Superstar mare Well Written (Written Tycoon) was back to the business of winning when she triumphed in the first race of her four-year-old campaign, the Gr.1 Proisir Plate (1400m) at Ellerslie.

Unbeaten in six starts in her first season on the track, the Stephen Marsh-trained daughter of Written Tycoon went into the race as the raging hot favourite in the Fixed Odds market ($1.50) and never gave her supporters a moment of concern as she drove clear in the last 150m to defeat sentimental favourite Alabama Lass (Alabama Express) by two lengths, with Marsh also claiming third and fourth with Media World (Written Tycoon) and Tardelli (I Am Invincible) respectively.

Regular pilot Matt Cartwright must have been giggling as he found the one-out and one-back position from her midfield barrier as Media World set up a solid clip out in front.

Turning for home it was evident that Alabama Lass was going to be the main danger to the favourite as she ranged up alongside Media World and went on by as her many supporters willed her on to honour the legacy of her co-trainer Bev Kelso, who passed away last week after a long illness.

For a brief moment Alabama Lass looked to have the measure of Well Written, however, Cartwright asked her for a final effort at the 150m and she found another gear as she soared past and raced away to not only take out the $230,00 first place cheque, but also a $500,000 bonus available to the first NZB Kiwi starter from last season to win a domestic Group One this term.

Marsh admitted that he was as relieved as he was delighted to see his superstar win after a moment of panic, when he thought Alabama Lass may have had her measure.

“I’m proud, real proud,” Marsh said.

“I’m not going to get emotional, but I was very nervous as it is hard for these mares to take on the older horses.

“When Alabama Lass kicked, I thought we were going to be second, which was amongst the many things that go through your mind, but when she really let down it was just awesome to see.

“I’m also proud of the other colts of ours in the race as they have run third and fourth and just went so creditably.

“She is amazing and full credit to Alabama Lass who is a very good mare who doesn’t go down without a fight.

“To have such a good support team of staff, owners and well-wishers is just amazing and is why we do this as we had had a rough old day up until now, but it makes it all worthwhile.”

Marsh will now prepare to take Well Written across the Tasman to tackle the best Australia has to offer in the Gr.1 Epsom Handicap (1600m) on October 3 at Randwick followed by the A$10million Golden Eagle (1500m) at the same venue on October 31.

“She is very special, seven from seven and has now won well amongst the best weight-for-age horses we have,” he said.

“She has a couple of big assignments ahead of her now and I hope we are right on track.

“We have a month until the Epsom, so we will leave her here until pretty late and go over there near the race date, then onto the Golden Eagle.

“We will get her home first though and make sure she is 100 percent.”

Cartwright continued to sing the praises of the mare after the victory.

“It is a little bit emotional to see her doing it at this level as she was still an unknown,” he said.

“We enjoyed a lovely run, although she was racing onto the heels of Alabama Lass, so I popped out 100m earlier than I wanted to as I wanted to keep her in a beautiful rhythm.

“When she kicked into gear it was all over.

“If she can do that to the field that she was against I think she definitely has the quality to be right there (in Australia) and race at the top of her game.”

Marsh and his racing manager Dylan Johnson paid a sale-topping $80,000 to buy Well Written from Brighthill Farm’s draft in the 2024 NZB National Online Yearling Sale on Gavelhouse Plus.

Marsh’s large syndicate of owners that originally raced Well Written all sold down their share after she scored a seven-length victory in the Gr.2 Soliloquy Stakes (1400m) last year, with major international player Yulong Investments coming into the ownership before she took out the Gr.1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton in November.

Her seven race victories have rewarded her connections to the tune of $2.845million in prizemoney. - Kevin Robertson

Sandown reward for Evaporate

Feature wins at Sandown in last September’s Gr.3 Sandown Stakes (1500m) and Saturday’s A$200,000 Ranvet So You Think Stakes (1500m) have bookended a year of highly commendable showings in elite company by Evaporate (NZ) (Per Incanto).

The New Zealand-bred son of Per Incanto followed his victory in last year’s Sandown Stakes with a second in a photo finish to the Gr.1 Toorak Handicap (1600m), a third in the A$10 million Golden Eagle (1500m), a third in the Gr.1 CF Orr Stakes (1400m), a fourth in the Gr.1 Futurity Stakes (1400m), a second in the Gr.1 All-Star Mile (1600m) and close-up ninths in the Gr.1 George Ryder Stakes (1500m) and Doncaster Handicap (1600m).

