Te Akau Season - Stakes' Win 14 (NZ) of 30

July sees the final month of our phenomenal 2023/24 racing season.  

As we like to do at this time of the year, we now reflect every day on our Group/Listed performers of the 'season that was' - and there were plenty!  In fact 30 across New Zealand and Australia, with nine at Group 1 level.

The season for 6YO mare Campionessa was undoubtedly her very best to date - hugely unlucky not to win at Group 1 level, having been several times placed, the stage felt set for something special in 2023/24. 

On route to realising that destiny, the gutsy mare signalled her intention when winning yet another Group race this season - this time the highly rated Group 2 Cal Isuzu Stakes at Te Rapa on SkyCity Waikato Cup Day ... 

Outstanding last time out, Campionessa (6 m Contributer – Bella Carolina, by O’Reilly) was poetry in motion winning the $175,000 Cal Isuzu Stakes (Gr. 2, 1600m) on Waikato Cup Day (16 Dec.) at Te Rapa. 

Presented in tremendous order when resuming with a big effort to win the Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (Gr. 2, 1400m) on 25 November at Pukekohe, Campionessa boasted good course/distance stats, having won the Rich Hill Mile (Gr. 2, 1600m) and finishing second in the Herbie Dyke Stakes (Gr. 1, 2000m), and is now fully developed into a dead-set quality mare worthy of favouritism. 

Appearing hard to beat from the outset, Campionessa began well to secure a prime position behind the leaders, was clear to pounce at will in the straight and proved a class above when racing away to win by two lengths. 

The victory provided the 2001st domestic win for stable rider Opie Bosson ONZM, who earlier on the card brought about the milestone aboard stable-mate Move To Strike (I Am Invincible), an exciting two-year-old colt purchased as a yearling by David Ellis that subsequently won the Sires’ Produce Stakes (Gr. 1, 1400m).

“She’s back in the groove and was aided by a fantastic ride,” said co-trainer Sam Bergerson. “She got into a lovely spot, relaxed beautifully, presented at the right time and was really strong through the line. 

“All systems are now go for Boxing Day, if she comes through the run well she can press on towards that and we think the step up to 2000 metres really suits.

“She’s a really good doing mare, takes everything in her stride, and loves her work.”

Owned by the Te Akau Campionessa Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM), she was purchased by David Ellis CNZM for A$60,000 at the 2019 Gold Coast National Yearling Sale, from the draft of Mapperley Stud, where the sire stands.

Her 33 starts have yielded 11 wins, 10 places, and over $1.25 million in prize money. 

“I bought Campionessa on the Gold Coast, pretty cheaply, after she was passed in by Simms Davison (Mapperley Stud), and I brought her back here (NZ) to syndicate and race,” Ellis said.

“She showed her racing ability right from the start when winning her first two races and has just continued to get better as she’s matured.

“We bought Melody Belle as a yearling and she set a New Zealand record with 14 Group One wins and was twice Horse of the Year, not forgetting Imperatriz, Probabeel, Avantage, Amarelinha and others -mares like those and Campionessa are hugely professional in their appetite for racing and winning. 

“Obviously they have to have the talent to begin with, but they just continue to get better with experience and work out how to win.”