Te Akau Midweek Exhibition Gallops

Preparing for upcoming assignments, Campionessa (Contributer), Mehzebeen (Almanzor), and Prise De Fer (Savabeel), had exhibition gallops between races on 10 December at Matamata.

Fresh from winning the $450,000 Cambridge Stud Zabeel Classic (Gr. 1, 2050m) on Boxing Day at Pukekohe, Campionessa, ridden by Opie Bosson, went on the outside of Mehzebeen, Michael McNab, following her recent win in the $80,000 Harcourts Taupo Cup (Open Handicap, 2000m) on 30 December at Taupo.

Working over 1200 metres in 1:15, 1000m in 1:01.4, and 600m in a polished 34.4, the pair were in unison through the line and both riders were happy. Bosson said of Campionessa: “She was very relaxed”.

At an interval behind them, Prise De Fer and jockey Warren Kennedy ran 1200 metres in 1:15.2, 1000m in 1:02.0, and 600m in 35.4. It was good solo work. 

Campionessa is being freshened for the $400,000 Harcourts Thorndon Mile (Gr. 1, 1600m) on Wellington Cup Day (Saturday 20 January) at Trentham, where, at the same meeting Mehzebeen contests the $350,000 Remutaka Classic (Special Conditions, 2100m), and Prise De Fer is entered for the $120,000 Mode Technology Trentham Stakes (Gr. 3, 2100m) this Saturday (13 January) at Trentham.

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Campionessa (6 m Contributer – Bella Carolina, by O’Reilly), purchased by David Ellis CNZM for $60,000 on the Gold Coast, where he is leading buyer at the current yearling sale, had won a listed race, three Group Three, and runner-up twice at Group One, before recording her richly deserved recent Group One victory. 

Owned by Te Akau Campionessa Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM), her 27 starts have yielded 10 wins, five seconds, three thirds, and $936,590 in prize money. 

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Runner-up in the New Zealand Oaks (Gr. 1, 2400m) last season at Trentham – a good indicator for her next assignment – Mehzebeen (4 m Almanzor – Salkantay, by Zabeel) is going from strength to strength as a staying mare of reckoning.

Purchased by Sarai Stud for $50,000 at the 2021 Karaka Book 1 Sale, from the draft of Pencarrow Stud, Mehzebeen is owned by M E & & Y M Davis, Mrs B & W R Duncan, Mrs K J & T L Howe, D J & Mrs S P Rolston, Sarai Stud (Xavier Kos & Beatrice Hild) & Mrs S Waddell.

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A brilliant Group One winner last season at Trentham, in the $300,000 Rydges Captain Cook Stakes (Gr. 1, 1600m), Prise De Fer (8 g Savabeel – Foiled, by Snippets) was narrowly beaten two starts ago in the Waikato Cup (Gr. 3, 2400m) and looks hard fit.

Prise De Fer was purchased by David Ellis CNZM for $100,000, from draft of Trelawney Stud, at 2017 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Yearling Sale, and owned by Te Akau En Guarde Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM).

A really good horse since first racing as a three-year-old, Prise De Fer has won 11 races, including five stakes wins and 13 stakes placed, and prize money of $945,650.