Adverse weather has forced multiple Group One winner Quintessa to take an unorthodox route to next Saturday’s Gr.1 Livamol Classic (2040m), with the mare appearing at the Awapuni trials on Monday afternoon.
Prepared by Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson at Matamata, Quintessa got her preparation off to a flying start winning the Gr.1 Proisir Plate (1400m), but she was scratched from the second leg of the triple crown (Gr.1 Howden Insurance Mile, 1600m) at Te Rapa, avoiding the heavy surface.
With a task of getting her to the Livamol three weeks later, Bergerson nominated the mare for the Gr.3 Taranaki Breeders’ Stakes (1400m), but withdrew before acceptances, opting to head across to Awapuni for a hit-out over 1300m.
In the hands of stable rider Opie Bosson, Quintessa settled at the tail of the field through the running, while stablemate Midnight Blue strode to the top for Samantha Collett. Bosson asked her for an effort turning for home and she responded well, striding up to finish second behind Sailor Jack.
Bergerson was pleased with what he saw from the daughter of Shamus Award, who didn’t trial in her usual blinkers.
“It’s been a pretty tough time of it with the weather lately, so it was a good opportunity to get on a reasonable surface,” Bergerson said.
“Opie was really happy with her trial, she’s pretty lazy without the blinkers on but we wanted to keep them up our sleeve for raceday. I was pleased with how she hit the line and she went past the post a bit as well, so that should bring her on nicely.
“The trip away will do her the world of good, it’s a fine line getting her fit but keeping the speed in her legs and soundness as well, she takes a bit of managing.
“Hopefully that will catch us up a bit fitness-wise, I’m looking forward to Saturday-week with her.”
In an ideal world, Bergerson would like to give her another gallop on better ground before heading to Ellerslie but recognises that may not be a reality.
“I’d be happy if the weather picked up and I could get some nice work into her on good tracks at home, but unfortunately it’s just that time of year and it’s tough for everyone,” he said.
“She’ll have another nice hit-out next week.”
It was similar circumstances for Midnight Blue, who was set to resume in the Listed Matamata Cup (1600m) but will look elsewhere to kick off his campaign.
“He was meant to be in the Matamata Cup on Saturday, but with the rain, we wanted him to have a nice hit-out on a decent surface as well,” Bergerson said.
“A trip away is good for the old boy to get him thinking and that’ll bring him on a bit too.
“It would’ve been nice to kick him off on his home track, but he can potentially kick off at Ellerslie in a few weeks’ time in an Open race, then there are some nice races over Christmas if he comes up well.”
A nine-year-old by So You Think, Midnight Blue joined the Te Akau Racing stable in late 2023 and placed in the Gr.3 Taranaki Cup (1800m) and Taupo Cup (2000m) last term.