Evaporate resumed with a third behind Cosmic Crusader (NZ) (Maurice) and Private Eye in the Gr.2 PB Lawrence Stakes (1400m) last month, and Saturday’s race marked a significant step down in class for his second-up assignment.

Punters sent Evaporate out as a $2.05 favourite, and he cruised to a confidence-boosting win by a length and three-quarters with Blake Shinn in the saddle.

“I’m really happy for the team and more so the horse,” Shinn said. “He’s really been knocking on the door at the top level, and he was so well placed today.

“They came here and targeted the race to try and give him some confidence going into the spring, and the horse executed the race probably the best I've ever ridden him.

“I’m super proud of the horse, and well done to the team at home, because he's definitely not an easy horse to manage.

“We definitely believe he's got the talent to be a Group One horse, and it's just more in his head.

“Today was a great sign going forward, and I was just really proud of him. Hopefully he can get that elusive Group One on his CV.”

Evaporate is trained by Ben, Will and JD Hayes.

“What was most pleasing was that this is probably the best he’s settled, particularly in a slowly run race,” JD Hayes said.

“We're thrilled with that. We love Evaporate. He’s been a model of consistency, running in tougher races, and it looked a good race for him today.

“We've got plenty of options with him after this, and we've thrown him in the deep end a lot, and he's also been a horse that's been his own worst enemy. He does a few things wrong, but once he puts it together, we feel like he is a Group One horse, and hopefully that's this preparation.

“Where we end up, I am not sure, but we'll see how he pulls up and have a team discussion on Monday.”

Evaporate was bred by Little Avondale Stud, home to Per Incanto, a son of Street Cry who has won back-to-back Centaine Awards for champion New Zealand-based sire by worldwide progeny earnings.

The dam of Evaporate is the unraced Animal Kingdom mare Savanna (NZ), whose half-sister Belluci Babe (NZ) (Per Incanto), also by Per Incanto, was a Group Three winner for Bjorn Baker.

Evaporate was bought by Lindsay Park Racing for A$330,000 at the Gold Coast Yearling Sale in 2023. He has now had 25 starts for seven wins, 10 placings and A$3.3 million in stakes. - NZ Racing Desk

Blind Raise strikes in McKenzie Stakes

Expat New Zealand trainers Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young considered scratching Blind Raise (NZ) (Ace High) from Saturday’s A$175,000 Listed McMahon’s Dairy McKenzie Stakes (1300m) at Sandown, but their decision to run paid off and put the Kiwi-bred gelding on target for bigger and better things.

Blind Raise won two of his three starts as a juvenile including the Listed ANZAC Day Stakes (1400m), and Busuttin and Young came into the spring of his three-year-old season with their eyes on races like the Gr.1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m) and Gr.1 Spring Champion Stakes (2000m).

The McKenzie was an important first step in that direction, although unsettled weather gave Busuttin plenty to think about in the lead-up to Saturday’s meeting.

“We don’t live far from here, and it was pouring down, and then at Cranbourne, at the track, it never misses it,” Busuttin said. “It was touch and go and I sent out a late voice message saying we would probably scratch.”

But they committed to a start on the Soft7 ground at Sandown, and under jockey Blake Shinn, Blind Raise sat just behind the leaders before getting off the rail and pouncing at the top of the straight. He comfortably put his eight rivals away through the final 300m and scored by a length and three-quarters.

“I learned from his jumpout leading into this that he’s a very good horse,” Shinn said. “He’s a lovely, big, scopey horse by Ace High, and he’s got a beautiful action on him and is quite light on his feet.

“We came here pretty confident, and it’s just nice to see him deliver.

“It’s great for the stable. Trent and Natalie are really great judges of horses, and he's only had the one jumpout leading into today, so I think there's improvement to come and it's exciting for everyone involved.

“I didn't want to go to the fence. I sort of got forced down there, and then I just had to work my way out, because the track's probably better down the middle now. Once he was out, he had the race won and in his keeping from the 400m.”

Offered by his breeders The Oaks Stud in Book 1 of Karaka 2025, Blind Raise was a $70,000 purchase by Busuttin Young Racing. He has now won three of his four starts and A$258,725 in stakes.

“He’d had only the one trial since his last race in Brisbane, so that will bring him on,” Busuttin said. “It was pretty comfortable and the second horse was pretty good.

“The watch was pretty good, so we’re pretty happy.

“His next start will be either the Guineas Prelude (Gr.3, 1400m, September 19) or the Stutt Stakes (Gr.2, 1600m, September 27). Just with him being a bit fresh and keen, I think a two-week turnaround will do him the world of good.”

