New SW for Contributer

Media Release - Saturday March 18

A weaving run from near last on the home turn by enigmatic mare Maria Farina to claim the Listed Jennian Homes Wellington Lightning Handicap (1200m), provided the Weatherley family with a stunning stakes double on a day of high drama for their small team.

 Maria Farina (inner) denies race favourite Shamus as she wins the Listed Jennian Homes Wellington Lighting Handicap (1200m) Photo: Race Images – Peter Rubery

Earlier on the card they had taken out the Listed Barneswood Farm New Zealand St Leger (2600m) with progressive stayer Ess Vee Are, however the rugged four-year-old put himself squarely in the naughty corner after he lashed out suddenly in the birdcage after the race to send family patriarch Darryn to hospital with a suspected broken leg.

That left daughter and co-trainer Briar in charge of the rest of their small team entered at Trentham on the day, where she produced Maria Farina to upset hot favourite Shamus courtesy of a sensational ride by brother Sam.

Best saved for the last run, Maria Farina dropped out to the rear in the early stages and was faced by a wall of horses entering the run home.

Weatherley didn’t panic as he searched for a gap between runners before angling the five-year-old Contributer mare one off the fence inside the final furlong.

Just as Shamus was being hailed the winner, Maria Farina scorched through on his inside to deny him in the final stride and claim her fifth and most important career victory.

An emotional Briar Weatherley admitted she had a tough time coping with the stress of the occasion in the aftermath of her father’s accident.

“It is pretty emotional this one,” she said fighting back the tears.

“I’ve had a lot of time for this horse and knew she would get a big win one day and with Dad getting kicked earlier I have been on my own and a bit stressed.

“I’ve just had so many people help me, so I can’t thank them enough and I’m just so thrilled.

“Sam rode her perfectly as last start he dropped his stick when she burst clear and that probably cost her.

Advertisement

“She is a bit of a bludger at the best of times, so today he was just patient, patient and it was a ten out of ten ride.”

Briar acknowledged she knew the mare had the ability to win a stakes race and her brother agreed with that sentiment.

“This is just so special as she has always promised this,” Sam Weatherley said.

“People probably wondered why we were running her in these races, but she is such a difficult horse to ride.

“Thankfully it worked out today and this means such a lot to us and to Dad who is laid up in hospital.

“She is a half to a Group One winner (Pier) and this now means she is worth something and I’m so happy for the family.

“I think this horse is a Group One horse but given the way you have to ride her, it only works out one in every ten, so it is very special.”

Maria Farina was bred by Darryn and Lou Weatherley along with close family friend Barry Wright and is out of the Darci Brahma mare La Vitesse, who is also the dam of their Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) winner Pier.

Maria Farina has won five of her 19 starts and over $146,000. – NZ Racing Desk

Visit the profile page for Contributer

Contributer in upcoming sales:
Advertisment
More Reading...
G1 Shamus Award - Quintessa Wins Proisir Plate
The early spring has tended to bring the very best out of Quintessa, and that trend continued at Ellerslie on Saturday with a spectacular last-to-first performance at $36 odds in the Gr.1 Proisir Plate.
Contributer Mare Wins G3 King's Plate
Underrated mare Maria Farina outsprinted several of the country’s top gallopers to secure Saturday’s Gr.3 Haunui Farm King’s Plate (1200m) at Ellerslie.
Sires With Winners - Saturday September 6
Here is the full list of 106 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Front Runner Lindermann Wins Chelmsford Stakes
Capitalising on his outstanding second up form, Chris Waller’s Group 1-winning Lonhro gelding Lindermann held on to win the Group 2 ATC Chelmsford Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on Saturday.
G1 Haydock Sprint Cup Upset
Wathnan Racing were expecting to win the Group I Haydock Sprint Cup (6f) overnight with short priced race favourite Lazzat, but the best he could manage was fifth behind progressive three year-old colt Big Mojo.
Alpha Sofie Wins Listed Atlantic Jewel
A decision to transfer talented Capitalist  filly Alpha Sofie from the Queensland stable of Jason Edwards to Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman in Victoria paid immediate dividends at Moonee Valley on Saturday when she charged home to win the $175,000 Listed MRC Atlantic Jewel Stakes (1200m).
Stakes Goals Ahead for Supido Mare
Astute trainer David Payne is no stranger to G1 success and has always held Supido mare Shohisha in high regard and she showed the potential of better things to come this spring when powering home to win the Benchmark 94 event over 1600m at Randwick on Saturday.
Lightning Strikes at The Valley
It didn't carry Black Type, but the $200,000 MVRC So You Think Stakes (1500m) at Moonee Valley was packed with intrigue and G1 winners with spring aspirations.
Concorde Stakes Success For Headwall
With the first two across the line highlighting their claims for an Everest slot, Matthew Smith’s Headwall (Dream Ahead) came with a well-timed run in the $1m Group 3 ATC Concorde Stakes (1000m) to deny the unlucky Lady Shenandoah (Snitzel).
Barnstorming Performance As Baraqiel Wins G1 Moir Stakes
Off the back of his impressive last start Listed Norman Carlyon Stakes victory at the same track, Snitzel gelding Baraqiel had everyone talking, and rightfully so, as he justified the faith of his trainers, charging late to win the $750,000 Group 1 MVRC Moir Stakes (1000m) in the Bennett Racing silks.