Group One Glory for Atishu (NZ)

Group One success was the only thing missing from the CV of Atishu (NZ) (Savabeel), and the high-class Karaka graduate ticked that box in superb style in Saturday’s $1m Sydney Queen of the Turf Stakes (1600m) at Randwick. 

Bought by syndicators Go Racing for $260,000 from Book 1 of Karaka 2019, the valuable mare has now earned more than A$1.62m from a 30-start career that has produced eight wins, four seconds and six thirds.

Atishu first made a name for herself in New Zealand, winning two stakes races as an autumn three-year-old – including a stunning seven-length romp in the Listed NZB Airfreight Stakes (1600m) – and being named New Zealand Bloodstock Southern Filly of the Year.

Since crossing the Tasman to join the stable of champion expat Kiwi trainer Chris Waller for the spring of her four-year-old season, Atishu has sometimes been her own worst enemy with her barrier manners, but has still forged a highly successful career. She had already won the Group Two Matriarch Stakes (2000m) and Group Three Bill Ritchie Quality (1400m), along with five further placings at black-type level. She always looked capable of even bigger and better things, however, and on Saturday she delivered.

Again one of the slowest to leave the starting gates, Atishu settled in fifth-last but began to improve her position as the field made its way down the side of the track towards the home turn.

Under a tight hold from jockey Nash Rawiller, Atishu loomed large behind the leaders at the top of the straight, then dashed past them in the blink of an eye with a brilliant burst.

None of Atishu’s rivals could match her sparkling turn of foot, and she drew clear for an emphatic win by two and a half lengths.

“It’s pretty special and well deserved,” Waller said. “She was a bit stiff last start, but was given a beautiful ride from Nash today and just really went to a new level.

“It’s not just about the early boom horses, it’s the late developers as well, and that’s the beauty of spring and autumn – you can see things change a lot. To her credit, she didn’t have a lot go her way in the spring, but she’s got her Group One today.

“She stood flat-footed in the barriers a few times earlier in her career. She’s enjoying her racing now, she’s wanting to be there, and it showed at the 300 metres today how serious she is about being a racehorse.”

Rawiller took special satisfaction from Saturday’s Group One win, having held himself partially responsible for her unlucky and fast-finishing second in the Group Two Emancipation Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill last start.

“She’s very talented, and I want to thank the owners for giving me another ride on her after last time,” he said. “Everything went wrong in that race, and you know with one of Chris Waller’s horses, they’re going to improve, train on and be a better horse for the Group One.

“Not only that, but the jockey is going to be better for the ride too. I learned a lot about her last time, and today I was full of confidence from gate one. I was a little concerned when she got so far in front with 300 metres to go, it’s a long straight at Randwick, but I knew she would keep finding.”

Atishu was bred and sold by Waikato Stud, and she comes from one of their finest families. With Saturday’s win, she became the 31st individual Group One winner for champion sire Savabeel. Atishu’s dam is a half-sister to the exceptional Daffodil (NZ) (No Excuse Needed), who won the Australian Oaks (2400m) at this same Sydney meeting in 2009.

Atishu is a full-sister to Mazzolino (NZ) (Savabeel), who won the Group Three Desert Gold Stakes (1600m) at Trentham in January and finished fourth in the Group One Levin Classic (1600m).

Vendor	Waikato Stud Ltd
Purchaser	Go Racing (Auckland)
Breeding	Savabeel – Posy
Sale	Lot 316, Karaka 2019 Book 1, $260,000
Bred by	Waikato Stud Ltd