The $400,000 weight-for-age triumph came almost exactly a year after the Te Akau Racing mare’s previous win, which was a first-up victory in the group 3 Cockram Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on August 31 last year.
Another 12 months before that, she began her 3yr-old season off with back-to-back successes at Taupo and in the group 3 Gold Trail Stakes (1200m) at Hastings.
Quintessa drew gate 15 in a 16-horse field and was taken back to a clear last by Rory Hutchings as Dusty Road and Herbert led the field around the first turn and down the side of the track.
Coming into the straight, the field bunched right up and the leading lights made their moves.
Qali Al Farrasha was the first to pounce, quickly joined by El Vencedor, La Crique and Tuxedo. The likes of Grail Seeker, Legarto, Waitak and Tomodachi were searching for runs just behind them.
Hutchings angled Quintessa out to be the widest of all with just under 300m to run. He pushed the button and Quintessa exploded. She roared past all 15 of her rivals in the blink of an eye, opening up a winning margin of a length and a-half as Hutchings stood high up in the saddle in a triumphant salute.
Quintessa continued the Te Akau stable’s proud recent record in the first group 1 race of the New Zealand season, following on from Melody Belle (2018 and 2019) and Skew Wiff (2023).
That win by Skew Wiff was the first group 1 success for Bergerson, who is now in his third season in partnership with Mark Walker.
"Quintessa was incredible today," Bergerson said.
"It was a very patient ride. We left it up to Rory, really. I asked him what he thought, and he said, ‘I’ll go back and will probably ride for luck,’ but then he ended up going the widest.’’
Quintessa is now rated a $6 chance for the group 1 Howden Insurance Mile (1600m) at Te Rapa on September 27. She shares second favouritism with La Crique, while Legarto heads the market at $4.
From a 19-start career, Quintessa has now recorded six wins and four placings for $1.05 million for her owners the Te Akau Awarded Racing Partnership.
Runner-up La Crique continued a remarkable run of second placings at the elite level. She has now been runner-up in seven group 1 races in her career, which is a New Zealand record.
Emerging star Tomodachi caught the eye with her strong finish for third, just ahead of Sterling Express, El Vencedor and an unlucky Legarto. — LOVERACING.NZ News Desk.
