WINNER: Queen of Naples Reigns

Rating a top three chance with her love of the synthetic, Queen Of Naples (5 m Darci Brahma – Tiffany’s Time, by Alamosa) recorded a tenacious victory in the $18,500 Rating 75 1600 metres on 10 September at Riccarton (poly-track).

Given time (49 days) since fighting hard for a close third in the Rating 75 1600 metres (poly-track) here on 23 July, and then scratched by trainers Mark Walker & Sam Bergerson from racing on Heavy8 footing at the turf meeting on 29 August at Riccarton, Queen Of Naples again showed her liking for the synthetic surface in making it four wins – two over 1400 metres and now twice at a mile.

Ridden by Te Akau award-winning apprentice Hayley Hassman (a1), Queen Of Naples was able to situate outside the leader on a steady tempo, travelled well before asserting her authority inside the 400m, and sustained her run after establishing a winning advantage.

On the poly-track, Queen Of Naples ran 1600 metres in 1:37.1 and paid $2.10 & $1.50 on the NZ TAB tote.

“It was a good win and she’s really matured into a lovely mare and is again starting to hit her straps,” Walker said.

“It was a lovely ride of Hayley’s, summing up the situation before deciding to position in the open outside the leader.

“If she continues to hold her form and we are able to get her rating a bit higher, we could look at finding a suitable black type race in this preparation.

“We’re coming through winter, everyone has been working so hard at Matamata, Riccarton, and Cranbourne (Melbourne), and we’re looking forward to racing more horses as the warmer weather comes and the tracks improve.

“It always good to have horses like Queen Of Naples who appreciates the Riccarton synthetic track, a really consistent track and big course, where they all seem to get their chance.”

A Te Akau home bred who was syndicated amongst stable owners, Queen Of Naples is owned by the Te Akau Timely Racing Partnership (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM).

Queen Of Naples has plenty of Te Akau history, as principal Sir David Ellis not only bought her sire as a yearling at Karaka – five-time Group One winner and Champion Sire Darci Brahma, but also her dam, dual winner Tiffany’s Time.

Bred by Greg Tomlinson (Nearco Stud), Tiffany’s Time was sold through the Bradbury Park draft, and trained by Te Akau, she won twice over 1400 metres.

“She (Tiffany’s Time) was a beautiful looking filly with a nice Northern Dancer cross through the sires on both sides of her pedigree,” Ellis recalled.

“She had terrific balance, exuded class, and was from an imported stakes' winning daughter (Tinsel Time) of More Than Ready (Southern Halo) – a sire that has done a fantastic job at stud.”

The dam-sire of Queen Of Naples, Alamosa (O’Reilly), was a super racehorse that won three races as a two-year-old, including the Group 1 Diamond Stakes (1200m) at Ellerslie, adding the Group 1 Thorndon Mile (1600m) at Trentham, and the Group 1 Toorak Handicap (1600m) at Caulfield.

Queen Of Naples is the second winner for Tiffany’s Time, following the first foal and former stable-mate Time Is King (Darci Brahma), who won twice to 1600 metres.

Reflecting on Darci Brahma, he was purchased by Sir David as a yearling at Karaka, and was trained by Mark Walker to record five Group One victories which included the T. J. Smith Stakes (1600m) in Brisbane, as a two-year-old, 2000 Guineas (1600m), and Telegraph Handicap (1200m). He went on to be named Champion 2YO, Champion 3YO and was Champion Sprinter/Miler as a 4YO.

Now retired from stud duties, he has sired winners of over 2000 races: 100 stakes' winners, including 16 Group One's, the likes of Super Easy, Catalyst, Gust Of Wind, Nashville, Kahma Lass, Recite, Risque, Irish Fling, and many other gifted and hardy thoroughbreds.

Queen Of Naples was strapped by Ruby Rae-Wood. 

Photo credit - Ajay Berry - www.raceimages.co.nz