Shorter Distance No Obstacle for Renaissance Woman (NZ)

After showing real class over longer distances as a three-year-old last season, quality Karaka graduate Renaissance Woman (NZ) (Reliable Man) played a starring role at a much shorter trip in Saturday’s A$250,000 Group Three Angst Stakes (1600m) at Randwick.

Bought by Attunga Stud for $250,000 from Westbury Stud’s Book 1 draft at Karaka 2021, Renaissance Woman has now had 14 starts for four wins, a second and A$509,200 in prize-money.

The Bjorn Baker-trained Renaissance Woman was a multiple black-type performer as a three-year-old, winning the Group Three Ethereal Stakes (2000m) at Caulfield last spring and the Listed Gold Coast Bracelet (1800m) in the autumn. She also ran second in the Group Two Doomben Roses (2000m) and fourth in the Group One Queensland Oaks (2200m).

Saturday’s Angst was the second start of Renaissance Woman’s new preparation, and despite being over a shorter distance, her quality again shone through with a highly impressive performance.

Rider Josh Parr had her in sixth place before bringing her to the outside and releasing the brakes at the top of the home straight. She roared home over the top of Ausbred Flirt (Maurice), reaching the finish line three-quarters of a length ahead and stopping the clock at a quick 1:34.70.

“She was explosive,” Parr said. “I'm so happy to win on her. She's just a lovely mare now. She's taken that progression from three-year-old filly to a really strong mare.

“To sprint like that twice at the mile in this preparation, I think, is a big feather in Bjorn and his team's cap, because they've kept her sharp enough to be able to show that. But she’s as fit as a trout and she ran through the line hard.”