Two Melbourne Cup winners with a combined $14,000,000 in the bank and a Group 1 millionairess from New Zealand fought out a dramatic finish to the Group II Carlton Draught Peter Young Stakes at Caulfield, which was decided on the bob.
Keeping the run going for Te Akau Stud, the 6-year-old Contributer mare Campionessa staved off the challenge of the 2019 Melbourne Cup hero Vow and Declare by a short-half-head with the 2022 Melbourne Cup winner Gold Trip (FR) three-quarters of a length back in third.
The winner of the Group 1 ARC Zabeel Classic at Pukekohe Park on Boxing Day, Campionessa landed in Melbourne off the back of a half-length second to triple Group 1 winner Legarto (Proisir) in the Group 1 Herbie Dyke Stakes at Te Rapa.
Michael Dee had Campionessa third on the fence as the field swept around the home turn. Finding clear air on straightening, the Mark Walker-trained mare fought hard to get the better of Unusual Culture before coming under attack from Vow and Declare and Gold Trip (FR).
“She got a dream run and full credit to Micky (Dee); he’s been such a help to us here when we set up in Melbourne and even galloped Imperatriz a couple of times for Opie (Bosson), so no doubt Opie will sling him,” Mark Walker joked.
“Mick said that he might end up leading today, and I said if you do, just go slow, but he summed it up well, full credit to the mare; she only got here Wednesday night.”
“We’ll probably come back to a mile, the Sunline Stakes at Moonee Valley, and there’s a group one in Sydney called the Queen Of The Turf Stakes, so that’s my gut feeling today.”
David Ellis regularly hits the headlines with a million-dollar-plus purchase, but he needed just $60,000 to secure Campionessa from the Westbury Stud draft at the 2019 Magic Millions National Yearling Sale, after initially leaving the ring unsold.
Bred by Mapperley Stud’s Simms Davison, Campionessa was originally passed in at the 2019 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale after failing to meet her $70,000 reserve.
Bruce Perry Bloodstock had the final say at $40,000 for Campionessa’s dam Bella Carolina at the 2009 NZB Select Yearling Sale.
The daughter of O’Reilly was a 3-time winner and has been an unqualified success at stud. In addition Campionessa, she has the Listed winners, Leedox and Tennessee and five of her six foals to race are winners.
At the 2023 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, Rosemont Alliance / Suman Hedge Bloodstock (FBAA) / Lindsay Park Racing went to $320,000 for a Per incanto (USA) half-brother to Campionessa. He has been named Naitanui and sent to Ben, Will & JD Hayes.
