Quintessential (NZ) Wins G1 Queensland Oaks

Kiwi filly Quintessential (NZ) added her name to the illustrious list of winners of the A$400,000 Group 1 Queensland Oaks (2400m) yesterday at Eagle Farm heading a New Zealand bred trifecta.  

In doing so Quintessential has maintained New Zealand's strong record in the race making it three straight Queensland Oaks titles for New Zealand bred horses. Scarlett Lady (NZ) (Savabeel) won the race last year with Miss Keepsake (NZ) (Keeper) taking honours in 2010. The daughter of Fast 'N' Famous has also secured back-to-back titles for New Zealand Bloodstock graduates.  

Trained by leading New Zealand trainer John Sargent, Quintessential (Fast 'N' Famous x Florette) outstayed her rivals over the 2400 metre trip in testing heavy conditions. In a top performance, she got the better of the fellow kiwi bred and Chris Waller trained Eliza Blues (NZ) (O'Reilly) with Vittoria (NZ) (Postponed) back in third.  

Producing a solid turn of foot that saw her win the Group 3 Desert Gold Stakes (1600m) at Trentham in January, a leg of New Zealand Bloodstock's Filly of the Year Series, Saturday's winning margin was two-and-a-half lengths.

The victory gave John Sargent his first Group 1 winner in Australia and also gave her sire Fast 'N' Famous his first Group 1 winner, with Quintessential from his first crop.

Third in the Group 1 New Zealand Oaks to Artistic (Darci Brahma) who also raced in the Queensland Oaks, Sargent was unsure if Quintessential would handle the wet conditions and was full of praise for jockey Damien Browne.

"We thought we better use the draw because you just can't get back on this ground and he rode her perfectly. He got off at the right spot at the 600m, and then off home," said Sargent.

With the Group 1 Queensland Derby on Saturday, Sargent will see how Quintessential comes through the race before deciding if she will take her place against the boys.

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.

Her 11 career starts have seen her take four wins and four placings with Saturday's victory taking her stakes earnings to over A$265,000.

New Zealand bred fillies have a wonderful record in the Queensland Oaks winning the Group 1 classic nine times since 2000 with Giovana, Ethereal, Zagalia, Vouvray, Eskimo Queen, Miss Keepsake, Scarlett Lady and now Quintessential.