G2 Travis Stakes Win for Sacred Falls Mare

Media Release - Saturday April 29

Progressive mare Aromatic rounded out her current campaign with another impressive victory when she cruised home in the Gr.2 Travis Stakes (2000m) at Te Rapa.

Opie Bosson eases Aromatic to the finish line as they complete a comprehensive victory at Te Rapa Photo: Trish Dunell

The grey six-year-old has gone to a new level in her performance lately with little luck when running sixth at Group One level in the New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m) two starts back followed by a comprehensive win in the Gr.3 Manawatu Breeders’ Stakes (2000m) a fortnight ago.

With trainer Mark Walker suggesting this was most likely the last run of the season, the daughter of Sacred Falls showed she was heading to the spelling paddock at the peak of her powers as she dominated proceedings in the final stages of the contest in the hands of Opie Bosson.

Bosson had Aromatic perfectly positioned one off the fence in midfield throughout as three-year-old filly Sakura Girl, who started race favourite ($2.80), set up a steady pace.

Just as Sakura Girl tried to establish a winning break at the 300m, Bosson and Aromatic swooped on her and dashed clear to win by just on two lengths with Saint Alice boxing on nicely for third.

Walker was pleased to see the mare finish off so strongly on the Soft5 surface after preferring wetter conditions earlier in her career.

“She’s in great form and she has gone to another level in the second part of the season,” Walker said.

“I think she is more mature now and over all the niggles she has had throughout her career.

“I saw her come up underneath Opie around the 600m and I thought it was going to take something pretty good to beat her.”

Advertisement

Bosson admitted he couldn’t believe how well the mare had travelled throughout the race.

“She got into a good spot with the speed on and relaxed beautifully,” he said.

“I had a lapful of horse turning in and once she balanced up, she was very impressive.

“She is full of confidence now and when mares hit form, they hold it for a while and she is definitely in form.”

Aromatic was purchased out of breeder Milan Park’s draft at New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale by Te Akau chief David Ellis for $160,000 and is a daughter of the Gr.3 Taranaki Cup (2000m) winner Vickezzchardonnay.

She is a half-sister to the stakes placed Splendido and comes from an extended family that includes stakes performers The Mighty Finn and Fifty Fifty.

She has now won six of her 27 starts, with three of those victories at stakes level and over $341,000 in prizemoney. – NZ Racing Desk

Advertisment
More Reading...
Aussie Bred Asfoora Wins Third G1 on Arc Day in France
Victorians breeders celebrated overnight with Aussie bred and owned Flying Artie mare Asfoora returning to her dazzling best on one of the world’s biggest stages to win the Group I Prix de l’Abbaye de Longchamp (1000m) with a scintillating performance on Arc Day in France.
Surprise Bart Cummings Victory Secures Valiant King Melbourne Cup Run
It’s not often you see a runner from the Chris Waller stable go around at 50/1 odds, but 6yo gelding Valiant King (GB) produced an outstanding effort to win Saturday’s $350,000 Group 3 VRC Bart Cummings (2520m) at Flemington, securing himself a run in this year’s $10m Gr1 VRC Melbourne Cup (3200m).
First G1 Winner for St Marks Basilica - 1.7million Filly Undefeated
The top lot at the 2025 Arqana Deauville August Yearling Sale was a blueblood St Mark’s Basilica filly from blue hen Prudenzia that sold for €1.7million to MV Magnier and she became the first Group I winner for her sire when charging home to win the Group I Prix Marcel Boussac (1600m) at Longchamp.
Historic Day in Kalgoorlie - Old Meets the New
Kalgoorlie knows how to party, and on Cup day 2025 the party was big!
More Stakes Success for Sacred Falls Mare Aromatic
Ideal placement by Mark Walker and a perfect ride from Opie Bosson at Awapuni on Friday paved the way for Aromatic to comfortably add further stakes success to her record.
First Stakes Horse for Home Affairs
The Group III ATC Breeders Plate (1000m) at Randwick on Saturday attracted a strong field of talented colts from the recent official 2YO trials in Sydney and Home Affairs looks to have a quality youngster in I’m Ya Huckleberry.
Media World Adds to Millionaire Yearling Stakes Success
Stakes racing on Saturday produced a number of stakes-winners purchased for seven figures as yearlings in Australia with $1.8million Inglis Easter sale-topper Autumn Glow leading the way in the Group I ATC Epsom after earlier success for $1million 2YO Incognito, while at Flemington $1.4million entire Media World took out the Listed VRC Paris Lane Stakes (1400m).
Wootton Bassett G1 Double on Arc Day
The shattering loss of Wootton Bassett (GB) has been highlighted at Longchamp in France on Arc Day where the champion sire added two new Group I winners to his tally in 2YO colt Puerto Rico and the former Aussie owned 3YO colt Maranoa Charlie.
Rising HK Star for Embellish
Bulb General continued his electric form in Hong Kong to bring loftier targets into play for the son of Embellish.
Aga Khan Homebred 3YO Colt - 2025 Arc de Triomphe Winner
The Group I Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (2400m) was run overnight at Longchamp and one of the world’s great races produced a thriller with blueblood €1.85 millionsale-topping Frankel filly Minnie Hauk going down by a head to the Aga Khan homebred Sea the Stars colt Daryz.