Qali Al Farrasha secured her second stakes victory with a commanding performance in the Group 3 Grangewilliam Stud Taranaki Breeders Stakes (1400m) held recently. The mare, trained by Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson, returned to racing after a six-month break since narrowly missing out behind Khanshine in the Group 2 Travis Stakes (2000m) at Te Rapa in April.

Ridden by Wiremu Pinn, Qali Al Farrasha began strongly from barrier six and quickly settled into a comfortable third position during the early stages of the race. Approaching the home turn, Pinn shifted the mare to a wider position before unleashing her finishing burst at the 200-metre mark. Qali Al Farrasha surged past runner-up Royal Flower with ease and extended her lead to win by two lengths at the finish.

Pinn expressed confidence in Qali Al Farrasha’s ability before the race, and the mare's swift acceleration, highlighted by a clean start and well-measured pace, affirmed those expectations. This fresh-up victory adds to her consistent record as a strong performer when returning to the track after layoffs.

Qali Al Farrasha is a daughter of Almanzor and has recorded four wins from 24 starts, including a previous Group 2 victory in the Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders' Stakes (1400m). Her career earnings now exceed NZ$718,000.

The race also drew attention to rising racing talents from New Zealand. Apprentice Siena Grima secured a Group 1 victory aboard God’s Window, trained by Christchurch-based expat trainer Chris Waller. Meanwhile, runner-up Ceolwulf is a homebred product of the New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run sales, underscoring the ongoing strength of New Zealand breeding.

Despite the absence of an Australian debut victory for Well Written, the recent events highlighted the international competitiveness of New Zealand-bred horses and the continued success of their connections at both domestic and international levels.