Season of Success: Quintessa Launches Season Spectacularly

As we reflect on another memorable season, it seems only fitting to begin where it all started - with an unforgettable Group One performance by Quintessa (Shamus Award – Chaquinta, by High Chaparral), who produced one of the most breathtaking victories of the season in the $400,000 Group 1 Proisir Plate (1400m) at Ellerslie on 6 September 2025 - the first Group 1 event for the season.

From the tail of the field turning for home, Quintessa unleashed an electrifying finish, sweeping down the outside to defeat a quality field in spectacular fashion. It was the perfect way to open Te Akau's 2025/26 black-type account and a performance that will long be remembered by everyone fortunate enough to witness it.

The victory provided a dream start to the new season for trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson, fresh from securing a sixth consecutive Trainers' Premiership and Champion Trainer title for Te Akau. Their remarkable 2024/25 season included a New Zealand record $9.27 million in domestic prize money and 18 stakes' victories, while Walker also added a further five stakes' wins with the stable's Melbourne team.

Owned by the Te Akau Awarded Racing Partnership (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM), Quintessa was purchased by Sir David Ellis CNZM for $170,000 from the Wentwood Grange draft at the 2022 Karaka Book 1 Sale. Her stunning Group One success took her record to six wins from 19 starts and pushed her earnings beyond $1 million, finishing her racing career with $1.05 million in prize money.

The Proisir Plate has long been won by outstanding gallopers, and Quintessa's performance earned her place alongside some exceptional winners, including Te Akau dual Horse of the Year Melody Belle, who captured the race in both 2018 and 2019.

A winner on debut as a two-year-old, Quintessa enjoyed a magnificent three-year-old campaign. She claimed the Group 3 Gold Trail Stakes (1200m) before adding the Group 1 Levin Classic (1600m), while her consistency was highlighted by three fourth placings at Group One level, including the Australian Guineas (1600m) and Australian Oaks (2400m). She was also runner-up in both the Group 2 Alistair Clark Stakes (2040m) in Melbourne and the Group 2 Auckland Guineas (1400m).

Drawn wide, jockey Rory Hutchings was content to settle at the rear, where Quintessa travelled comfortably before finding herself around 10 lengths from the leaders approaching the home turn. Once balanced into the clear at the 300 metres, she produced an extraordinary finishing burst, charging home out wide to score by a length and a half.

On a track that deteriorated from Soft5 to Soft6, Quintessa covered the 1400 metres in 1:26.0, with a brilliant final 600 metres in 34.9 seconds, returning $36.70 and $7.40 on the NZ TAB.

Her victory also continued the remarkable success story of her sire Shamus Award (Snitzel), who famously won the 2013 Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) as a maiden before confirming his brilliance in the Group 1 Australian Guineas (1600m) and being crowned Australia's Champion Three-Year-Old. A son of four-time Champion Sire Snitzel, Shamus Award has now sired more than 1,100 winners.

Like the late Champion Sire Savabeel, Shamus Award is out of a mare by Success Express, a pedigree cross renowned for producing class and quality.

Quintessa's dam, Chaquinta (High Chaparral), was herself a five-time winner, including three consecutive victories up to 2700 metres, and is a half-sister to the talented staying performer Our Heir Apparent.

A dual Group One winner, Quintessa's outstanding racing career was fittingly recognised when she was sold for A$800,000 at the Magic Millions' National Broodmare Sale, and she now begins an exciting new chapter as a broodmare.

Te Akau's previous winners of the Proisir Plate (Gr. 1, 1400m):

2023 – Skew Wiff (Savabeel)

2019 – Melody Belle (Commands)

2018 – Melody Belle (Commands)