Group 2 Victory - 100 Season Wins - $5m Stakes Won

Three wins on the day, our 28^th stakes' victory and 100^th win for the season.

Ridden slightly differently, Self Obsession (3 f Shocking - Mawaakib, by O'Reilly) won the $110,000 Little Avondale Lowland Stakes (Gr. 2, 2100m) on 2 March at Hastings.

Having won the Royal Stakes (Gr. 2, 2000m) and the David & Karyn Ellis Fillies Classic (Gr. 2, 2000m) at her last two starts in similar fashion, on pace, Self Obsession opted to trail, but once clear she wound up in relentless fashion to reel in pacemaker One Dream One Soul (Ekraar).

“What a great win, gee, she's tough,” said trainer Jamie Richards, registering his 28^th stakes' win for the season.

“She was able to relax off the speed, on a good tempo, and was given a lovely ride by Michael (McNab). She was coming all the way down the straight and always looked as though she had the race within her grasp.

“She's a great staying filly. Although she's no oil painting and not maybe one you'd put your hand up to buy at the yearling sales, I'm very thankful to David Price and Jenny Chapman in Hong Kong, who bred and race her, and Mark and Vicki Baker at Hallmark Stud, for sending her down to us to train in Matamata.

“We've got two and a half weeks to the New Zealand Oaks, now, and everyone at the Uni Barn, where she's stabled, is doing a wonderful job with her. Laura Macnab has been in charge there, while Hunter Durrant is over with Kahma Lass in Australia, and Liam Cunningham has stepped up. They're really good, young, capable people and we need people like them to continue in the racing industry.

“Our assistant trainer Sam Bergerson has been keeping an eye on them, too, so it's a great story about her rise through the grades and she's a filly that is really popular in the stable. Teina Walters has been a great admirer of hers from day one and she's doing a wonderful job. We're all really looking forward to the Oaks.”

On footing that remained Dead4, Self Obsession ran 2100 metres in 2:11.4 and justified her hot favouritism ($1.50).

“There's not a lot more to say except she's a unique filly in a few ways,” said David Price, from Hong Kong. “Most of all, she's not winning by big margins but she keeps looking like the winner in the final 200m. She must have an incredible racing attitude.

“If she can win the Oaks and become the Champion NZ Staying Filly, they're milestones that stand forever. That would be special.”

Superseding stable-mate Belle En Rouge (Burgundy) in New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year Series, Self Obsession went to lead with 24 points and is now looking to emulate the feat of stable-mate Amarelinha (Savabeel) who last year won both NZ Oaks (Gr. 1, 2400m) and Filly of the Year.

Te Akau had previously won the Lowland Stakes with another Filly of the Year, Princess Coup (Encosta de Lago).

The victory also brought another milestone for Champion Trainer Jamie Richards, notching the 100^th win this season and topping $5 million in domestic stakes' earnings. Last season, Richards smashed the previous tally end with 160 wins, and while 2021/22 has been affected by Covid restrictions he is otherwise on par.

By Shocking (Street Cry), the sire of 26 stakes' winners including two at Group 1 level, Self Obsession is out of the unraced O'Reilly (Last Tycoon) mare Mawaakib, herself in turn from talented race mare My Hangover (My Halo), the winner of five races to 1400 metres who was placed at Group 2, Group 3 and Listed levels.

Self Obsession carries a bloodline crosses of champion sires Halo and Northern Dancer.

She was strapped by Amit Gujar.

Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz