CAMPIONESSA

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 returned to the winner's circle with aplomb in November 2023 when after a somewhat challenging Spring, she scored a narrow but definitive victory in the $225,000 Group 2 Dunstand Horsefeeds Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders' Stakes WFA F&M 1400m. 

In the hands of Matthew Cameron, over a distance perhaps considered short of her best by commentators, jockey and horse used the handy barrier (2) to advantage - she secured a lovely run on the inner, stayed close to the rail, led at the 200m and saluted the judge by a long neck. 

The Group 2 form was set to continue at her very next start, as the brave mare made it back-to-back Group 2 victories when defiantly winning the $175,000 Group 2 Cal Isuzu Stakes WFA F&M 1600m at Te Rapa in December 2023 in an easy 2L victory for Te Akau stable rider Opie Bosson ONZM.

Bosson was again aboard when Campionessa broke through for her hugely deserved Group 1 title on Boxing Day 2023 at Pukekohe. A strategic ride saw the Champion Jockey guide the 6YO to a brave win in the $450,000 Group 1 Cambridge Stud Zabeel Classic WFA 2050m. She had to withstand the late charge of an Australian Group 1 winning opponent, but taking the lead at the 200m, she found the extra kick required to seize victory by a neck, with 2.25 lengths back to the third place-getter.

After not handling the off track in the $400,000 Group 1 Harcourts Thornton Mile at Trentham in January 2024, she returned to Te Rapa in February to contest New Zealand's richest WFA event the $600,000 Group 1 Herbie Dyke Stakes over 2000m. Again with Bosson aboard, she had to settle for second for the second year in a row, fighting on resolutely to be half a length off the winner Legarto.

Side-stepping a potential $100,000 bonus on offer, the decision was made to hunt down the 'missing piece in the puzzle' black type in Australia.  Confidence in the mare was high, and well placed as she rewarded her ownership team with a stirring victory in the A$300,000 Group 2 Peter Young Stakes WFA 1800m with Mick Dee in the saddle.  She showed a huge amount of determination and courage, having only arrived in Australia three days prior, to pin back her ears and stave off the challenges of two former Melbourne Cup winners in Vow and Declare (2nd) and Gold Trip (3rd).

Campionessa is raced by the Te Akau Campionessa Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM) and has raced 30 times for 11 wins and 16 other placings -  with $1,228,046 in prize money to date - a brilliant return on her A$60,000 purchase price paid by David Ellis CNZM.