 on the NZ TAB tote.

“It was a really good second-up win today and it certainly helps when you draw barrier one on a good track,” said Mark Walker, training partner with Sam Bergerson. 

“It was a nice, patient, ride of Wiremu’s. He summed up the fast tempo, was able to bide his time and she quickened really well for a dominant win.

“There are plenty of races available that will suit her during Cup Week, and it’s good to be going in with winning form.

“Given her pedigree, she’s a four-year-old mare that will only get better as she matures further.”

On course, Bergerson added: “Wiremu got her into a great rhythm, while the stable-mate (Paper Moon) was pretty fresh out in front.

“She’s enjoying it in our stables at Riccarton, presented really nicely, and it's onwards and upwards.”

Owned by the Te Akau Lineage Racing Partnership (Mgr: Lady Karyn Ellis MNZM), Queen’s Evidence was purchased for $220,000 by Sir David Ellis, from the draft of Cambridge Stud, at the 2024 Karaka Book 1 Sale.

“She’s a bonny mare, absolutely beautiful, and again she showed how much she wants to win, by pinning her ears and really attacking the line,” Sir David said.

“She can quicken, tries so hard, they’re great attributes and horses that have them are at least half-way to being successful.

“She’s by an exciting young sire in King’s Legacy, who stands at the one of the top farms (Coolmore Stud) in the world, and her family is renowned for producing horses with a good turn of foot.

“She’s a very good filly for the owners to be involved in, and she’s got the potential to keep adding to her residual value with more wins and stakes' performances on the board.”

Queen’s Evidence is from a highly talented family, as both her dam Enjay and grand-dam Gypsy’s Daughter (Mi Preferido) were impressive winners.

King’s Legacy, by breed shaper Redoute’s Choice (Danehill), was a very good dual Group One winning two-year-colt, scoring in the Group 1 Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) and Group 1 Champagne Stakes (1600m), and last year Queen’s Evidence became the first winner for the sire in New Zealand.

While Enjay (High Chaparral) impressed winning over 2100-metres, Gypsy’s Daughter won three stakes’ races at 2000 metres during a career of seven wins to 2400 metres, and proved herself as a broodmare with four individual winners of four races, including Group Two and Group Three winner Rolling Pin (Pins), who also placed in the Group 1 Epsom Handicap (1600m).

Enjay, too, has proved herself at stud with five individual winners of 11 races, including the multiple stakes' placed fillies Familia (Makfi) and Queen’s Evidence. 

Queen’s Evidence carries a cross to immortal sire Northern Dancer, from an uncluttered dam line of bloodline crosses going back to Alibhai in the pedigree of Gypsy’s Daughter. Alibhai carries the blood of highly influential stallion St Simon.

Queen’s Evidence was strapped by Ruby Rae-Wood.

Photo credit - Ajay Berry - www.raceimages.co.nz