Stella Splendida - Splendid

Stella Splendida (3 f Zoustar - Scintillula, by Galileo) proved too good when leading home a Te Akau quinella in the $14,000 Rating 65 1200 metres on 26 April at Hawera.

After recording a promising debut victory over 1200 metres in September at Taupo, Stella Splendida was held together for a close third when trialling on 11 April at Avondale, and stripped in good order to resume.

Put into a good spot, fourth on the outer, by Champion Jockey Michael McNab who really is riding the crest of a wave at present, Stella Splendida loped along effortlessly on the back of stable-mate Baronet (Contributer), also resuming, and had his measure with a good turn of foot in the straight.

“In a tidy performance, Stella Splendida beats the stable-mate Baronet,” said commentator Tony Lee.

“He (McNab) gave it a nice run in transit and edged out from Baronet, who fought well, and a one-two finish for trainer Mark Walker. She has quality about her.”

In the race sponsored by The Bold One @ Grangewilliam Stud, Stella Splendida ran 1200 metres in 1:14.7 on footing that held steady (Slow7) and she was considered the best bet on the card in some quarters - she paid $1.90 & $1.30 on the NZ TAB tote. 

“It was great to see her return to racing the way she did today and she won very comfortably,” Walker said.

“I think she's a filly that could go right through the grades as a four and five-year-old. She is lightly raced and has a lot of upside.  We expect she could race at black type level next season, as a four-year-old, and she could see the very best of her a year later.”

Following her impressive debut victory, after which rider Opie Bosson said: “Wow, she's fast and she's just class”, Stella Splendida was caught wide in the Soliloquy Stakes (Gr. 3, 1400m) before spelling in October, and her physical strengthening was notable in resuming.

Owned by the Te Akau 2021 Karaka Filly Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM), Stella Splendida was purchased as a yearling by David Ellis CNZM for $800,000 at the 2021 Karaka Book 1 Sale, from the draft of Pencarrow Stud.

“She's owned by some very loyal clients of Te Akau Racing and is a big scopey filly that we've got a lot of time for, and she's now won two of her four starts,” Ellis said.

“One of the owners, Ben Kwok, is very loyal and supportive of Te Akau, and also the most successful owner in the world, John Magnier, who founded Coolmore Stud, has a sizeable share.  It's very exciting to have a progressive winning filly that he's involved in.

"We considered her the best filly in the sale that year and, rightfully, she topped the sale.  We bought her from the draft of Pencarrow Stud. She's matured nicely for a break, looked to travel up pretty well today on slightly off footing, and you couldn't really fault the way she won.”

Quite magnificent as a type and showing an enormous amount of natural ability, Stella Splendida is from a European and international family of Group performers and has a pedigree seldom seen in this part of the world.

Stella Splendida was strapped by Loka Manu. 

Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz