Matamata Winning Double - Win No.2 Campionessa

Campionessa (3 f Contributer - Bella Contributer, by O'Reilly) franked the style of her first-up victory, making it two from two in the $10,000 Rating 65 1400 metres on 23 December at Matamata.

Having found a perfect spot and pinning her ears back to win on debut in the Maiden 3YO 1215 metres on 2 December at Rotorua, Campionessa had her task made easier by drawing barrier one, but the manner in beating Vincere (Pins) and Reiko (Reliable Man), resulting in a stable trifecta, indicated her promise.

Owned by Te Akau Campionessa Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM), she was purchased by David Ellis CNZM for $60,000 at the 2019 Gold Coast National Yearling Sale, from the draft of Mapperley Stud, who stand her sire.

“I bought her off Sims Davison (Mapperley Stud), an up and coming breeder in New Zealand, and she's another good horse I've bought at the June Sale on the Gold Coast,” Ellis said.

“I'd say she's got some black type races ahead of her, given the way she won at Rotorua, and stepped up in grade and beat a pretty good field today. 

“She was a really nice medium sized filly with lovely markings, walked well, from a good family, with a great line-up of sires on her dam-side, when we bought her, and she's always shown ability.

“Jamie (Richards) has done a great job with her as he does with all our horses. Finding the perfect race to kick her off with a win, and three weeks heading into her second start on the home track is very astute and allowed the filly to really build in confidence.

“We've had a couple of nice winners on the programme and can now all look forward to Christmas Day and then a great day of racing on Boxing Day at Ellerslie, where we have some nice chances.”

Things could not have worked out sweeter for rider Danielle Johnson, who secured a lovely trail aboard Campionessa. She travelled up poised to the home turn, never left the rail and after sprinting to lead at the 200m was seen racing clear to win by three lengths. 

In the race sponsored by Carrfields Livestock, she ran the 1400 metres in a slick 1:22.6, and as race favourite returned $3.50 & $1.50.

“She's handled the step up in class really well and it was a good effort,” Richards said. “The Rating 65 1400 metres suited on her back doorstep and she drew a good gate (1).

“She'd won impressively at Rotorua, got a soft run today and it was a nice ride by Danielle (Johnson) and I thought she quickened in well, like a filly that could get through the grades.

“We like her, but have had to be patient after she was held up with injury as a two-year-old. She's a lovely looking filly, with a good crew of owners, and we might see her in some black type races sooner rather than later.”

Richards was also complimentary of other runners in the race, saying last start winner Vincere stepped up to finish second and capable mare Reiko made a return to form in third. 

From the first NZ crop of Contributer (High Chaparral), with 14 winners to date, she is out of three-time winning O'Reilly (Last Tycoon) mare Bella Carolina.

Australian Middle Distance Horse of the Year Contributer (High Chaparral) was a dual Group One winner of the Chipping Norton (Gr. 1, 1600m) and Ranvet Stakes (Gr. 1, 2000m). His sire, High Chaparral (Sadler's Wells), winner of six Group 1 races including the English and Irish Derbies, has sired 16 individual Group One winners of 33 races, internationally, and already a noted sire of sires. 

Dam, Bella Carolina, won three times to 1400 metres and her four foals to date have all raced. Tennessee (Per Incanto) won the Wellesley Stakes (Listed, 1000m) at her second start and finished fourth in both the Eclipse Stakes (Gr. 3, 1200m) and Diamond Stakes (Gr. 1, 1200m) as a two-year-old. While Maestro (He's Remarkable) has won in Singapore, and He's McCaw (He's Remarkable) has placed five times in the Australia.

In addition, the dam sires in her pedigree are some of the best to ever stand in New Zealand: Champion Sire O'Reilly, and in turn Centaine, and Noble Bijou. While through her sire lines, the filly carries a cross of immortal sire Northern Dancer. 

Campionessa was strapped by Katija Cherie.

Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz

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