Simms Davison is more than happy to play the long game with his broodmare gem Bella Carolina and her family.
O’Reilly’s daughter continues to do the Mapperley Stud principal proud with future stakes contender Stella Ma Bella the latest to shine.
Davison bred and races the Contributor filly, a sister to the Gr.1 Zabeel Classic (2000m) winner Campionessa, who was an impressive winner for trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson at her second start at Te Aroha on Sunday.
“She’s a better physical type than Campionessa, she’s more forward as a younger horse and showing that. She’s got a real physical presence about her, she’s a ripper,” Davison said.
“She will go to the three-year-old filly’s race (Gr.2 Eight Carat Classic, 1600m) at Ellerslie on Boxing Day, that’s the plan at this stage.
“I only had 10 percent of Campionessa so it’s nice to own 100 percent of a nice horse, Te Akau did a great job with her and they’re doing it again with Stella Ma Bella.”
Campionessa was also a four-time Group Two winner and is now back in the Mapperley Stud broodmare band.
“I sold Campionessa after she had been passed in twice at two different sales,” Davison said.
“I bought her back at the Gold Coast (for A$380,000) so there’s probably more money going out so far than in with that family, but hopefully it will reward us in the long term.”
A sister to Campionessa and Stella Ma Bella will be offered as Lot 306 in Mapperley’s draft at New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale in January.
“She’s a really good type, you can’t keep everything and we’ve got Campionessa and Stella Ma Bella, so I’ve got two fillies out of the family and hopefully that’s enough,” Davison said.
“Bella Carolina’s also got a really nice Profondo colt on her and she’s gone back to him, I have always supported my own stallions with those nice mares.”
Meanwhile, Campionessa has also begun her breeding career with a trip across the Tasman to Arrowfield Stud.
“She went over to The Autumn Sun, she’s positive and back here on the farm now,” Davison said.
“We wanted to breed Oaks types out of her and he’s had another huge spring, so I think we’ve made the right call.
“There was a lot of discussion about it to maybe get a bit more speed, Campionessa needed time and distance, but we decided to stick to our knitting.
“I think everyone can get a bit carried away about injecting speed, New Zealand is known for producing those Oaks type fillies so we’ve gone to a stallion we think can deliver that.” – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk
