Season of Success: All You Need Is Love

Continuing her rise through the three-year-old ranks, Origin Of Love (3 f Snitzel – Re Edit, by Camelot) produced a performance full of class to capture the $100,000 Group 3 War Decree Stakes (1600m) on 25 October at Riccarton.

Displaying the acceleration and quality that had always impressed her training team, Origin Of Love travelled beautifully before quickening smartly to secure a deserved stakes' victory. On footing upgraded to Good4, she covered the 1600 metres in 1:35.9, with a slick final 600 metres in approximately 33.7 seconds, returning NZ TAB dividends of $3.40 and $1.40.

The War Decree Stakes proved to be the beginning of an excellent campaign. Origin Of Love finished a creditable fifth in the Group 1 NZ 1000 Guineas (1600m) before enjoying a short break. She returned in terrific order to finish runner-up in both the Group 3 Eulogy Stakes (1600m) and Group 2 Sir Patrick Hogan Stakes (2000m), fourth in the Group 2 Lowland Stakes (2100m), and was third in the 3YO Windsor Park Trophy (1500m), before rounding out her season in style with victory in the Group 2 Wellington Guineas (1600m).

Her performances throughout the season confirmed her place among New Zealand's leading three-year-old fillies while further enhancing both her pedigree and future commercial broodmare value.

Owned by the Te Akau 2024 Magic Fillies Breeding Syndicate (Mgr: Lady Karyn Ellis MNZM), Origin Of Love was purchased by Sir David Ellis KNZM for A$440,000 from the Arrowfield Stud draft at the 2024 Magic Millions' Gold Coast Yearling Sale.

The victory also continued Te Akau's outstanding record in the War Decree Stakes. The stable last won the race in 2021 with the Sir David Ellis-purchased colt Noverre (Savabeel), who went on to claim the Group 1 NZ 2000 Guineas (1600m) before commencing his stallion career at Waikato Stud.

Te Akau has now won the race eight times, with previous winners including subsequent Group One NZ Guineas' winners Tell A Tale (Tale of the Cat), Risque (Darci Brahma) and Noverre (Savabeel), together with outstanding Group One performers Princess Coup (Encosta de Lago) and Burgundy (Redoute's Choice).

Origin Of Love is by four-time Champion Sire in Australia, Snitzel (Redoute's Choice), whose remarkable sire line through Danehill, Redoute's Choice and Snitzel has become one of the most influential in Australian thoroughbred breeding.

She is the first foal from Re Edit, a three-time winner to 1600 metres, by the Champion Three-Year-Old Colt in Europe and Great Britain, Camelot (Montjeu). Her pedigree is further strengthened through influential broodmare sires including High Chaparral (Sadler's Wells), backed up by proven New Zealand stallions Star Way and In The Purple.

Her third dam, Argante (Star Way), produced dual Group One winner and Victoria Derby (Gr. 1, 2500m) hero Monaco Consul, who headed New Zealand's Three-Year-Old Free Handicaps over 1600 metres and beyond.

At the time of purchase, Ellis said: "We love buying first foals, have had so much success with them, and this filly is an absolute cracker from one of the best studs in Australia."

Origin Of Love carries a Danehill cross on the sire line and again through the dam line of Camelot.

Te Akau previous wins in the Group 3 War Decree Stakes (1600m):

2021 – Noverre (Savabeel)

2016 – Hall Of Fame (Savabeel)

2015 – Risque (Darci Brahma)

2011 – Burgundy (Redoute's Choice)

2009 – King's Ransom (King's Chapel)

2008 – Tell A Tale (Tale of the Cat)

2006 – Princess Coup (Encosta de Lago)