Chaquinta produces Gr1 winner

18 Jan 2024

What an incredible thrill to watch Quintessa score her first win at the elite level in Saturday's Group 1 Levin Classic at Trentham, becoming the latest Gr1 winner produced by a Willow Park-sold broodmare!

 

Having just her sixth start, it was the fourth win for the Te Akau Racing trained filly by Shamus Award, who also took out the Group 3 Gold Trail Stakes (1200m) at her third start. With a Group 2 second at her previous start, by a long head over 1400m, the writing was on the wall for Quintessa in the Levin Classic (1600m), who got her nose in front at the 150m and held off a wall of challengers on the line.

 

Quintessa's dam, five-time winner Chaquinta [NZ] (High Chaparral), was sold through Willow Park’s Magic Millions Broodmare Sale draft in 2018 for $120,000 to Rosemont Stud, carrying her first foal by Choisir. That foal became the two-time winner Madam Cha Cha and after producing a colt by Sebring, Chaquinta visited Shamus Award before being sold again and exported to New Zealand.

 

Foaled down at Wentwood Grange for breeders Peachester Lodge, Quintessa was a NZ$170,000 Karaka yearling buy for David Ellis and has earned NZ$440,000 already in her first six starts.

 

The Levin Classic is becoming a race to follow for Willow Park, having also been won by Bonham [NZ] (Per Incanto) in 2021. Bonham is another top level winner produced by a Willow Park sold broodmare (Fortune’s Choice), before selling through our 2021 Magic Millions Broodmare Sale draft herself for $1.6million.

 

Also offered through our 2018 Magic Millions broodmare draft was the eight-time winner Outback Saga (Real Saga), sold to Glenlogan Park for $200,000. Outback Saga’s second foal is the progressive four-year-old Boom Torque (Spirit of Boom), winner of five of his nine starts. Boom Torque (Spirit of Boom) took out Saturday’s $1m Magic Millions QTIS Open, taking his earnings to $690,000 for Matthew Dunn Racing.