Riccarton Double - Queen Rules Again

Making it consecutive wins on the course, Queen Of Naples (3 f Darci Brahma – Tiffany’s Time, by Alamosa) was again far too good in the $32,000 3YO 1400 metres on 9 July at Riccarton.

Having sustained a big finish for a close second in the Maiden 1600 metres on 15 May, Queen Of Naples easily won the Maiden 1600 metres on 11 June, both on the poly-track at Riccarton, and although up in class she was favoured to win again.

Electing to lead a mickey-mouse affair early on, Queen Of Naples travelled sweetly in front for rider Bruno Queiroz, who retained the mount and, after dictating terms, it was obvious she had the wood on her rivals. 

“I was confident because her last win was very, very, easy and today this field did not have pace,” Queiroz said.

“I had instructions to keep her happy and she was travelling very easy. I waited until the straight and the last 200m she was flying home.

“I am very happy here, I love this country, and with my manager Andre Neill we are getting plenty of support and opportunities. I’m happy to enjoy my work here and enjoy the moment.”

Winning by nearly four lengths, in the race named Red Nose Raceday – 24 July Three-Year-Old, Queen Of Naples ran 1400 metres in 1:24.3 and paid $2.70 & $1.50 on the NZ TAB tote.

“We’ve got a really good group of owners here on course and it was a really positive ride by Bruno, who took the initiative when they were going no gallop early,” said Sam Bergerson.

“He got a soft lead and built nicely, she’s going the right way and I don’t think that will be her last win.

“She’s got the confidence and going through the grades nicely, so onwards and upwards.”

On course, Bergerson was interviewed by Trackside Presenter Marc Cookson who shares in the ownership of Queen Of Naples. 

Training partner Mark Walker added: “It was a very good win and I thought Bruno summed up the race very quickly when they took the speed out of it. He let her slide to the front and controlled the speed.

“She’s took a little while to mature, but she’s a filly that is getting stronger and grown in confidence with racing. 

“It was another good performance today and she’ll only get better with another season on her, as well.”

In their second year as training partners and assured of defending the Champion Trainer title from last season, Walker & Bergerson recorded their 31st victory on the Riccarton poly-track and 15th this season.

The win also further enhanced their stats with Queiroz, recording his fifth win from 12 rides (strike rate 2.4) for the stable. 

Taking her record to two wins from four starts, Queen Of Naples ran fastest last 600m (34.6) for fourth when debuting in the Maiden 2YO & Up 1350 metres on 27 April at Wanganui, following with a big finish for second on 15 May at Riccarton, and now she boasts back-to-back victories.

Bred by Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM, Glenn & Cathie Holmes, and Te Akau Stud, Queen Of Naples is owned by Te Akau Timely Racing Partnership (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM). 

Queen Of Naples has plenty of Te Akau history, as principal David Ellis CNZM not only bought her sire as a yearling at Karaka, five-time Group One winner and Champion Sire Darci Brahma, but also her dam, dual winner Tiffany’s Time.

Bred by Greg Tomlinson (Nearco Stud), Tiffany’s Time was sold through the Bradbury Park draft, and trained by Te Akau she won twice over 1400 metres.

“She (Tiffany’s Time) was a beautiful looking filly with a nice Northern Dancer cross through her sire-lines,” Ellis recalled.  

“She had terrific balance, exuded class, and from an imported stakes' winning daughter of More Than Ready (Southern Halo) – a sire that has done a fantastic job at stud.” 

Queen of Naples continues a wonderful record of home-bred fillies that Te Akau has offered to owners over the years.

"We always try to select our stand out home-bred weanling or yearling each year and offer them to our owners.  The shares are snapped up literally in minutes - and we enjoy racing our home-bred babies with our owners.  

"Group One winner Maven Belle, who went on to be named Champion 2YO of the Year and Group One Oaks winner Belle En Rouge, who was NZB Filly of the year in her season are both wonderful success stories from our homebred syndications - something we are very proud of," partnership racing manager Karyn Fenton-Ellis said.

Her sire, Alamosa (O’Reilly), was a super racehorse that won three races as a two-year-old, including the Group One Diamond Stakes, adding the Group One Thorndon Mile at Trentham, and  Group One Toorak Handicap at Caulfield to his record.

Queen Of Naples is the second winner for Tiffany’s Time, following the first foal and former stable-mate Time Is King (Darci Brahma), who won twice to 1600 metres, while two-year-old sister Filigree has trialled well and preparing for a jump out on 17 July at Matamata. Tiffany’s Time also has a yearling and weanling colts by Embellish (Savabeel). 

Purchased by Ellis as a yearling at Karaka, Darci Brahma was trained by Mark Walker to record five Group One victories which included the T. J. Smith Stakes (1600m) in Brisbane, as a two-year-old, 2000 Guineas (1600m), and Telegraph Handicap (1200m).

The Multiple Champion Stallion has sired winners of nearly 2000 races: 97 stakes' winners, including 16 at Group One level, the likes of Super Easy, Catalyst, Gust Of Wind, Nashville, Kahma Lass, Recite, Risque, Irish Fling, and many other gifted and hardy thoroughbreds.

Queen Of Naples was strapped by Amelia Southworth. 

Photo credit - Ajay Berry - www.raceimages.co.nz