Seven-year-old mare Wrote To Arataki landed her second Gr.3 Geoffrey Bellmaine Stakes (1200m) three years after her first, with a strong front-running success under Dean Yendall at Caulfield on Saturday.
The Matthew Williams trained daughter of Wrote (IRE) has competed in the race in four consecutive years, with fourth and third placings in the mare’s feature between her 2023 and 2026 victories.
Wrote To Arataki had a length to spare over fellow Kiwi bred mare Damask Rose, with Bossy Benita in third.
Williams said the mare’s soundness was a key asset as she advanced her career record to seven wins and nine placings from 28 starts with A$903,980 in prizemoney.
“She's done a great job and she's been so sound all the way through,” Williams said.
“She had a couple of little viruses there in the spring and we just couldn't get her back right, so we opted to pull up stumps.
“The owners have been very patient and were happy to do that, and then we've just set her for this race which has been a great kick-off to her autumn in previous prepartions. She always runs a pretty cheeky race in the Bellmaine.”
The Gr.3 Frances Tressady Stakes (1400m) at Flemington in a fortnight is the likely next assignment, a race Wrote To Arataki won last year.
“It's a good mare's program for her,” Williams said. “She's not a good traveller, so we don't look to go anywhere interstate, and mares are very well catered for here in Victoria. She loves these 1400m and 1600m races, so it just works well and they’re on your back door.”
Dean Yendall, who’s daughter Mia celebrated her 12th birthday was pleased to land a Group Three on the day, having missed the mare’s last win in the race through injury.
“I was down at the time with a bad fall but I am back now and I have ridden her the last couple of seasons,” Yendall said.
“She has been good to me, the owners have been good to me and obviously so has Matthew.
“She got the job done and the track is beautiful out there which played into her hands. There is a nice bit of give in it and it is not rock hard.
“She goes well fresh and her last couple of trials show that she is back in town and going well.”
Bred by Noelene Bishop, Wrote To Arataki is by Highview Stud’s proven sire Wrote, a Group One-winning son of High Chaparral. The dam of Wrote To Arataki is the multiple winning Align mare Galloping Gerte.
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.
A yearling full brother to Wrote To Arataki was sold to John Foote Bloodstock out of the Leanach Lodge draft for $200,000 at the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sales this week. – NZ Racing Desk
