Quintessential (NZ) Back to Best With Gr.3 Win

Group 1 Queensland Oaks winner Quintessential (NZ) made a successful return to winning form and confirmed her Group 2 Brisbane Cup target with victory in Saturday’s A$115,000 Group 3 Chairman’s Handicap (2100m) at Eagle Farm.

The John Sargent trained Quintessential (Fast ‘N’ Famous x Florette) won the Group 1 Queensland Oaks last season before running second to fellow Karaka graduate Brambles (NZ) in the Group 1 Queensland Derby. Saturday’s win was the mare’s first since her Oaks victory last year.

Quintessential won the G1 Queensland Oaks last season and is being aimed at the G2 Brisbane Cup in June

The daughter of Fast ‘N’ Famous left for the Brisbane Winter Carnival after showing that she was close to returning to her best form when finishing third to Pimms Time in the Group 3 Travis Stakes at her last start in New Zealand.

Saturday’s Group 3 saw Quintessential ridden by jockey Damien Browne who rode the four-year-old to her Oaks victory last season. After drawing barrier 13, Quintessential had to work early to settle just off the pace and after hitting the front 300 metres from home, she held on bravely to win by half-a-length.

Trainer John Sargent commented after the race that Quintessential was not at her best during the spring and her winter target is the Group 2 Brisbane Cup (2400m) on 8 June.

Bred by Trelawney Thoroughbreds, Quintessential is raced by Nearco Stud and was purchased by Adrian Clark from Trelawney Stud at New Zealand Bloodstock’s 2010 Karaka Select Sale for $70,000.

Saturday’s win was Quintessential’s fifth from 20 starts and has taken her career earnings to A$547,809.