Shamus Award Delivers G1 Victory for Te Akau

Media Release - Saturday January 13

Te Akau Racing’s dominance of the Gr.1 Cambridge Stud Levin Classic (1600m) continued at Trentham on Saturday with Quintessa clinging on in an unforgettable finish to become the sixth Group I winner for Rosemont Stud's Shamus Award..

Those familiar tangerine colours have towered over the $500,000 three-year-old feature in recent times, collecting five wins since 2017 including all of the last three in a row.

Opie Bosson guides Te Akau filly Quintessa to a deserved Gr.1 Cambridge Stud Levin Classic (1600m) victory.  Photo: Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North)

Former Te Akau trainer Jamie Richards provided the first three of those victories with Hall Of Fame in 2017, Age Of Fire in 2018 and Imperatriz in 2022. Imperatriz headed an extraordinary first four for Richards that year, with On The Bubbles, I Wish I Win and Mohawk Brave filling the minor placings.

Mark Walker has since picked up where Richards left off, saddling Romancing The Moon and Skew Wiff for a stable quinella in 2023 and striking again with Quintessa on Saturday.

Quintessa started as a $2.70 favourite and brought impeccable form into the race. She won all of her first three starts including the Gr.3 Gold Trail Stakes (1200m) at Hastings in September, then returned from a spring freshen-up with strong-finishing seconds behind Pendragon in the Wentwood Grange 3YO (1200m) and the Gr.2 Auckland Guineas (1400m).

The Shamus Award filly stepped up to 1600m for the first time on Saturday and produced another exceptional performance to prevail in one of the Levin Classic’s tightest finishes.

Quintessa took up a perfect position in sixth spot, with rider Opie Bosson keeping a close eye on the second favourite Mary Shan (third) and third favourite Impendabelle (fifth).

Michael McNab pushed the button on Impendabelle and pounced at the top of the straight, with Bosson and Quintessa following them every step of the way. Quintessa quickened smartly and thrust her head in front with more than 200m remaining, but her job was far from over.

Mary Shan, Impendabelle and Leroy Brown kept fighting for all they were worth on her inside, while Zabmanzor, Sinhaman and Certainly charged home wider out on the track. In a blanket finish with only three-quarters of a length separating the first six, it was Quintessa who dug deepest of all and snatched a thrilling win.

Quintessa a new G1 winner for Shamus Award.  Photo: Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North)

Her margin was a long head over the fast-finishing Zabmanzor, with a half-head back to third-placed Impendabelle and Mary Shan another neck away in fourth. Sinhaman was a nose behind in fifth, with a short head back to Certainly.

“As soon as I got on the back of Impendabelle, I knew that she’d take me right into the race,” Bosson said. “I was giggling turning for home. Michael thought he was going alright on Impendabelle, but I just snuck up behind him.

“My filly did start easing up a little bit once she hit the front, but she’s tough. I could see them coming out wide, I didn’t even know who they were, but I was just hoping she’d put her head down at the right time.

“She doesn’t show much at home – the lead pony could probably beat her on the training track. But she really shows up on raceday.”

Quintessa brought Bosson closer to a major career milestone, giving him his 96th win at Group One level.

“I’m just blessed to have this job that I’ve got with Te Akau,” he said. “David Ellis buys amazing horses for me to ride.”

The sixth Group I winner for Shamus Award, Quintessa certainly fits that description. Ellis paid $170,000 to buy her from the draft of Wentwood Grange at Karaka 2022. Her six-race career has now produced four wins, two second placings and $444,650 in stakes for the Te Akau Awarded Racing Partnership.

“It was another gun ride by Opie, who just gets it right so many times,” said Walker, who trains in partnership with Sam Bergerson. “So does David, going and buying these lovely fillies that can win races like this.

“We had a team talk and decided to prioritise this race over the Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m). That race was obviously an attractive option, but we just felt a Group One beside her name would be great.

“We never make decisions on raceday, so we’ll let the dust settle and see how she comes through this before deciding what we do next.”

Quintessa was bred by Peachester Lodge and is out of the High Chaparral mare Chaquinta, who herself won five races in Australia over distances ranging from 2000m to 2700m. – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk.

