WINNER: Asturia Group 2 Applause

Presented in tremendous order, Asturia (3 f Almanzor – Kay’s Legacy, by Zabeel) produced a commanding victory in the $175,000 Group 2 Windsor Park Stud Soliloquy Stakes (1400m) on Saturday at Ellerslie.

The filly was already a course/distance winner on debut when unwinding a big finish in the 3YO 1400 metres on 5 September, before running a close second in the Group 2 Hawke’s Bay Guineas (1400m) against the boys on 26 September at Hastings. She  met a very good field but brought the right form to jump as one of the favourites. 

Ridden again by leading jockey Michael McNab, Asturia secured a position in midfield, tracked race favourite Hawea (Hellbent) into contention from the 600m and after quickening to ascend on the leaders at the 300m, she proceeded to power home for an impressive win.

“We sort of expected it because she was unlucky in the Hawke’s Bay Guineas and I think she should have won with sufficient room,” McNab said. “She got the room today and showed how good she is. 

“Hawea didn’t really tow me into the race, so I had to wait a bit longer. She’ll be fine stepping to 1600 metres and she’s a very good filly.”

Given the dominance of her performance, Asturia rocketed into favouritism for the $600,000 Group 1 Barneswood Farm New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) on Saturday 7 November at Riccarton, the bookmakers installing her at a slim $1.90. She is a very good prospect to become the eighth winner of the prestigious race for Te Akau. 

On footing that remained Soft5 throughout the day, Asturia ran 1400 metres in 1:23.6, last 600m in 34.8, and drifted in betting to pay $8.30 & $2.50 on the NZ TAB tote.

“It was a terrific winning performance,” said Mark Walker, training partner with Sam Bergerson.

“Michael (McNab) gave her a lovely ride, got her nicely balanced, and she really impressed up the straight and was terrific through the line.

“She is only going to get better as we step up her in distance, so a high-class filly and we’re looking forward to seeing her in the 1000 Guineas at Riccarton, a track and distance that should really suit her.

“She’s proving to be another very astute buy by Dave (Sir David Ellis) and congratulations to the owners that got involved in her.”

On course, Bergerson said: “She’s a really exciting filly and I can’t thank the team enough at home. Michael (McNab), Opie (Bosson), have done a lot of work with her and she keeps going from strength to strength. 

“I really liked how she raced today. She settled, got on the back of the right horse, tracked into it well and great to see her quicken like that.

“We’re really excited to get her down to Riccarton, over a mile on a big track, and she just keeps producing and getting better and better. It was a great field today, and it's really exciting to see her put them away like she did.  

“She’s pretty clean-winded and we don’t have to do a lot with her in between runs. We’ll give her a quiet week and build slowly into it, fly down, and hopefully everything goes well.”

Te Akau had previously won the Group 2 Soliloquy Stakes in 2013 with Spellbinder (O’Reilly) and again in 2021 with Imperatiz (I Am Invincible), who went on to win 10 Group One races, and who became NZ Horse of the Year and was the highest rated sprinter in the world at her peak. 

Owned by the Te Akau Legacy of Love Racing Partnership (Mgr: Lady Karyn Ellis MNZM), Asturia was purchased for $135,000 by Sir David Ellis, from the draft of Landsdowne Park, at the 2025 Karaka Book 1 Sale.

Asturia is by Cambridge Stud stallion Almanzor (Wootton Bassett), from whose first crop Sir David purchased Karaka Million 2YO (Restricted Listed, 1200m) winner Dynastic, along with Te Akau homebred stakes' winners Qali Al Farrasha (Gr. 2 and four-times Gr. 1 placed) and Nucleozor (Listed), as well as Te Akau trained Group 3 New Zealand Cup (3200m) winner Mehzebeen.

The family is well known to Te Akau through the deeds of Alert (Zabeel), Rise ‘N’ Shine (Zabeel), and Wide Awake (Savabeel), who were bought and trained by Te Akau to win eight races between them.

The filly's grand-dam Kay’s Awake was an impressive winner during a career of six wins, and was at the time regarded as one of the best race mares in New Zealand, placing twice behind multiple Group One winners Darci Brahma (Danehill) and Seachange (Cape Cross). 

Kay’s Awake also proved herself at stud, leaving six individual winners of 17 races, including Australian stakes' winner Rise At Dawn (Almanzor). 

“It’s incredible, but Asturia was one of the last yearlings to sell from her year, just like Avantage and Imperatriz and they won 19 Group One races between them,” Ellis said.

“This filly is now outright favourite ($1.90) for the 1000 Guineas, so hopefully the bookmakers are right and she wins a Group One, too.

“I thought it was a very impressive win, over a good field, so she deserves her favouritism. She’s had three starts for two wins, including a Group Two win and placing. 

“She was bred by the Smithies' brothers Max and Joe of Monovale Farm, a farm that has been breeding top horses for a few decades, and Dave Duley (Landsdowne Park) did a great job preparing her for the yearling sale. 

“It’s a family we’ve always really liked and had success with and the Almanzor/Zabeel cross is proven to leave some really good staying type horses.

“Asturia is in the same mould, she's just a lovely filly, and she has an Oaks’ type pedigree.

“It’s an absolute credit to Sam, Reece, and Tom, and all the team at Matamata. I feel we’ve got one of the best teams ever. They’re happy people, the horses are happy, and it’s showing in the way they’re performing. 

“Tonight, Karyn and I are taking the the whole stable team out for dinner in Matamata, to celebrate winning the Premiership last season, and it should be a really good night. We’ve got plenty to celebrate.”

Asturia has a bloodline cross through her sire-lines to Champion Sire Nureyev (Northern Dancer), a racehorse with immense turn of foot, Champion French 3YO, and sire of more than 20 champions.

Asturia was strapped by Tamweer Alam.

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