Photo: Bruno Cannatelli
Talented five-year-old mare Wrote To Arataki has added further black-type to her record when leading throughout to land the Gr.2 Tristarc Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on Saturday.
The daughter of Wrote was ridden with good intent by comeback jockey Dean Yendall, and once the mare found the front she was rated to perfection to prevail from Shuffle Dancer and Call Di.
There was less than two lengths over the first eight runners home, with trainer Matthew Williams delighted to see the honest galloper rewarded with yet another stakes win after prevailing in the Gr.3 Geoffrey Bellmaine Stakes (1300m) at Sandown last season.
“She’s been racing well and Dean was able to rate her perfectly today. It all worked out perfectly,” Williams said.
“She’s just so honest. The Caulfield straight is not that long but it seemed a fair way today.
“Through her career she’s been very honest and sometimes she’s just done a bit too much work early and that has found her out late. When you get that early part of the race right, she is very genuine.”
Winning jockey Dean Yendall, who recently returned from a broken collarbone, was thrilled to be back claiming another black-type winner for a good supporter in Williams.
“It has been a great thrill to get back to where I am now with all the support behind me including the likes of Matthew Williams, Price-Kent and Paul Preusker,” he said.
“It's a great feeling to win on this mare today. She ran a bottler last time at Flemington (when third in the Gr.2 Blazer Stakes, 1400m).
“It was no fault of my own, I just tried to ride her a bit quieter and it didn’t work out. I got caught wide but she still relished it late.
“Today, It looked like no speed whatsoever. She didn’t fly out of the machines but I was able to dictate and get across at my leisure and let her go at a nice striding gallop and relax within herself.
“Then I asked her to kick off the turn and the rest was history.”
Wrote To Arataki is likely to be seen next in the Gr.1 Empire Rose Stakes (1600m) at Flemington, a race Yendall has previously won on Shoals (2017) and I Am A Star (2016).
“I have won a couple, so three won’t hurt,” he quipped.
By Wrote, Highview Stud’s Group One winning son of High Chaparral, Wrote To Arataki is out of the multiple winning Align mare Galloping Gerte.
She was bred by Noelene Bishop, who along with husband Bill, is good friends with Highview Stud’s Brent Gillovic.
Wrote To Arataki finished third in her only trial in New Zealand for former trainers Emma-Lee and David Browne before her private sale to the Williams stable through bloodstock agent Phill Cataldo.
Wrote’s eldest progeny are now five and in addition to Wrote To Arataki include Group winner Best Seller, who was also runner-up in the Gr.1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) to Legarto, plus stakes performers Love Letter and High Providence. – NZ Racing Desk
