Te Akau on Exhibition

Preparing for upcoming assignments, Group & Listed performers Quintessa (Shamus Award) and Queen’s Evidence (King’s Legacy) had an exhibition gallop between races on Saturday at Matamata.

On Soft6 footing, they worked together over 1000 metres in 1:00.1, 800m in 46.5, and last 600m in 33.6, with Quintessa, Rory Hutchings, on the inside of Queen’s Evidence, ridden by Craig Grylls.

“We wanted to give Quintessa a hit out on a good surface and she is fit and well and ready for the Dubai Classic next Saturday,” said Sam Bergerson, training partner with Mark Walker.

“Queen’s Evidence had a freshen-up after racing the end of January at Trentham, and she’s coming up well to resume at Tauranga.”

A dual Group One winner in the Group 1 Levin Classic (1600m) and also this season's Group 1 Proisir Plate (1400m), Quintessa will contest the $600,000 Group 2 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Classic (1400m) on Saturday 7 March at Ellerslie. 

Owned by the Te Akau Awarded Racing Partnership (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM), Quintessa was purchased by Te Akau principal David Ellis CNZM as a yearling for $170,000 at the 2022 Karaka Book 1 Sale, from the draft of Wentwood Grange, and now won six of 20 starts, plus $1.05 million in prize money. 

Aside from being a dual Group 1 winner in New Zealand, Quintessa was also the winner of the Group 3 Cockram Stakes in Melbourne, and was also Group 1, 2 and 3 placed in Melbourne on four occasions, alongside other stakes' performances in New Zealand.

Queen’s Evidence is aiming towards the $40,000 3YO 1200 metres on Saturday 14 March at Tauranga, having won the corresponding race in January at Wanganui. 

A debut winning two-year-old and placed in the Listed Champagne Stakes (1200m) and Group 3 Gold Trail Stakes (1200m), Queen’s Evidence was purchased by David Ellis CNZM, from the draft of Cambridge Stud, at the 2024 Karaka Book 1 Sale, and is owned by Te Akau Lineage Racing Partnership (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM).

Photo credit - Kenton Wright - www.raceimages.co.nz