It may have been a lot closer than anticipated, but Well Written’s victory in Saturday’s $4 million NZB Kiwi was one for the books.
The unbeaten group 1-winning filly was installed a hot favourite in the southern hemisphere’s richest race for 3-year-olds, jumping a money-back favourite in the Champions Day 1500m feature at Ellerslie.
Every other runner was at double-figure odds, headed by Belle Cheval at $17.90.
The market proved accurate, the Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson-trained filly nearly becoming the giant killer, coming to within a short head of Stephen Marsh’s star.
Jockey Matt Cartwright gave Well Written the perfect trip in the one-one, presented her beautifully at the turn and she quickly found the lead.
She opened up several lengths on her rivals, but Belle Cheval took chase from the back of the pack. Well Written shifted out in the concluding stages and the two went head to head, Well Written getting the bob.
Her connections had to sweat over a protest in the inquiry room, but it was dismissed.
Belle Cheval’s stablemate, He Who Dares, was third.
Cartwright was rapt to get the victory and was effusive in his praise for Marsh, labelling the Cambridge horseman as an integral part of his success since moving to New Zealand from Australia.
"Everything worked out perfect," he said.
"She was travelling that good, I let her go. Probably with the weight [58kg] and being in front for so long, she wandered a bit, but she got the job done still.
"She is a very good horse and you didn’t see her best today.
"I have got to hand it to Stephen Marsh, he has been the best supporter of me. He is a great trainer and he is a great mate as well."
Marsh was relieved when he heard his filly’s name was called out first over the loudspeaker.
I wasn’t sure. The other horse was coming at us so fast," he said.
"She got to the front easy. She has had six starts as a 3-year-old, she is not fully mature and had 58 kilos. I just wonder if all that had a bit of a factor. She floated around a bit when she got to the front."
Marsh said Cartwright gave his filly a perfect ride and he was pleased to reward his supporters with the big win, particularly part-owner Yulong Investments, whose principal Zhang Yuesheng was trackside for the win.
"Matt has been great for our stable, he works hard and he is always keen to help us," Marsh said.
"He has gotten on very well with this filly. I thought his ride today was unbelievably good.
"All the well wishes that I have had this week has just been overwhelming. I was hoping we weren’t going to let people down, and we won by the barest of margins, but I am just so proud of her and the team.’’
While Australia beckons as an obvious target, Marsh said that test would probably wait until next season.
"She is unbelievably good. She is a great filly, she has done it all — she has won six on the trot.
"She can have a well-deserved spell. She won’t be going to Australia at this stage for the autumn, but she will hopefully go over in the spring."
Marsh was also overwhelmed by the atmosphere of the crowd at Ellerslie and said Champions Day was a phenomenal event for the racing industry.
Looking around at the crowd and the atmosphere, it is just massive," he said.
Bred in Australia by David Digney, Well Written was initially bought by Harry and Benji King, under the latter’s Foxhill Thoroughbreds banner, as a weanling for $A32,500 ($NZ38,750) and was on-sold through Brighthill Farm’s 2024 New Zealand Bloodstock’s national online yearling sale on web platform Gavelhouse Plus where she was purchased by Marsh and Dylan Johnson Bloodstock for $80,000.
She has gone on to win all six of her starts as a 3-year-old, including the group 1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m), $1.5m Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m), group 2 Auckland Guineas (1400m), group 2 Soliloquy Stakes (1400m), and represented the TAB’s slot when winning the NZB Kiwi.
She now boasts earnings of more than $2.6m.
- By Joshua Smith
— LOVERACING.NZ News Desk
