Australasian Double - Qali's Quality G2

Back to her best, Qali Al Farrasha (5 m Almanzor – Nucleonic, by Burgundy) produced a stylish victory in the $225,000 Group 2 Dunstan Horse Feeds Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes 1400m on Saturday at Pukekohe.

Given time (56 days) by trainers Mark Walker & Sam Bergerson since the Group 1 Howden Insurance Mile 1600m on 27 September at Te Rapa, quadruple Group One placed Qali Al Farrasha beat a strong field of quality mares.

Ridden by former Te Akau apprentice Wiremu Pinn, Qali Al Farrasha travelled beautifully in fifth, descended on the leaders 300m out and extended clear to win easily by one and three-quarter lengths. 

On Good4 footing, Qali Al Farrasha ran 1400 metres in 1:21.9, last 600m in 33.9 (approx.), and paid $13.30 & $3.80 on the NZ TAB tote.

Just a short time after stable-mate Captured By Love (Written Tycoon) won the Group 3 Canterbury Breeders’ Stakes 1400m on the first day of Cup Week at Riccarton, Qali Al Farrasha provided the fifth stakes' win this season for the reigning Champion Trainers. 

“It was terrific to get that win today, especially at Group Two level over the 1400-metre trip which will really help her pedigree,” Walker said.

“She hasn’t won many races as yet, but she is multiple times Group One placed which is a great indicator of the quality and ability she’s got and her value increases significantly with the win today.

“It was really satisfying to see her back to her best. It’s been a very wet spring and she was just a bit below par in her first two runs of the campaign. It was a team decision to give her a freshen-up and bypass the Group 1 Livamol Classic, and I think that was a smart move.

“The way she won today suggested she’s appreciated that bit of extra time, getting back onto a good surface was paramount to her chances and it looks as though there’s a good preparation ahead for her.

“It was a lovely ride of Wiremu’s. He got her into a nice spot, travelling sweetly, and she was full of running when he let her go in the straight. 

“We can look forward to Group One assignments with her again over the summer and autumn period, and again we’re seeing that Almanzor (Wootton Bassett) can leave another really good mare.

“Plus, it’s always very special when they’re born and bred at Te Akau Stud. We see them as foals, weanlings, yearlings, and work with them at the stables throughout their racing careers. It’s very satisfying with all the work that goes into working out the matings, to see the progeny race and it's always very satisfying to breed these black type stakes' performers like Qali Al Farrasha.”

Placed as three-year-old in the Group 1 New Zealand Oaks 2400m, Qali Al Farrasha continued her fine form last season with three Group One placed performances in the Group 1 Thorndon Mile 1600m, Group 1 Otaki-Maori WFA Classic 1600m, and Group 1 Bonecrusher Stakes 2000m. 

A Te Akau homebred, and year older sister to former stable-mate and South Island Champion Two-Year-Old Nucleozor, Qali Al Farrasha is was bred and is raced by David Ellis CNZM and David & Matthew Peacocke (Weston Lea Bloodstock). 

“Firstly, I’d like to thank Dave Smith at Dunstan Feeds for sponsoring the race,” Ellis said. “He’s a good friend of mine, we go along way back together through the Waikato Racing Club, he puts so much into the racing industry, and all our horses are fed Dunstan at the stables and the farm.

“I think the feeding regimes we use with Dunstan Feeds, from foals, weanlings, yearlings, right through to racehorses has a big bearing on Te Akau being able to win the last six training premierships. 

“It’s so pleasing to see Qali Al Farrasha return to winning form the way she did and she really deserved that good win.

“We’ve got the mare with a full-sister at foot in the paddock and she’s back in foal to Almanzor, and it was great to have also had a winner today (Signoretti) in Melbourne for Sir Brendan and Jo, Lady Lindsay, who own Cambridge Stud where Almanzor stands.

“It’s a big thrill because Karyn and I race Qali Al Farrasha with David and Matthew Peacocke, they’re great friends of ours and experienced enormous success in the ownership of Avantage who won nine Group One races for us. They’ll be very happy to see this mare win such a good race and I think she’ll keep getting better and better. 

“We’ve bred and raced a few horses together, the Peacocke family farms out near Te Akau as well, and they’re fantastic owners to have involved.

“It was great for Karyn and I to be able to watch the race at the farm with Sam Boyd, who was my farm manager for 35 years, John Jackson, and another great owner of Te Akau’s, John Elstob. We’re looking forward to the celebration.

“It was a lovely ride by Wiremu Pinn. He was apprenticed to us in the early days, is a great natural talent, and I’m really pleased to see him with his head down, working hard, and getting these great results.

“Hats off to Sam (Bergerson) and Reece (Trumper), who with Mark (Walker) have got this mare back to her best, and it’s great to win another Breeder’s Stakes after winning a fortnight ago with Captured By Love in the South Island, where Hunter (Durrant) is doing such a good job for us.

“These are all young guys that are putting their heart and soul into the horses and we’re very proud of their efforts. 

“And great for Mark to have another win in Australia, too, with a promising horse for Cambridge Stud.” 

Te Akau also trained the dam of Qali Al Farrasha, Nucleonic (Burgundy), who impressed winning on debut over 1200 as a two-year-old, while grand-dam Mexican Rose (Volksraad) was Champion 2YO & 3YO in Singapore, having first impressed winning two of her three starts in New Zealand.

In addition, Ellis purchased dam-sire Burgundy (Redoute’s Choice), the winner of five stakes' races and three-quarter brother to five-time Group One winner and Champion Sire Darci Brahma (Danehill), who he also bought as yearling as Karaka. 

Te Akau also won the corresponding event in 2023 with Group One winner and million-dollar earner Campionessa (Contributer). 

Qali Al Farrasha was strapped by Nicole Weatherley. 

Photo credit - Kenton Wright - www.raceimages.co.nz