Visit the profile page for Shamus Award

Shamus Award in upcoming sales:
Advertisment

Race Result - Cambridge Stud Levin Classic Gr1 1600m

Trentham Track: Good(3) Time: 1:35.76
1
Quintessa
- 3f Shamus Award (AUS) x Chaquinta (NZ) (High Chaparral (IRE))
Tnr: Mark Walker & Sam Bergerson Rdr: O P Bosson 55
2
0.2
Zabmanzor
- 3c Almanzor (FR) x Zaborei (NZ) (Savabeel (AUS))
Tnr: R James & R Wellwood Rdr: M Hashizume 57
3
0.3
Impendabelle
- 3f Impending (AUS) x Applegate (AUS) (Exceed And Excel (AUS))
Tnr: A W Pike Rdr: M J Mc Nab 55
4
0.6
Mary Shan
- 3f Almanzor (FR) x Shanzam (AUS) (High Chaparral (IRE))
Tnr: Andrew Forsman Rdr: C J Grylls 55
5
0.7
Sinhaman
- 3g Tivaci (AUS) x Shellac (NZ) (Savabeel (AUS))
Tnr: S B Marsh Rdr: S R Weatherley 57
6
0.8
Certainly
- 3f Savabeel (AUS) x Frankly (NZ) (Pins (AUS))
Tnr: Mark Walker & Sam Bergerson Rdr: W B Kennedy 55
7
1.3
Leroy Brown
- 3g Ace High (AUS) x Zizi (NZ) (Savabeel (AUS))
Tnr: S Ralph Rdr: K A Myers 57
8
1.4
Just As Sharp
- 3g Swiss Ace (AUS) x Readyor (AUS) (More Than Ready (USA))
Tnr: Team Rogerson Rdr: R T Elliot 57
9
3.4
Trobriand
- 3c Kermadec (NZ) x Arboreal (AUS) (Lonhro (AUS))
Tnr: Mark Walker & Sam Bergerson Rdr: M Cameron 57
10
3.5
Double Vision
- 3g Darci Brahma (NZ) x Double Image (NZ) (Stravinsky (USA))
Tnr: S B Marsh Rdr: Joe Doyle 57
11
3.7
Lady Sass
- 3f Staphanos (JPN) x Lady In Charge (AUS) (General Nediym (AUS))
Tnr: Kelvin Tyler Rdr: L T Hemi 55
12
4.2
Chantilly Lace
- 3f U S Navy Flag (USA) x On The Move (AUS) (More Than Ready (USA))
Tnr: C A Bambry Rdr: L Sutherland 55
13
6.2
Nikaia
- 3f Ardrossan (AUS) x Femme Britannia (AUS) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: S B Marsh Rdr: K Asano 55
More Reading...
Quintessa Primed to Bounce Back for Te Akau
The departure of 10-time Group One winner Imperatriz has done little to slow Te Akau Racing’s progress in Australia, and trainer Mark Walker hopes the stable’s strong spring momentum will continue at Caulfield on Saturday.
Knights Choice a True Underdog Story
Punters were left stunned when the Queenslander Knight's Choice and Japanese visitor Warp Speed (JPN) emerged from the pack to fight out a dramatic finish to the $8,560,000 Group 1 Lexus Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington.
Cup Day Stakes-Winner for So You Think
The Listed VRC TAB Trophy (1800m) for three year-olds on Cup Day at Flemington drew a competitive field of up and comers with So You Think gelding Opening Address stamping himself as a bright prospect for the future with a stylish victory.
Te Akau Chasing Another Cup Day Success
Last year’s Melbourne Cup Day concluded in success for Mark Walker in the Gr.3 Hong Kong Jockey Club Stakes (1400m), a race he will chase back-to-back crowns in on Tuesday with Kiwi mare Quintessa.
Rosemont and Partners Stakes Quinella on Cup Day
Written Tycoon posted his second new stakes-winner on Melbourne Cup Day when promising three year-old gelding Catoggio took out the Listed VRC Amanda Elliot Stakes (1400m)  for Rosemont Stud and partners, who also race the second horse Bosustow.
Kiwi Bred Grey Wins Subzero for OTI at Flemington
New Zealand-bred gelding Cloudland proved a handful for James McDonald at Flemington on Tuesday, but the champion jockey was in a forgiving mood after they had claimed top honours in the Subzero Handicap.
Quintessa Another Star Performer from Wentwood Grange
Cambridge thoroughbred nursery Wentwood Grange were thrilled to watch farm graduate Quintessa add to her burgeoning record when victorious first-up in the Gr.3 Cockram Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on Saturday.
Quintessa All Courage in G3 Cockram Stakes
Class told in Saturday's Group III Tobin Brothers Cockram Stakes (1200m) when New Zealand's Group 1 winner Quintessa made light of her 60kgs at her seasonal debut.
Storm Boy Headed to Ireland
Coolmore have today announced via Twitter that top class Justify (USA) colt Storm Boy will be continuing his racing career in Ireland in 2025 under the care of Aidan O’Brien.
Best On Breeding
Having last raced in the Group 1 ATC Oaks (2400m) at Randwick in April, has been set a difficult task when she resumes under topweight in a very open Tobin Brothers Cockram Stakes (1200m) on Memsie Stakes Day at Caulfield.