El Roca Mare Wins Stella Artois Championship Qualifier

Media Release - Monday November 27

Frank Ritchie had anything but a relaxed watch as Gwen’s Daughter descended down the Pukekohe straight on Saturday, but he was delighted when she prevailed in the Stella Artois Championship Qualifier (1500m).

The mare had run second behind an impressive Uderzo a week prior at Tauranga but may have been much closer having veered towards the outer rail in the closing stages, and came into Saturday’s event rated a $10.90 fifth-favourite with TAB bookmakers.

With the addition of blinkers at Pukekohe, Gwen’s Daughter shot out of the gates alGwen's Daughter on her way to victory in the Stella Artois 1500 Championship Qualifier at Pukekohe. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Imagesmost a length clear of her 13 race-rivals under Ashvin Goindasamy, before slotting into a comfortable trailing position on the fence behind bold pacemaker In Her Presence.

The daughter of El Roca travelled strongly into the home straight taking up the lead effortlessly, and despite attempting to veer outwards in her typical fashion from the 200m, displayed raw ability to hold off Navigator and Slipper Island by three-quarters-of-a-length.

“She’s a genuine mare, but she’s got to have a little bit of cut in the ground, so we were pleased she got that one,” Ritchie said.

“She has got one bad habit, as soon as she hits the front she just wanders. We put blinkers on her initially to try and keep her going straight but she still wobbles. A couple of times she’s gone right out towards the outside fence and cost herself races.

“She’s just that sort of mare really, doesn’t have that much confidence in herself.”

The victory assures Gwen’s Daughter a place in the Stella Artois 1500 Championship Final on Boxing Day at Pukekohe, however, Ritchie is cautious of dry track conditions before confirming her start.

“She’ll have to have a suitable track, it came back to a Good3 on Saturday, but I thought it might’ve been a Good4, which I think is her limit. She just can’t cope with it too hard,” he said.

Advertisement

“I probably won’t be giving her another run before then, she’s got enough points now to get in the race and that was the first time I’ve backed her up.

“She’s very tall and long-barrelled and doesn’t carry a lot of condition, so I found it better giving her time between races.

“We’ll be wishing for some rain around that time to keep it that way, if we do get that she’ll start and then out for a spell.”

Ritchie is in the ownership of the five-year-old, while he also trained her talented dam Gwen’s Rules who recorded nine victories and several black-type performances, including finishing runner-up in the 2003 Gr.1 Railway Stakes (1200m).

“Her mother was a lovely mare and she ran second in the Railway, even though she used to tie-up badly and had a number of issues,” he said.

“I loved her, she was a wonderful racehorse and put everything into it.”

Peter Archer, a Cambridge-based breeder and owner, had purchased Gwen’s Rules for just $9,000, and a number of years later bred her daughter alongside Westbury Thoroughbreds, who has now recorded three wins and five minor placings from 15 starts. – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

Advertisment
More Reading...
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.
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.
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).
Pericles Turns Back the Clock
Six year-old Street Boss (USA) gelding Pericles won the Group II ATC Tramway Stakes (1400m) two years ago in 2023 when trained by James Cummings and he repeated the effort at Randwick on Saturday, but this time he is in the care of Bjorn Baker.
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.
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.
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).
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.
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.