Second G1 Winner Contributer - Campionessa wins Zabeel Classic

Media Release - Tuesday December 26

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).

Campionessa (inside) winning the Gr.1 Cambridge Stud Zabeel Classic (2050m) at Pukekohe on Tuesday. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images)

Previously runner-up in the Gr.1 Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m) and Gr.1 Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes (2050m) earlier this year, Campionessa returned in the spring where she disappointed in her two outings at Hastings and the decision was made to put her aside for summer racing.

That decision by trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson has proven to be a masterstroke, with the daughter of Contributer recapturing form with a first-up victory in the Gr.2 Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1400m) at Pukekohe last month before winning the Gr.2 Cal Isuzu Stakes (1600m) at Te Rapa 10 days ago.

She was duly backed into $3 favouritism for Tuesday’s Zabeel Classic and didn’t disappoint her backers. After jumping away well for jockey Opie Bosson, she was settled in the trail behind pacemaker Kelly Coe and enjoyed an economical passage throughout.

Entering the straight, the pair had to fight for room in between the leader and Mazzolino and eventually found a passage. In the centre of the track, Sydney raider No Compromise was full of momentum and loomed like the winner at the 200m, but Campionessa was able to fight back and hold on for a neck victory.

Her handlers were proud of her winning effort and the tenacity she showed in the concluding stages to score her first elite-level victory.

“Things didn’t go right in the early part of the spring and we gave her a break and she has come back in such great form. When a mare gets in form they tend to hold it,” Walker said.

“She deserved that. She has had a couple of seconds in Group Ones. She dug deep to win, which was great.

“It was great for the ownership group as well, not one of them moaned when we pulled stumps in the spring when things weren’t going right. They supported us and got the rewards today.

“It was brilliant for the mare and Contributer is a very underrated stallion.”

Campionessa will now likely be set to try and avenge her defeats in the Herbie Dyke Stakes and Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes, however, Walker said she is a chance of heading across the Tasman to join Te Akau Racing’s Cranbourne barn.

Advertisement

“We will let the dust settle, but she is nominated for all of those big races. Now she has got a Group One on her CV we probably need to look at something in Australia as well,” Walker said.

Bosson was full of praise for Campionessa’s brave performance.

“We didn’t spend a penny throughout,” he said. “I tried to come out in the better ground and the horse in front (Kelly Coe) rolled out in front of me as well and we just had to push our way through.

“It was a good effort, she is tough, she picked herself up from that and fought off the other challenger. She deserved that Group One.

“She got a lot of confidence back after that win two starts back and it showed last start. She is just on the way up, she is full of confidence, and she is booming.”

Bred by Mapperley Stud principal Simms Davison, Campionessa was originally passed in at the 2019 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale after failing to meet her $70,000 reserve.

She was once again passed in at the Magic Millions sale in June, but a deal was struck with Te Akau Racing principal David Ellis for A$60,000, with Davison remaining in the ownership group.

Contributer (IRE) is the sire of Campionessa and Lion's Roar.

With Tuesday’s victory, Campionessa became her sire Contributer’s second Group One winner, joining Lion’s Roar who was victorious in the 2021 edition of the Gr.1 Randwick Guineas (1600m).

Davison stands Contributer at his Matamata farm and he will be represented by 16 yearlings in the Book 1 session of New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale at Karaka next month. – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

Visit the profile page for Contributer

Contributer in upcoming sales:
Advertisment

Race Result - Cambridge Stud Zabeel Classic Gr1 2050m

Pukekohe Park Track: Soft(5) Time: 2:07.90
1
Campionessa
- 6m Contributer (IRE) x Bella Carolina (NZ) (O'reilly (NZ))
Tnr: Mark Walker & Sam Bergerson Rdr: O P Bosson 57
2
0.3
No Compromise
- 7g Pins (AUS) x Baggy Green (AUS) (Galileo (IRE))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: R T Elliot 59
3
2.6
Aquacade
- 5m Dundeel (NZ) x Forest Of Seas (IRE) (Sea The Stars (IRE))
Tnr: L R Noble Rdr: V A Colgan 57
4
2.8
Mazzolino
- 4m Savabeel (AUS) x Posy (NZ) (No Excuse Needed (GB))
Tnr: S B Marsh Rdr: S C Spratt 56
5
3
One Bold Cat
- 5g The Bold One (NZ) x Floozie Cat (NZ) (One Cool Cat (USA))
Tnr: R J Patterson Rdr: C J Grylls 59
6
3.1
Kelly Coe
- 6m Proisir (AUS) x Floridita (AUS) (Fasliyev (USA))
Tnr: A J Meadows Rdr: M Cameron 57
7
3.7
Prise De Fer
- 8g Savabeel (AUS) x Foiled (AUS) (Snippets (AUS))
Tnr: Mark Walker & Sam Bergerson Rdr: B Shinn 59
8
4.5
Mali Ston
- 6g El Roca (AUS) x Loviste (NZ) (Black Minnaloushe (USA))
Tnr: Darryn & Briar Weatherley Rdr: S R Weatherley 59
9
4.6
Platinum Invador
- 8g Redwood (GB) x Atomic Dancer (AUS) (Danehill Dancer (IRE))
Tnr: Ms L Latta Rdr: J K Riddell 59
10
4.8
Aegon
- 6g Sacred Falls (NZ) x Toss Up (NZ) (Zabeel (NZ))
Tnr: Andrew Forsman Rdr: M J Mc Nab 59
11
4.9
Gino Severini
- 10g Fastnet Rock (AUS) x Green Castle (IRE) (Indian Ridge (IRE))
Tnr: B Wallace & G Cooksley Rdr: K Asano 59
More Reading...
McGaw Firms For Coolmore Stud Stakes After G2 Danehill Win
Considered an outside chance in betting markets, Emma-Lee and David Browne’s I Am Immortal gelding McGaw dented the reputation of a few leading Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes contenders with a fighting win in the $300,000 Gr2 VRC Danehill Stakes (1100m) at Flemington on Saturday.
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.
Australian Cup Next for Kiwi Mare Campionessa
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.
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.
Campionessa Wins G2 Breeders Stakes for Te Akau
With a rail-skimming ride aboard Campionessa in the Gr.2 Dunstan Horsefeeds Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1400m), comeback jockey Matt Cameron completed a feature double at Pukekohe on Saturday that marked his best day back in the saddle.
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.
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.
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.
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).
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).