Wessex (NZ) Dominates Older Rivals in Rotorua Stakes

Three-year-old filly Wessex (NZ) blew her older opposition away with a superb front-running performance in Saturday’s $85,000 Group Three Rotorua ITM Stakes (1400m).

Wessex became the ninth three-year-old filly to win the Rotorua fillies and mares’ feature in the 42-year history of the race, and the first since Oak Park (More Than Ready) in 2012. Bought for $150,000 from Karaka 2021, Wessex has had 11 starts for three wins, three placings and $115,375 in prize-money.

The Rotorua Stakes was the first win from five races this season for Wessex, but the Andrew Forsman-trained filly had previously performed with distinction against quality opposition. She ran third in the Listed Fillies’ Stakes (1200m) in September, where one of the fillies that beat her was subsequent Group One winner Romancing The Moon (NZ) (El Roca).

In the Group Two Eight Carat Classic (1600m) on Boxing Day at Pukekohe, Wessex gave an almighty scare to the dual Group One-winning New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year Legarto (NZ) (Proisir). Wessex threw down the gauntlet and opened up a commanding lead, rounding the home turn almost a dozen lengths ahead of any other runner.

It took Legarto and the subsequent Group One performer Skew Wiff (NZ) (Savabeel) the length of the Pukekohe straight to run Wessex down, and she fought bravely and ended up a close and commendable third.

Saturday’s Rotorua Stakes was the first raceday appearance for Wessex since she contested the $1m Karaka Million 3YO Classic (1600m) in late January.

Adopting similar front-running tactics to that memorable Eight Carat Classic performance, jockey Kozzi Asano sent Wessex out to an eight-length lead and dominated the race from the front.

The gruelling track conditions began to take their toll down the straight and Wessex started to tire, but she determinedly maintained her advantage. By the time she reached the finish line, she was still a length and three-quarters ahead.

“She always seems to go her best races when she is fresh and she can get out in front, find a rhythm and just do her own thing,” Forsman said.

“It looked like she might have a wee wobble in the run home, but Kozzi did say she had plenty left and when he asked her, she was very strong to the line.

“I did think she would go a good race, because she had been working well. So when she got an uncontested lead, I was pretty confident she would be hard to run down.

“Now we will just keep her a little on the fresh side as we look at what is coming up. There is another similar race at Tauranga later in June (Listed Tauranga Classic, 1400m), so that looks like an obvious target for her.”

Vendor	Windsor Park Stud
Purchaser	Mr CW Kwok/Andrew Forsman (Hong Kong)
Breeding	Turn Me Loose – Trepidation
Sale	Lot 180, Karaka 2021 Book 1, $150,000
Bred by	Windsor Park Stud Ltd

 

Photo: Trish Dunell