5 Win Saturday - The Victress By Name, By Result

Saturday 31 August - last official day of winter - was a superb farewell to that season, with Te Akau winning five races, four in New Zealand and a Group 3 in Melbourne!

Win No.2 for the afternoon saw The Victress live up to her name, delivering a stable quinella with About Last Night, one of last season''s ladies' partnership horses ...

Debut winner The Victress (3 f Zousain – Liesele, by Exceed and Excel) commenced her three-year-old season in style when winning the $40,000 Vale Kevin Hickman 3YO 1000 metres on Saturday at Riccarton.

A beautifully relaxed filly, The Victress only had three starts as a two-year-old, but indicated her ability and potential when doing the job nicely to win the Maiden 2YO 1000 metres in January at Te Aroha. 

She was held up behind runners, but was good late and strong through the line when trialling on 6 August at Te Rapa, and trainers Mark Walker & Sam Bergerson sent both her and stable-mate About Last Night, who finished second to provide a stable quinella, south for their resuming assignments at Riccarton. 

Requiring speed for the short 1000-metre trip, The Victress and About Last Night were both quickly into stride from barrier four and six respectively and after travelling sweetly in front for jockey Wiremu Pinn, it was The Victress that raced clear to score dominantly. 

It was a praiseworthy effort by About Last Night too, after sitting second in the open for stable apprentice Jess Allen (a2) and she was eye-catching as she continued to find the line. 

“It was a good ride of Wiremu’s to get a pretty soft lead and they don’t seem to be making up much ground with the rail out (11 metres),” Walker said.

“It’s good that she’s now had a look down the chute at Riccarton, because next start she’ll be in the Canterbury Belle Stakes (Listed, 1200m), and, obviously, she’s in the 2023 Fillies' Partnership with Captured By Love (dual Group Two winner and twice Group One placed), so the owners have a high winning ratio for that syndicate of two fillies.

“The Victress is just a bit stronger this year and I think she’ll really go on with it.”

The $80,000 Listed New Zealand Bloodstock Canterbury Belle Stakes over 1200m is held on Saturday 14 September at Riccarton, and was won last year by stable-mate Viva Vienna, to provide Te Akau with its fifth success in the race. 

On Soft5 footing, The Victress ran 1000 metres in 57.0, and drifted in betting to pay $5.40 & $1.90 on the NZ TAB tote. 

Purchased by David Ellis CNZM for A$250,000, from the draft of Coolmore Stud, at the 2023 Magic Millions' Gold Coast Yearling Sale and is owned by the Te Akau 2023 Magic Fillies’ Breeding Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM). The Victress was the first runner and winner for young sire Zousain (Zoustar) in New Zealand, when she won on debut, and he now has recorded 14 individual winners.

Standing at Widden Stud, Zousain was trained by Chris Waller to win the Group 2 Moet & Chandon Classic 1200m as a two-year-old and was runner-up three times at Group One level from 1200m – 1600m.

Her dam Liesele, by Champion Sire Exceed and Excel (Danehill), won nine races from 1000m – 1200m, including the Listed Alinghi Stakes 1100m as a three-year-old at Caulfield, and has now produced four individual winners of 17 races. 

“We took a bit of a gamble buying this filly by a first season sire, but she is such a lovely filly and has now won twice from four starts,” Ellis said.

“There are only two horses in the syndicate, this filly and Captured By Love, who is a finalist for Champion Two-Year-Old, and it’s great to see The Victress come back and win like that fresh-up.”

“It’s been a good start to the day, winning with this filly after she’s looked promising as a two-year-old, and again winning the first two-year-old race of the season with To Bravery Born at Wanganui,” Ellis added.

“He (To Bravery Born) was great buying at Karaka, to be able to buy a Snitzel colt for $200,000 from Greg Tomlinson’s Nearco Stud, as it was only last year that they were Breeder of the Year, and his shares sold in about two minutes flat.” 

The additional runner on the programme for Walker & Bergerson at Wanganui, Unbridled Joy, a three-year-colt also by Snitzel, produced a very good fresh-up run for second in the Listed HS Dyke Wanganui Guineas 1200m.

The Victress was strapped by Naomi Warrander.

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