Season of Success: Qali All Quality

Back to her brilliant best, Qali Al Farrasha (5 m Almanzor – Nucleonic, by Burgundy) produced a polished display to capture the $225,000 Group 2 Dunstan Horse Feeds Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders' Stakes (1400m) on 22 November at Pukekohe.

Just two weeks after stable-mate Captured By Love (Written Tycoon) claimed the Group 3 Canterbury Breeders' Stakes (1400m) at Riccarton on the opening day of Cup Week, quadruple Group One placegetter Qali Al Farrasha returned to winning form in style, defeating a quality field of mares to provide reigning Champion Trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson with their sixth stakes' victory of the season.

Ridden with great confidence by former Te Akau apprentice Wiremu Pinn, Qali Al Farrasha travelled beautifully in fifth before ranging alongside the leaders approaching the 300 metres. Once asked to quicken, she responded with a brilliant turn of foot, extending clear to score comfortably by one and three-quarter lengths.

On Good4 footing, Qali Al Farrasha covered the 1400 metres in 1:21.9, with a smart final 600 metres in 33.4 seconds, returning NZ TAB dividends of $13.30 and $3.80.

"It was terrific to get that win, especially at Group Two level over the 1400-metre trip, which will really help her pedigree," Walker said.

"She hasn't won many races, but being multiple Group One placed is a great indicator of the quality and ability she's got, and her value increases significantly with the win today."

A Te Akau homebred, Qali Al Farrasha was bred and is owned by Sir David Ellis KNZM and David & Matthew Peacocke (Weston Lea Bloodstock). She is also the older sister to former stable-mate and South Island Champion Two-Year-Old Nucleozor, adding further depth to an outstanding family developed by Te Akau.

The family has been synonymous with the stable for many years. Te Akau also trained her dam, Nucleonic (Burgundy), who impressed winning on debut over 1200 metres as a two-year-old, while grand-dam Mexican Rose (Volksraad) was Champion Two-Year-Old and Three-Year-Old in Singapore after first winning two of her three starts in New Zealand.

Adding another layer to the pedigree, Ellis also purchased her dam-sire Burgundy (Redoute's Choice) as a yearling at Karaka. A winner of five stakes' races, Burgundy is a three-quarter brother to five-time Group One winner and Champion Sire Darci Brahma (Danehill), another outstanding Te Akau graduate purchased by Ellis.

The victory continued Te Akau's outstanding record in the race, following Group One winner and million-dollar earner Campionessa (Contributer), who won the corresponding event in 2023.

Back in training at Matamata for potentially her final season ahead, Qali Al Farrasha is scheduled to trial later in August as she prepares for another exciting campaign.

Te Akau's previous winners of the Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders' Stakes (Gr. 2, 1400m):

2023 – Campionessa (Contributer)