Bred by Mapperley Stud’s Simms Davison, Campionessa made an immediate impact when winning her first two races in a row in December 2020.
Trained by Jamie Richards and Mark Walker, the daughter of Contributor was purchased by David Ellis CNZM at the Magic Millions’ Sale for A$60,000 from the draft of Westbury Stud.
Campionessa landed in the winner’s circle again in January 2022 firstly at Te Rapa and then Ellerslie.
Sent south in search of valuable black type leading in to, and over, the New Zealand Cup Carnival, she announced her Canterbury arrival with a courageous win – her fifth – on the Riccarton synthetic in September 2022, narrowly defeating stablemate Zouluminous.
In October 2022, her black type quest was partially fulfilled when she finished second in the $65,000 Listed Spring Classic. After being held up as they turned for home, she was bumped again at a vital stage and just missed the victory by half a neck.
Victory however was to be hers on the first day of the NZ Cup Carnival on 5 November 2022 when she showed all her fighting spirit to ward off all challengers in the $100,000 Listed Nautical Boat Insurance Metropolitan Hcp over 2500m, ridden by visiting Australian rider Joshua Parr who was brought to Christchurch to ride for Te Akau.
It was an inspired ride (and win) to score line honours by a neck – from a wide draw.
A wonderful training feat saw Campionessa fly home to win the $140,000 Group 2 Rich Hill Mile Open Hcp 1600m in the hands of Te Akau stable rider Opie Bosson. It was an exceptional performance dropping back from the 2500m to 1600m. She was popped out at the 300m and simply exploded to score a dominant win by 2.5 lengths.
Campionessa then finished fourth in the $100,000 Group 3 Trentham Stakes over 2100m with Craig Zackey aboard in January 2023. She really showed immense ability and courage to twice be runner up after that: in the $450,000 Group 1 Herbie Dyke Stakes WFA 2000m in February 2023 to Sharp ‘N’ Smart the subsequent Group 1 NZ Derby winner – and then after interference, settling for second beaten only a neck by Prowess in the $320,000 Group 1 Bonecrusher Stakes WFA 2050m on Auckland Cup Day, ridden on both occasions by Opie Bosson.
Campionessa is raced by the Te Akau Campionessa Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM) and has raced 21 times for seven wins and 14 other placings – never finishing further back that fifth. She has won $379,585.