Blind Raise is by Rich Hill Stud stallion Ace High out of the Darci Brahma mare Away Cruising. Herself a two-race winner, Away Cruising is a daughter of Seachange (NZ), who carried The Oaks Stud’s colours to seven Group One victories and two-time New Zealand Horse of the Year honours.

Away Cruising is a half-sister to the stakes-placed Divan (NZ) and also to the two-race winner Pelican (NZ), dam of Group One performer and young Coolmore stallion prospect Storm Boy.

Blind Raise is one of two winners from two foals to race out of Away Cruising. She is also the dam of five-race winner Usir (by American Pharoah).

After foaling Blind Raise in 2023, Away Cruising returned to Ace High and produced a colt that is now a two-year-old. She has a yearling colt by Almanzor. - NZ Racing Desk

Wexford filly pounces to victory in Sunline Vase

Wexford Stables came out of their winter hibernation in the best possible fashion at Ellerslie on Saturday when Pounce (NZ) (Almanzor) posted their first win of the season in the Gr.3 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Sunline Vase (1200m).

The daughter of Almanzor jumped away well and secured the coveted one-one position early behind Miss Janet (Home Affairs), who ensured Summer Schemer (Dirty Work) kept an honest tempo upfront. Jockey Craig Grylls presented Pounce three-wide at the turn and she lived up to her name, pouncing on her rivals and secured the lead with 200m to go. She kicked into another gear in the concluding stages to score by 1-1/2 lengths over Silhouette, with a further long head back to Queensland raider Dream Roca (NZ) (El Roca) in third.

Grylls has a high opinion of Pounce and he was glad to see her attain black-type.

“She jumped well from a nice gate in barrier four and she lobbed straight into the one-one,” he said. “She travelled well and followed the Go Racing horse (Miss Janet) into the race and she has put them away pretty convincingly.

“The key today was back on a better track and she has done the rest. I have always been excited about this filly. She relaxes so well and over the shorter trip today she just switched off.”

Pounce, who won one of her two starts as a juvenile, resumed with a sixth placing in the Listed Chittick Family Fillies Classic (1100m) on a Heavy8 track at Taupo last month, and trainers Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott were pleased to be back on a better track at Ellerslie on Saturday, and she thrived on the Soft5 footing.

“We came away from Taupo pleased with her performance, but it wasn’t quite the result we were looking for,” Scott said. “We got her back on quick ground, aided by a beautiful ride by Craig today. She got all favours in the run. She had to level up to them and she was good in the last bit, she really ran out the 1200m strong, which gives us a good bit of hope going forward. Hopefully she runs a little further.

“It’s a huge thrill for the team. It’s been a long winter, and it is the first win of the season. It’s good to be on the board and it’s a good race to win, and it is good to be winning at Ellerslie.”

Pounce is nominated for both the Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) and Gr.1 Barneswood Farm New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton in November, and Scott said she will improve as the season progresses.

“The summer is her time, but she is three and they have all got to lead to Christchurch at this stage,” he said. “We just want to celebrate today and enjoy today and hopefully we crack on and she has a good summer ahead of her.”

By Cambridge Stud stallion Almanzor, Pounce is out of winning Darci Brahma mare Caminata (NZ), who is a full sister to stakes winner Summer’s Day (NZ) and Group Three performer Dagny (NZ).

Pounce was bred by Cambridge Stud principals Sir Brendan and Lady Jo Lindsay. They offered her through their farm’s 2025 New Zealand Bloodstock Book 1 Yearling Sale draft and she was sold to the $110,000 bid of Wexford Stables.

Pounce has now won two of her four starts and earned just shy of $112,000 in prizemoney. - Joshua Smith

Three in a row for Ocean Bay

New Zealand import Ocean Bay (NZ) (Vanbrugh) continued her unbeaten campaign with a third straight win in the A$80,000 Ladbrokes Popular SRM Handicap (1600m) at Sandown on Saturday. The Gavin Bedggood-trained four-year-old had scored a first-up win over 1300m at Bendigo on July 30,

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Local victory in New Plymouth Interprovincial

Local runner Jaeger (NZ) (Time Test) proudly carried the Taranaki colours to a gritty victory when he took out the New Plymouth ITM Interprovincial (1600m) with a powerful finish on Saturday. All runners in the event carry the colours of the province they are representing, with Jaeger adorned in the

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Guineas aspirations for impressive debut winner

Trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson have been waiting for better tracks to step out their promising filly Asturia (NZ) (Almanzor), and she rewarded their patience with an impressive debut win in the Rich Hill Stud 1400 at Ellerslie on Saturday. The daughter of Almanzor had progressed nicely in her

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