CAPTURED BY LOVE

Exciting juvenile filly Captured by Love underlined the reputation she was held in when winning the $175,000 Group 2 Mode Technology Wakefield Challenge Stakes over 1100m at Trentham in December 2023 - and at just her second start.

The beautifully bred daughter of Written Tycoon had won on debut three weeks earlier. Meeting a class field for the stakes' challenge, she romped away in the hands of Te Akau stable rider Opie Bosson ONZM to win by three lengths easing down.

Early February saw Captured By Love head to Taranaki and what an inspired performance she delivered to win the $100,000 Group 3 Platinum Homes New Plymouth Taranaki 2YO SW Classic over 1200m, when again ridden by Bosson.  Taking over to lead at the 200m, it was clearly to all to see that she despised the off track, and it took her sheer grit and determination to seize the win by half a length.

Next start she returned to Group competition but on a good track much more to her liking.  Contesting the $150,000 Group 2 J Swap Contracting Matamata Breeders' Stakes 2YOF SW 1200m 'at home' - she was sent out second favourite. Again with stable rider Bosson in the saddle, she proved too good, even pricking her ears as she cruised over the finishing post to keep her unbeaten record intact.

Captured By Love continued to be subject to some back luck when third in both the $450,000 Sistema Stakes and $450,000 Group 1 Manawatu Sires' Produce Stakes in March and April 2024 respectively - the only 2YO Group 1 races in New Zealand. In the Sistema she began awkwardly with rider Warren Kennedy losing the use of his right stirrup iron near the 300m.  

She was runner up for the title of Champion 2YO of the Year for 2023/24.

Returning as a three year old, Captured By Love struck immediately in September 2024 when runner up in the $120,000 Group 3 HBPB Hawkes' Bay Breeders' Gold Trail Stakes for 3YO fillies over 1200m.  

A further placing came next start in early October 2024 when she ran arguably one of the best races seen for some time, even though she finished third.  The race was the $175,000 AHD Animal Direct Group 2 Hawkes Bay Guineas over 1400m - she reared in the gates as they opened, losing several lengths, and ran unbelievable sectionals to finish third, beaten only a nose and a neck. The winner went on to claim the Group 1 NZ 2000 Guineas in November.

Race day cancellations and changes to programming continued to be a major frustration for Captured By Love's Spring campaign - for example she had travelled to Hawkes Bay for the Guineas only to see the meeting abandoned, so she returned home without racing, the race taking place later at Matamata.  

She then travelled to Te Rapa for the $150,000 Group 2 James & Annie Sarten Memorial 1400m and that meeting was also called off, the filly being forced to take on this assignment at the delayed meeting relocated to Te Aroha.  In the rescheduled Sarten, she copped a Heavy8 track, and did well to finish third - maintaining her record of never finishing further back than third place.

All of this rescheduling meant her planned attack on the Group 1 NZ 2000 Guineas against the boys was off the cards - even a back up double had been considered with the Group 1 NZ 1000 Guineas a week later - now that latter race became her focus.

Captured By Love flew to Christchurch the Wednesday prior for the final day of the NZ Cup Carnival on 16 November 2024. The threatened rain did not eventuate as heavily as expected for the running of the $550,000 Group 1 Barneswood Farm 52nd NZ 1000 Guineas for 3YO fillies over 1600m.  The track stayed at a Soft6 level, still something of a concern.

However Captured By Love, ridden by visiting Australian Group 1 jockey Joshua Parr, rallied all of her fighting qualities in a dominant display to beat race favourite Alabama Lass by 1.25 lengths.

Purchased by David Ellis CNZM at the Gold Coast Magic Millions' Sale in January 2023, she is a seriously talented and now valuable mare for her owners. 

Captured by Love has raced ten times, nine of those in black type races. She has recorded five wins and five placings, winning $703,435 to date. 

Raced by the Te Akau 2023 Magic Fillies' Breeding Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM) as one of a two-filly partnership, the second filly raced by this partnership was also purchased by David Ellis CNZM at that same sale, winning Zousain filly The Victress.