Classy mare Campionessa has flown the flag for Te Akau Racing at the top level for a number of years, but on Saturday at Trentham, her younger stablemate Qali Al Farrasha will get her time to shine contesting the Group 1 Thorndon Mile (1600m).
The Te Akau homebred mare was among the top staying fillies last term, placing in the Group 3 Sunline Vase (2100m) and Group 1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m), earning her a tilt at the Group 1 Australasian Oaks (2000m) at Morphettville.
While she didn’t fire in her season finale, Qali Al Farrasha has made a firing four-year-old return, winning at Ellerslie before recording narrow placings at Te Rapa and Pukekohe, the latter to Nereus in the Group 3 Counties Cup (2100m).
“She’s not very big and doesn’t carry a lot of condition, but she’s very game,” said Sam Bergerson, who trains the mare in partnership with Mark Walker.
“I thought her runs this time around have been very good, she goes out there and tries hard, which her record reflects.
“She’s freshened up nicely and we were planning to go to the Rich Hill Mile (Group 2, 1600m) last week, but she got quite a few points from the Counties Cup and would’ve been carrying 56.5kg. We elected to wait and she’s got 53kg in a pretty even field on Saturday, and she’s got a nice barrier, which gives us options.”
As reflected in the market with horse racing bookmakers, the field for this year’s edition is relatively even, with Marotiri Molly currently on top at $5. However, the big mover early has been Qali Al Farrasha, shortening from $21 to $12 with BlondeBet.
Bergerson, while knowing the size of the task, has faith his charge is more than capable of figuring in another elite-level finish at Trentham.
“She hasn’t missed the top three many times in her career and she raced well at Wellington in the Oaks,” he said.
“It’s a big ask at Group One level now, but we think she’s up to it.”
Horse racing news
