Written Tycoon filly Well Written has been dynamite since she stepped out, and the Gr.1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas victress took her exploits to another level on Saturday with a gritty victory in the R. Listed NZB Kiwi at Ellerslie. The filly was far in the lead as the field entered the final furlong, but Belle Cheval (NZ) (Savabeel) broke from the pack to try and catch her.
Knuckling down under Matt Cartwright, Well Written was able to hold her off by a short head to prevail in the NZ$4 million contest for Stephen Marsh and Yulong, who bought 50% in the filly in the weeks leading up to her barnstorming Guineas victory.
“Everything worked out perfect,” Cartwright said. “She was travelling that good, I let her go. Probably with the weight (58kg) and being in front for so long, she wandered a bit, but she got the job done still.”
Cartwright gave an ominous warning that the filly hadn’t demonstrated her best on the day.
“I have got to hand it to Stephen Marsh, he has been the best supporter of me, he is a great trainer and he is a great mate as well.”
Marsh admitted he didn’t know until the loudspeaker announced it that his filly had won, which was especially pleasing given Yulong principal Zhang Yuesheng was on course for the victory.
“She got to the front easy,” he said. “She has had six starts as a 3-year-old, she is not fully mature and had 58 kilos, I just wonder if all that had a bit of a factor. She floated around a bit when she got to the front.
“All the well wishes that I have had this week has just been overwhelming. I was hoping we weren’t going to let people down, and we won by the barest of margins, but I am just so proud of her and the team, all of our owners, Yulong – Mr Zhang is here today – it has just been amazing.
“The ride has been super and I will sleep well for a couple of days after that. It (winning the NZB Kiwi) is a feeling you can never explain, and you can’t buy it.”
Marsh indicated that the filly will likely head for a spell now, with an Australian campaign on the cards for the spring.
Sales: Bred David Digney, Well Written was first purchased by Harry and Benji King, under the latter’s Foxhill Thoroughbreds banner, as a weanling for $32,500 at the Inglis Great Southern Sale in 2023. Brighthill Farm offered her in the 2024 New Zealand Bloodstock National Online Yearling Sale on Gavelhouse Plus, where she was purchased by Marsh and Dylan Johnson Bloodstock for $80,000.
Written for TTRAusNZ
