Quintessa Two from Two

Unbeaten in two starts, Quintessa (3 f Shamus Award – Chaquinta, by High Chaparral) resumed with success in the $40,000 Taupo Pak ‘n Save Fillies 3YO 1100 metres on 23 August at Taupo.

Strategically spelled after justifying favouritism to win her sole start as two-year-old over 1200 metres in March at Pukekohe, Quintessa indicated her readiness when working forward from the outside gate into second and kept giving in a trial on 1 August at Te Rapa.

Parading in good order, she was posted three wide in third, then pushed up by jockey Warren Kennedy nearing the home turn, and responded brilliantly with a determined finish to claim a last stride victory. 

She had to be good to win, in a manner very similar to her debut performance where an element of grit got her home, and she is a filly with very good attributes and plenty in her favour.

“She’s a really exciting filly, beating a very strong field and it's extremely satisfying to see her win fresh-up,” said co-trainer Mark Walker.

“It was a lovely ride of Warren’s, keeping her balanced and in contention when she didn’t have everything go her way in the run.

“One of the great things about her is that she’s winning over shorter trips but she has a pedigree that should appreciate much further, as well. Her dam won over 2700 metres, so once we get up over more ground she should have a really bright future.”

Beneath beautiful overhead conditions, on footing upgraded to Soft7, Quintessa ran 1100 metres in 1:08.2, last 600m in 35.6, and paid $4.90 & $1.90 on the NZ TAB tote. 

When introducing the sponsors: Chris and Jill Grace (Pak ‘n Save), Club President Terry Campbell rightly pointed out that the first three home in the corresponding event last year: Best Seller (Wrote), Sans Doute (Not A Single Doubt), and Mazzolino (Savabeel), filled the same positions in the Gold Trail Stakes (Listed, 1200m) at their next starts. 

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 670 winners, including 39 stakes' winners (including 10 Group One's).  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 two from two 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 is the 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 Loka Manu.  

Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz