Prowess (NZ) Soars to Sydney Group One

New Zealand had already been left in no doubt about the quality of exceptional Karaka graduate Prowess (NZ) (Proisir), and Saturday’s A$600,000 Group One Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill made a similar impact on the opposite side of the Tasman.

A runaway victory on Australian debut was the seventh win of a nine-start career for Prowess, who was bought for $230,000 from the draft of breeders Hallmark Stud at Karaka 2021. The standout filly has now earned more than $1.2m in stakes, and she became the third New Zealand three-year-old to win a Group One in Australia this season – joining fellow Karaka graduates Sharp ‘N’ Smart (NZ) (Redwood) and Legarto (NZ) (Proisir).

“I’ve thought for a long time that she could be the best I’ve trained,” said Roger James, who trains Prowess in partnership with Robert Wellwood. “She is a superstar, this filly. She is bloody good. She is an absolute gem.

“She does things that I haven’t had another horse be able to do. I’ve had Zonda (NZ) (Zabeel), who was always the benchmark, and Silent Achiever (NZ) (O’Reilly), and I’ve won this race before with Sixty Seconds (NZ) (Centaine) – I’ve had some lovely horses over the years, but this filly does special things.

“I have travelled a lot of horses to Australia, and not many settle in like she did. And this is her first trip away, so she’s only going to get better. She is a star in the making.”

Prowess has been undefeated in five starts since New Year’s Day, having previously strung together successive victories on home soil in the Group Two Auckland Guineas (1600m), the $1m Karaka Million 3YO Classic (1600m), the Group Two David & Karyn Ellis Fillies’ Classic (2000m), and against older horses at weight-for-age in the Group One Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes (2050m).

Saturday brought more of the same in Sydney. Jockey Mark Zahra got Prowess to settle into a smooth rhythm in third place behind Soul Choice (Redoute’s Choice) and the highly rated Pavitra (American Pharoah).

Zahra waited until that pair’s riders went for gold at the top of the straight, then angled Prowess across their heels and into clear air on their outside.

It was all about Prowess from there. She bounded past the leaders with powerful strides and soared clear, winning by three and a quarter lengths. Pavitra held on for second, with last year’s Golden Slipper (1200m) heroine Fireburn (Rebel Dane) third.

“It took a while to get her covered up, but when she did, she went to sleep,” Zahra said. “I had to wait for the two in front to kick before I could ease off their heels. It’s not easy to do that – having two not-bad horses kick – and she was able to change gears. She had them reeled in halfway down the straight and made a mess of them.

“Watching her replays, Roger (James) said that the only chink she’s got is that she gets a bit wayward in a bit of room. But once I got the whip over her and had a bit of focus, I was able to sit up and enjoy the Group One.

“She gave me a good feel cantering around. I felt power under there. The spot I was in, I had to let them kick to get room. She did idle a bit when I got out, had a bit of a look. But when I give her one and pressed the button, I had them covered in 200 metres. The last 200 metres was ‘sit back and enjoy the show’.

“I’m very thankful to Roger and the owners for the ride. Good on them, they brought her here in fine fettle. For her to come here and win like that is a great feather in their cap.”

Some of the highest praise for Prowess came from her opposition, including Pavitra’s rider Chad Schofield.

“She ran well,” he said. “Our race went to plan. Full credit to the winner – we got beaten by an absolute weapon.”

James and Wellwood will resist the temptation of staying in Sydney for the Group One Australian Oaks (2400m).

“She’ll head home in the morning,” James said. “The world is her oyster. Without being silly, there is a lot of money to be had as an older horse in Australia, and she’s had quite a big season. She’s been to the South Island and back, she is still learning her game too. We’ll get home and enjoy what we’ve just seen now and we can make plans from there. She’s pretty versatile – she’s capable anywhere from 1400 to 2000 metres.”

Prowess has been part of an extraordinary season for Rich Hill Stud stallion Proisir, who has also sired fellow Group One winners Dark Destroyer (NZ), Pier (NZ), Legarto and Levante (NZ).

Vendor	Hallmark Stud
Purchaser	Mr RA James/Mr R Wellwood (Waikato)
Breeding	Proisir – Donna Marie
Sale	Lot 353, Karaka 2021 Book 1, $230,000
Bred by	Hallmark Stud Ltd