Having last raced in the Group 1 ATC Oaks (2400m) at Randwick in April, Quintessa has been set a difficult task when she resumes under topweight in a very open Tobin Brothers Cockram Stakes (1200m) on Memsie Stakes Day at Caulfield.
Te Akau Racing's 4-year-old daughter of Shamus Award has a respectable record at the distance with two wins and a second from three starts from an overall record of four wins and three seconds from ten starts.
After winning her first three starts culminating in the Group III HBRInc Gold Trail Stakes, Quintessa posted two seconds before a Group 1 breakthrough in the WRC Levin Classic at Trentham.
Following a close-up fourth in the Group 1 BCD Group Sprint at Tec Rapa, Quintessa made her first foray to Australia for the Group 1 Australian Guineas at Flemington in March, where she was a fast-finishing -finishing fourth behind Southport Tycoon.
The Mark Walker-trained daughter of Shamus Award was a troubled second to Antrim Coast in the Group II Alister Clark Stakes at Moonee Valley, which encouraged connections to have a throw at the stumps in the ATC Australian Oaks.
The 2400m looked to be the limit for Quintessa, who finished a gallant fourth behind Autumn Angel, the VRC Oaks winner Zardozi and the NZ Derby and Vinery Stud Stakes winner, Orchestral.
Quintessa was a $170,000 purchase for David Ellis from the Wentwood Grange draft at Karaka in 2022.
Bred by Peachester Lodge, she is the best of two winners from as many to race for the High Chaparral IRE) mare Chaquinta.
A $120,000 buy for United Syndications from the Cambridge Stud draft at Karaka in 2013, Chaquinta showed little in four starts for Mick Price but proved a reliable money spinner for Joe Cleary, winning five and placing in five of 21 starts with three wins on the bounce at Warwick Farm (x2) and Canterbury from 2200m to 2700m.
Rosemont Stud purchased Chaquinta for $120,000 from the Willow Park draft at the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale. It sold her two years later to Linda and Graham Huddy's Peachester Lodge for $65,000 at the Magic Millions Rosemont Exclusive Online Sale.
Following Quintessa, Chaquinta has an unraced 3-year-old colt by Preferment named Costanza and a 2-year-old filly by the same stallion.
After foaling a colt by the Kingsman stallion King of Comedy (IRE) last spring, Chaquinta was covered by Per Incanto (USA).
A half-sister to stakes-placed Our Heir Apparent (Zabeel), Chaquinta is a daughter of the winning Encosta De Lago mare La Quinta Gold, a sister to Besame Mucho (Group III STC Research Stakes, Listed AJC The Nivison, Listed AJC PJ Bell Handicap and the dam of stakes-winner Frespanol and Essington) and Gold Lottey (Group III VRC The Vanity, Group III MVRC WH Stocks Stakes, Listed AJC Wiggle Quality Handicap and dam of stakes-winner Iconoclasm).
La Quinta Gold's unraced sister, Prayers'N'Promises is the dam of Killua Castle (Churchill Downs) was a top-class performer in South Africa, winning twice at Group III level and finishing second in the Group 1 Turffontein Summer Cup.
Rosemont Stud's Shamus Award has ridden the roller coaster of fashion but is currently in a golden patch.
Quintessa is his fourth stakes-winner from his 2020 and joined an elite band of six Group 1 winners for the son of Snitzel, featuring such luminaries as Incentivise, Duais, Mr Quickie, El Patroness, Media Award.
