Trelawney Stud Owned Written Tycoon Mare on Track for G2 Westbury Classic

Media Release - Monday January 13

Fast-improving mare Acquarello produced the perfect dress rehearsal for her Karaka Millions Night assignment at Ellerslie on Sunday, putting away a compact field of class horses in the Auckland Co-Op Taxis (1400m).

The daughter of Written Tycoon has scarcely put a foot wrong throughout her five-year-old term, finishing in the first three at every start including a victory in the Gr.3 Canterbury Breeders’ Stakes (1400m) and a second placing to subsequent Group One winner Provence in the Royal Descent Stakes (1400m).

Acquarello (outside) on her way to winning Sunday's Auckland Co-Op Taxis (1400m) at Ellerslie.  Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images)

With a focus on the $500,000 Gr.2 Westbury Classic (1400m) on January 25, Acquarello needed Sunday’s race which fortunately went ahead despite just four nominations, which included last year’s champion three-year-old Orchestral.

Orchestral had opened an odds-on favourite with TAB bookmakers, but punters were hesitant to back the star mare at a distance short of her best, instead putting their faith in Acquarello, with the pair both jumping at $2.10.

Unsurprisingly, the race was immediately a tactical affair, with Ace Lawson-Carroll taking Shamus up to lead at a sedate tempo ahead of Acquarello, while Orchestral was slow to jump and settled last inside of Pour The Wine. After such a slow pace, it was always going to be a sprint home and Shamus gave a sight for a long way, but Acquarello got the better of him late under Michael McNab, powering over the top to score comfortably by a half-length.

Pour The Wine was a further three-quarters of a length back in third, while Orchestral had picked up late, but was unable to catch the first pair and remained in the same position she had been in throughout.

McNab has been Acquarello’s regular rider since her Riccarton success and the top hoop was pleased with the performance.

“She was good, she was really sharp and has made good improvement from first-up to today,” he said.

Advertisement

“Hopefully she can improve off that again into the Westbury, so I’m really happy with her.

“The competition is obviously going to be a lot stiffer, but she had a good hit-out today and she gave me a really good feel. She’s going to be competitive.”

Pike shared a similar opinion, indicating the mare’s solid stature was always going to benefit from another lead-in run.

“That was nice heading forward into the Westbury Classic,” he said. “She’s a very big mare, obviously fresh-up the other day she probably needed that run and had a big blow afterwards, and she probably needed this run today to top her off.

“Shamus is a pretty handy horse in his own right and she took a while to get him, but she was good through the line and won it quite comfortably in the end.

“Thank you to NZTR and Auckland for putting the race on for us, it mapped out perfectly for her. She was good through the line and I’m looking forward to Karaka Millions Night now.”

Racing in the colours of owners Trelawney Stud, Acquarello was bred by Rifa Mustang and purchased for A$400,000 at the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale out of Sledmere Stud’s draft. Having had just the 14 starts, she has recorded five wins, four minor placings and $243,667 in stakes earnings. – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

Advertisment

Race Result - Auckland Co-Op Taxis Hcp 1400m

Ellerslie Track: Good(4) Time: 1:25.63
1
Acquarello
- 5m Written Tycoon (AUS) x River Pebbles (AUS) (Al Maher (AUS))
Tnr: A W Pike Rdr: M J Mc Nab 54
Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale $400,000
Seller: Sledmere Stud, Scone
Buyer: Andrew Williams Bloodstock
2
0.5
Shamus
- 6g Shamexpress (NZ) x Chesapeake (NZ) (Per Incanto (USA))
Tnr: M & K Murdoch Rdr: A Lawson-Carroll 59
NZB Ready to Run Sale $85,000
Seller: Woburn Farm
Buyer: Mr SA Sharrock
3
1.3
Pour The Wine
- 5m Telperion (AUS) x Needlly (NZ) (O'reilly (NZ))
Tnr: Barbara Kennedy Rdr: W B Kennedy 54
4
1.5
Orchestral
- 4m Savabeel (AUS) x Symphonic (NZ) (O'reilly (NZ))
Tnr: R James & R Wellwood Rdr: C J Grylls 60
More Reading...
Extreme Choice share tops May (Early) Sale at $540,000
A share in world class stallion Extreme Choice topped tonight’s Inglis Digital May (Early) Online Sale, selling for $540,000.
Sires With Winners - Wednesday May 14
Here is the full list of 45 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Written Tycoon Mare Wins G3 for Trelawney Stud
Patiently handled mare Acquarello has the looks to match her rich pedigree and she’s now added winning black-type form to her record to boost her future broodmare value.
The Oaks Stud Confirm 2025 Sire Roster
The Oaks Stud has announced its 2025 stallion line-up, headlined by U S Navy Flag, who will stand for $12,500 + GST.
Another Smart Winner for Kings Legacy
Just days after posting his first stakes-winner when Steel Trap won the Group III SAJC David Coles AM Stakes in Adelaide, King’s Legacy has produced another promising winner.
Promising Savabeel Filly Scores for Te Akau
Craig Grylls’ near-unassailable lead in the national jockey’s premiership was given a further boost early at Matamata on Wednesday, with deserving maiden winner Viva Glam featuring in his winning treble.
More Success for Maori Chief
A homebred for Go Bloodstock, well bred I Am Invincible gelding Maori Chief has a spring in his step at present and made it back-to-back wins at Randwick when scoring on Wednesday.
Dundeel 2YO Wins for Go Racing
New Zealand syndicator Go Racing looks like they have struck gold once again from the same source following Alacritous’ impressive maiden victory in the Entain/NZB Insurance Pearl Series (1200m) at Matamata on Wednesday.
Queensland Oaks Potential for Blueblood Dundeel Filly
Dundeel has had a flurry of female stakes-winners this season including Group I SA Derby winner Femminile and Richard Litt is hopeful his filly Ella Hazel can add her name to the tally.
One to Watch – Randwick
A two year-old Zoustar filly that is a three-quarter sister-in-blood to Group I winner Mizzy and was purchased for a modest $250,000 as a yearling looks to have been well bought after making a winning debut at Randwick on Wednesday.