Australian Cup Next for Kiwi Mare Campionessa

Media Release - Tuesday March 14

Five-year-old mare Campionessa has made her mark in domestic weight-for-age company this preparation and her impressive progress will be rewarded with a trip to Australia.

Campionessa will cross the Tasman to contest the Gr.1 Australian Cup (2000m) at Flemington on Saturday week. Photo: Trish Dunell

The Mark Walker-trained daughter of Contributer is to join her Te Akau Racing stablemate Imperatriz in Melbourne where the duo will chase seven-figure Group One purses.

Her recent efforts have earned her a tilt at the A$3 million Gr.1 Australian Cup (2000m) at Flemington on Saturday week, while the evening before Imperatriz will contest the A$1 million Gr.1 William Reid Stakes (1200m) at The Valley.

Campionessa finished runner-up behind star three-year-old Sharp ‘N’ Smart in the Gr.1 Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m) two runs back before she was second to high-class filly Prowess in the Gr.1 New Zealand Stakes (2050m). 

“She’ll go to the Australian Cup and it’s a race that may not be as strong as other years,” Walker said.

“Even if you run third it adds a fair bit of value to a mare and she’s going really well. She will fly over on Tuesday week.”

Opie Bosson will continue his association with Campionessa and will also be reunited with Imperatriz, who is already in Melbourne, after James McDonald rode her into a last-start second in the Gr.1 Canterbury Stakes (1300m) when collared on the line by Artorius.

“It was disappointing to come so close, but you just have to cop that on the chin,” Walker said.

“The upside was that she well and truly measured up over there.”

In the shorter-term, the stable will have two runners in Saturday’s Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand Oaks (2400m) and three to contest the Gr.1 Gee & Hickton Funeral Directors Levin Classic (1600m).

Bosson will be aboard Family Ties, the joint second favourite at $8, and Jason Laking will partner Mehzebeen, who is rated a $31 chance.

“I think it’s a very weak Oaks. It might be a year when a surprise packet can win but Family Ties is going well,” Walker said.

Advertisement

The Contributer filly won the Listed Oaks Prelude (1800m) two runs back before she finished sixth in the Gr.2 Lowland Stakes (2100m).

“She was desperately unlucky last start and if she had got out I think she would have gone close to winning,” Walker said.

“She would grow another leg if it was a wet track, she’s pretty good when there’s some give in it.”

Mehzebeen earned a crack at the fillies feature when the daughter of Almanzor posted a last-start victory at the expense of the older horses.

“I know it was only a maiden, but she was strong at the end of 2200m and will run 2400m out easily,” Walker said.

Romancing The Moon, Skew Wiff and Fellini will represent the stable in the Levin Classic and Walker said it wasn’t easy to single any one out.

“They have all got different form lines and it’s hard to weigh them up,” he said.

“Kozzi Asano will ride Romancing The Moon, Opie will be on Skew Wiff and we haven’t got a rider for Fellini yet.”

Romancing The Moon won the Listed NZB Insurance Stakes (1400m) last time out and is rated a $10 chance, as is Skew Wiff who comfortably claimed a Rating 65 event most recently on her home track at Matamata.

Fellini finished a last-start third in an age group event at Awapuni to earn a $21 quote. – NZ Racing Desk.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Three Straight Stakes Wins For Cool Aza Beel’s Cool Archie
With no two-year-old currently performing better in Queensland, the Chirs and Corey Munce trained Cool Archie continued his outstanding form, taking out the $1m Group 2 BRC Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m), his third consecutive black type victory.
Magic Justify x Fastnet Rock Cross Strikes in Hong Kong
With Justify’s very best son City of Troy (USA) shuttling to Coolmore Australia this spring it’s worth remembering the power of the Justify x Fastnet Rock nick and we saw it to the fore at Sha Tin on Saturday when Australian bred four year-old Pray for Mir took out the Group III The Lion Rock Trophy (1600m).
More Stakes Success for Campionessa
A commanding victory in Saturday’s Gr.2 Cal Isuzu Stakes (1600m) at Te Rapa completed a rare fillies and mares’ feature double for Campionessa.
Niance Overcomes Serious Injury to Claim Stakes Victory
Exciting New Zealand-bred mare Niance has bounced back from a serious injury and picked up right where she left off last spring, collecting her third consecutive black-type win in Saturday’s A$175,000 Listed Bel Esprit Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield.
Sires With Winners - Saturday May 31
Here is the full list of 116 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Kiwi Bred Campaldino Wins G3 for Darby
Promising New Zealand-bred stayer Campaldino passed his biggest test with flying colours at Eagle Farm on Saturday, stepping up to stakes company and adding the A$200,000 Gr.3 Living Turf Queen Elizabeth II Cup (2400m) to his winning sequence.
Second G1 Winner Contributer - Campionessa wins Zabeel Classic
Campionessa shed her Group One bridesmaid’s tag at Pukekohe Park on Boxing Day when recording a well-deserved victory in the Cambridge Stud Zabeel Classic (2050m).
Hat-Trick for Trelawney Stud Blueblood Filly
Well-related Trelawney Stud filly Madiyya signed off her three-year-old season with a third straight win, this time over 1600m in the A$150,000 Rod Griffiths Handicap at Caulfield on Saturday.
Contributer Mare Wins G2 Rich Hill Mile
Just like in so many other showpiece racedays in New Zealand in the last few seasons, Te Akau Racing ran rampant through the black-type features on New Year’s Day at Te Rapa.
Ears Back Wins Listed Stakes at Wanganui
A two-race North Island campaign has ended on a career-defining high for Ears Back and her Rangiora trainer John Blackadder, who scored their first black-type win in Saturday’s Listed AGC Training Stakes (1600m) at Wanganui.