Wrote Filly Wins G2 Lowland

Media Release - Friday March 8

This weekend is set to be one of the biggest in Chad Ormsby’s career, and the Cambridge trainer kicked it off in style with Pulchritudinous winning Friday’s Gr.2 Little Avondale Lowland Stakes (2000m) at Taupo.

The three-year-old fillies’ feature was run less than 24 hours out from tomorrow’s Gr.1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m) at Flemington, in which Ormsby will saddle his unbeaten star sprinter Master Fay.

Pulchritudinous winning Friday’s Gr.2 Little Avondale Lowland Stakes (2000m) at Taupo.  Photo: Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North)

“You can’t really ask for a better way to kick off the weekend,” Ormsby said. “Any win is always good, but a bit of black type for a lovely filly like her just makes it even better.”

Pulchritudinous was bought by Ormsby under his Riverrock Farm banner for $32,500 from Book 2 of Karaka 2022. She was a stylish maiden winner in the second start of her career at Tauranga in October, then recorded one placing from her three appearances since then. A strong finish for a last-start third over 1600m on February 11 gave the impression that she was looking for further.

Pulchritudinous stepped up to 2000m for the first time in Friday’s Lowland, which was rescheduled from last week’s abandoned meeting at Hastings. Ridden by Joe Doyle, Pulchritudinous settled in sixth place behind a solid pace set by Harlow Rocks and Leave A Light On. She was cruising along beside the rail, with warm favourite Sudbina just in front of her and on her outside.

Sudbina loomed out wide on the track at the home turn, and Pulchritudinous surged through and quickly joined her on her inside. They matched motors for a few strides before Pulchritudinous pulled clear, kicking away to win by a length and three-quarters from the dead-heat second placegetters Race Ace and Sign Of Peace.

Pulchritudinous has now had six starts for two wins, a placing and $101,705 in stakes.

“We were expecting and hoping that she’d put in a good performance today,” said Ormsby, who also shares in the ownership along with four others. “Her work had gone to another level recently, so the signs were pretty good. She went out there today and showed that she’s starting to put things together.

Advertisement

“She enjoyed a lovely run and had the favourite outside her. They were on level terms there for a while in the straight, but then she just found that little bit more with her fresher legs. It was great to see.”

Pulchritudinous moved in from $26 to $10 on the TAB’s market for the Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand Oaks (2400m) at Trentham next Saturday, but Ormsby will wait until early next week before deciding whether she will back up.

“What we do with her now is all going to depend on how she comes through this,” he said. “I’m obviously in Melbourne for the next few days, so I’ll run my eye over her on Monday or Tuesday once I’m back. She’s nominated for the Oaks, and it could be a great race to target with her, but it just depends on how she comes through this and whether she’s ready to go again on that tight turnaround.”

Pulchritudinous was bred by Tony Rider and has now joined Wrote To Arataki and Best Seller as the third stakes-winning daughter of Highview Stud stallion Wrote.

Meanwhile, Ormsby reported that Master Fay has continued to have a flawless build-up to his shot at Australian Group One gold in Saturday’s Newmarket.

“He’s ticked all the boxes and is thriving while he’s been over here in Melbourne,” he said. “He’s gained weight since he’s been here and is looking great. I’m excited for tomorrow.” – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

