Group 1 Girls Step Out

Preparing for spring assignments, stakes performers Captured By Love (Written Tycoon), Quintessa (Shamus Award), and Qali Al Farrasha (Almanzor) had an exhibition gallop between races on Saturday at Te Rapa.

Working over 1000 metres, Captured By Love, ridden by Hayley Hassman, worked on terms with Quintessa, ridden by Opie Bosson, while Qali Al Farrasha and jockey Courtney Barnes sat a few lengths off them.

On footing the better side of Heavy, Captured By Love and Quintessa were timed over 1000 metres in 1:04.3, last 600m in a polished 34.5, while Qali Al Farrasha remained a similar distance astern throughout and would have run similar times.

Commenting on Captured By Love, Hassman said: “She was amazing. We sat almost head-to-head with Quintessa and she let down beautifully.”

A finalist last season for Champion Two-Year-Old, after winning the Group 2 Wakefield Challenge Stakes (1100m), Group 2 Matamata Breeders’ Stakes (1200m), and Group 3 Taranaki 2YO Classic (1200m), Captured By Love (3 f Written Tycoon – Moldova, by Snitzel) ramped it up this season with a classy victory in the Group 1 NZ 1000 Guineas (1600m).

Owned by the Te Akau 2023 Magic Fillies’ Breeding Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM), Captured By Love was purchased by David Ellis CNZM at the 2023 Gold Coast Yearling Sale, from the draft of Milburn Creek.

Registering five wins, Captured By Love has accumulated over $700,000 in prize money. 

Opie Bosson said: “Quintessa picked up really well and felt great in her action. I’m very happy with her progress.”

Group One winner and Champion Three-Year-Old finalist Quintessa (4 m Shamus Award – Chaquinta, by High Chaparral), won her sole start as a two-year-old, and had a phenomenal three-year-old season, highlighted by winning the Group 1 Levin Classic (1600m), and marked by consistency with three fourths in Group One races, including the Group 1 Australian Guineas (1600m) and Group 1 Australian Oaks (2400m). She also finished runner-up in both the Group 2 Alistair Clark Stakes (2040m) and Group 2 Auckland Guineas (1400m).

She resumed this season with a terrific victory in the Group 3 Cockram Stakes over 1200m at Caulfield (Melbourne) - a race previously won by the stable's dual Horse of the Year, Probabeel.

Owned by the Te Akau Awarded Racing Partnership (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM), Quintessa was purchased by Te Akau principal David Ellis CNZM as a yearling for $170,000 at the 2022 Karaka Book 1 Sale, from the draft of Wentwood Grange, has earnings over $820,000.

Commenting on Qali Al Farrasha, Barnes said: “She had a really nice gallop. She changed legs at the right time and I was happy with her.”

Placed as three-year-old in the Group 1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m), Qali Al Farrasha (4 m Almanzor – Nucleonic, by Burgundy) continued her fine form this 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 owned by David Ellis CNZM and David & Matthew Peacocke (Weston Lea Bloodstock).