Campionessa (NZ) All Class in Cal Isuzu Stakes

In the almost five years since she failed to meet her $70,000 reserve at Karaka 2019, quality mare Campionessa (NZ) (Contributer) has earned almost 10 times that amount with four black-type wins, including another supreme performance in Saturday’s $175,000 Group Two Cal Isuzu Stakes (1600m) at Te Rapa, when later acquired by David Ellis.

From 26 starts, Campionessa has now recorded nine wins, five seconds and three thirds. She has earned $677,840 in stakes for the Te Akau Campionessa Syndicate.

Saturday’s fillies and mares’ feature was one of the most convincing performances of her high-class career. It came three weeks after her victory in the Group Two Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1400m) at Pukekohe, and she became only the fourth horse to win both races in the same season – joining Just Apollo (NZ) (Gay Apollo) in 1995, Calveen (NZ) (Canny Lad) in 2004 and Ruud Van Slaats (NZ) (Van Nistelrooy) in 2008.

Positioned in a perfect spot just behind the leaders by jockey Opie Bosson, Campionessa was travelling with ominous ease approaching the home turn and quickly took command in the straight.

A brilliant turn of foot sent Campionessa well clear of her eight rivals, and she swept to victory by two lengths from the strong-finishing Zaila (Street Boss) and Polygon (NZ) (Highly Recommended).

“We got into a good spot and she travelled beautifully throughout the race,” Bosson said. “That win in the Auckland Breeders’ Stakes the other day gave her a lot of confidence. Even in her trackwork, she’s been stepping up and really wanting to do it. Today she came out and showed how good she is.

“She’s on the way up, full of confidence and you can’t knock her on that win today.”

Campionessa was a dual Group One placegetter last season, finishing second behind Sharp ‘N’ Smart (NZ) (Redwood) in the Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m) and second to Prowess (NZ) (Proisir) in the New Zealand Stakes (2050m). Trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson will now give her the opportunity to go one better in the Zabeel Classic (2050m) at Pukekohe on Boxing Day.

“She’s come back from a short freshen-up in fantastic form,” Bergerson said. “She’s back in the groove. She was aided by a fantastic ride from Opie, who got her into a lovely spot. She relaxed beautifully, was presented at the right time and was strong to the line.

“It’s all systems go for the Zabeel Classic now. As long as she comes through today well, we’ll press on for that. Going up to 2000 metres will be ideal for her and she finished so strongly today, so all being well, she should be bang on.”

Bred and sold by Mapperley Stud’s Simms Davison, Campionessa is one of five winners from six foals to race out of the three-race-winning mare Bella Carolina (NZ) (O’Reilly). Remarkably, three of Bella Carolina’s progeny have been stakes winners. Campionessa is the headline act with her three stakes wins, while Tennessee (NZ) (Per Incanto) and Leedox (NZ) (Time Test) both won Listed races.