Photo: Ajay Berry (Race Images South)
Consistent mare Quintabelle (Embellish) upset the applecart with a resolute finishing run to take out the Gr.3 Winning Edge Presentations 129th Winter Cup (1600m) on Saturday for local Riccarton trainer Anna Furlong.
The six-year-old daughter of Embellish had looked to be building nicely to the feature event on the first day of the Riccarton Winter Carnival with a pair of eye-catching runs at Ashburton and Oamaru respectively after resuming following a mild tendon strain and some breathing issues ended her summer campaign when finishing last over 2200m back in February.
Ridden by Central Districts apprentice Toni Davies, who had taken out the preceding event with Wire Rope, Quintabelle was ignored somewhat in an even betting market, starting at a Fixed Odds quote of $27.
Those odds looked well off the mark when Davies asked the mare to make her run nearing the 600 mark after sitting back as pacemakers Turn The Ace and Riviera Rebel set up a hot speed at the head of affairs.
With the field spread across the track at the 300m perennial Winter Cup placegetter Bradman, shooting for his first win in the contest after securing minor placings in the previous two years, had hit the front with Quintabelle and Prioress chasing hard out wide.
Quintabelle swept to the lead at the 100m to defeat a gallant Bradman by two lengths with Prioress taking third a further two lengths in arrears.
Furlong was quietly confident she had the mare ready for a big effort in the feature black type event after she dropped from carrying 62kgs at her previous start to a featherweight 53kgs.
“Third up and with a huge drop in weight we thought she was going to be a key player,” Furlong said.
“I thought Toni got her in a nice spot as you can’t bustle her, you need to let her relax into things. She tracked through and then came wide and really let down beautifully.
“I’m thrilled for everyone at work (in the stable) as they work so hard and I’m so appreciative and also for the owners.
“Some (owners) are here and they will be over the moon, as it is a large group and they will be pumping.”
Promising apprentice Davies, who enjoyed a break-out season in 2025/26 with 38 wins to her name, was beaming after claiming her biggest race success.
“That’s an amazing feeling,” she said.
“I was pretty happy how it turned out as she relaxed beautifully even though we got back a little bit.
“I was able to track something into the race and she has just kicked for home.
“Anna had said she goes best third up and this is right up there for me as it is hard for apprentices to ride in this type of race and win them, so I can’t thank Anna enough.”
Out of the Tavistock mare La Quinta, Quintabelle has some strong staying blood in her veins being the younger half-sister to Gr.3 Queen Elizabeth II Cup (2400m) winner Dionysus who also finished third in the 2023 Gr.3 Wellington Cup (3200m).
Purchased by trainer Robert Dennis, who remains in her ownership, for $25,000 from the Epona Park draft during the Book 2 sale at Karaka in 2022, Quintabelle has now won six of her 26 starts and $234,955 in prizemoney.