Advertisment

Race Result - Little Avondale Lowland Stakes (G2) Gr2 2000m

Taupo Track: Soft(5) Time: 2:04.38
1
Pulchritudinous
- 3f Wrote (IRE) x Showus (NZ) (Pentire (GB))
Tnr: C K Ormsby Rdr: Joe Doyle 56.5
2
1.8
Race Ace
- 3f Swiss Ace (AUS) x Megan's Tough Love (USA) (Rahy (USA))
Tnr: F J Auret Rdr: S R Weatherley 56.5
2
1.8
Sign Of Peace
- 3f Preferment (NZ) x Little Dove (NZ) (Pierro (AUS))
Tnr: A W Pike Rdr: M J Mc Nab 56.5
4
2.5
Harlow Rocks
- 3f Roc De Cambes (NZ) x Show Up (NZ) (Show A Heart (AUS))
Tnr: A W Pike Rdr: R T Elliot 56.5
5
3.3
Wren
- 3f Vespa (NZ) x Dottie (NZ) (Nom Du Jeu (NZ))
Tnr: Andrew Forsman Rdr: M Hashizume 56.5
6
3.4
Sudbina
- 3f Almanzor (FR) x Destined (GB) (Danehill (USA))
Tnr: R James & R Wellwood Rdr: K Asano 56.5
7
4.6
Chantilly Lace
- 3f U S Navy Flag (USA) x On The Move (AUS) (More Than Ready (USA))
Tnr: C A Bambry Rdr: C J Grylls 56.5
8
6.4
Inspired By Art
- 3f So You Think (NZ) x La Bella Delicia (NZ) (O'reilly (NZ))
Tnr: Mark Walker & Sam Bergerson Rdr: W B Kennedy 56.5
9
7.1
Leave A Light On
- 3f Eminent (IRE) x Domani Oro (NZ) (Don Eduardo (NZ))
Tnr: Ms J Millar Rdr: C Dell 56.5
10
7.2
Sakura Season
- 3f El Roca (AUS) x Lunada (NZ) (Pins (AUS))
Tnr: Ben & Ryan Foote Rdr: C R Barnes 56.5
11
9.7
Khanshe
- 3f Mongolian Khan (AUS) x Folies Bergere (NZ) (O'reilly (NZ))
Tnr: F J Auret Rdr: M Cameron 56.5
More Reading...
NZ Oaks Winner Pulchitrudinous Could Be Sold
Last Saturday’s Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) heroine Pulchritudinous could head to Sydney for the Gr.1 Australian Oaks (2400m) at Randwick next month, it just may not be with current trainer Chad Ormsby.
2025 G1 The Metropolitan Field and Barrier Draw
Chris Waller and Ciaron Maher are set to have half of the Group I Metropolitan field between them with the Waller trained Birdman an easing favourite after drawing a wide gate for Saturday’s race.
NZ Oaks Winner Strikes Form in Australia for Yulong
Last year’s Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) winner Pulchritudinous landed her first blow across the Tasman with a gritty victory in the Gr.3 Magic Millions Fillies & Mares Mile (1600m) at Doomben on Saturday for trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott.
2025 G1 Epsom Handicap Field and Barrier Draw
The field and barrier draw has been decided for the Group I Epsom Handicap on Saturday with odds-on favourite and unbeaten mare Autumn Glow drawing the extreme outside gate in a field of 14.
Sires With Winners - Tuesday September 30
Here is the full list of 27 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Resolute Racing Purchase Top Lot Goffs Orby Day 1
The Goffs Orby Yearling Sale kicked off overnight and the top lot on Day 1 was a colt by Blue Point purchased by John Stewart’s Resolute Bloodstock for €675,000, while Wootton Bassett produced the top selling filly, whose half-brother Trinity College is now in Australia.
NZ Oaks Winner to Join Waterhouse Bott Stable
Impressive last-start Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) winner Pulchritudinous will continue her racing career in Australia following her sale this week.
Karaka Million Dreaming for Out of the Blue
Te Akau Racing marketing manager Julia-Rose Hayes has had plenty of success syndicating horses selected by her father, David Ellis, and that has continued with her latest syndicate.
Goffs Orby Day 2 - Trio of Million Dollar Yearling Fillies
The second day of the Goffs Orby Yearling Sale took off overnight with three individual yearlings selling for a million or more with the full sister to dual Group I winning champion 2YO Colt Blackbeard selling for €1.9 million to MV Magnier.
Autumn Glow Epsom Challenge - Just How Big Is This Task?
With the unbeaten Autumn Glow set to run as the first odds-on favourite this century in the Epsom Handicap on Saturday we thought we’d run some data to see how big this mountain is that she’s attempting to climb, and turns out, it’s pretty big.