5 Win Trans Tasman Saturday - 4 Stakes' Wins - Quintessa the Queen

Winning the $120,000 HBPB Thoroughbred Breeders’ Gold Trail Stakes (Gr. 3, 1200m), Quintessa (3 f Shamus Award – Chaquinta, by High Chaparral) capped her hat-trick in a prestigious event on Saturday at Hastings.

A race instigated 52 years ago by Lucy Scoular (who presented the trophies) and the Hawkes Bay Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association, Te Akau previously won the race in 2018 with Avantage (Fastnet Rock) who went on to win nine Group Ones.

A winner of her sole start as a two-year-old, Quintessa ran the fastest last 600m (35.6) on the day when resuming with victory in the 3YO 1100 metres on 23 August at Taupo, a race that last year the first three placed horses repeated in the Gold Trail, and she was strongly supported in betting to start race favourite ($3.40 & $1.70) on the NZ TAB tote.

Ridden by Opie Bosson, who had another outstanding day in the saddle, Quintessa slotted in eighth after beginning from the outside gate (13), was giving the leaders six lengths at the 600m, and unleashed powerfully for a smart win. 

“She’s a very classy filly, still learning too,” Bosson said. “She was a bit on and off throughout the running, which she does a bit in track work too, but when she gets to a mile look out.” 

Quintessa beat last start Wanganui Guineas (Listed, 1200m) winner Chantilly Lace (U S Navy Flag), Oneira (Contributer) and Tulsi (The Autumn Sun), who had finished second and third, respectively, to Quintessa at Taupo.

“On her pedigree, when Dave (Ellis) bought her, you wouldn’t think she would be able to win so well over sprint trips, being out of a High Chaparral mare that won over 2700 metres, so there’s a lot of upside in her,” said co-trainer Mark Walker.

“He so good Opie, gets in nine times out of 10 and he’s just riding in great form, so early in the season too.

“We’ll just see how she pulls up before making plans for her, but there’s that carrot ($1.5m) of the Karaka Million 3YO Classic (Restricted Listed, 1600m), and on her pedigree she’s bred to get a lot further.

“We’ll have a team talk with Dave and Karyn, Sam, and Reece, and come up with a plan.” 

When Te Akau principal David Ellis CNZM purchased Quintessa as a yearling for $170,000 at the 2022 Karaka Book 1 Sale, from the draft of Wentwood Grange, he said: “We’re thrilled to be taking her home”.

Ellis also predicted it right when saying: “We think she has the class and presence to be up and running as a two-year-old in the autumn, but ultimately develop into high-class three-year-old.

“It’s a great New Zealand family and has tremendous sire influences of High Chaparral and Encosta de Lago.”

Incredibly, sire Shamus Award (Snitzel) won the 2013 Cox Plate (Gr. 1, 2040m) as a Maiden before franking the form in the Australian Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m) and being named Champion Three-Year-Old of the Year.

A son of Champion Sire Snitzel (Redoute’s Choice), Shamus Award has been very successful at stud, siring over 679 winners, 40 stakes winners (including 10 Group One).

Like Champion Sire Savabeel (Zabeel), Shamus Award is also out of a mare by Success Express (Hold Your Peace), an American sire influence that adds plenty of class and quality. 

Dam sire High Chaparral (Sadler’s Well), twice US Champion Male on Turf, has become a sire sensation worldwide, sire of sires, and as expected doing the same as a broodmare sire. 

Now the winner of three from three for the Te Akau Awarded Racing Partnership (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM), Quintessa appears an ideal style of filly for races in the New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year Series, and has the pedigree to extend in trip. 

Her dam, Chaquinta, won five races, including three in succession to 2700 metres, and half-sister to good staying horse Our Heir Apparent (Zabeel).

Ellis also had success buying from the family in 2021 at Karaka, with Taviarma (Tavistock), out of Veearma (Darci Brahma), a half-sister to the dam of Quintessa, finishing second on debut as a two-year-old in the Wakefield Challenge Stakes (Gr. 2, 1200m). 

It is also the family of Dunstan Feeds Championship Final (2400m) and Queen Elizabeth II Cup (Gr. 3, 2400m) winner Dionysus (Ocean Park), once again franking the stamina.

Quintessa was strapped by Rylee Sheehan. 

Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz