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Live sport on SN this weekendQali Al Farrasha all class at Hawera
Kevin Robertson, LOVERACING.NZ News Desk • October 3rd, 2026 6:48 pm
Qali Al Farrasha and Wiremu Pinn race away with the Gr.3 Grangewilliam Stud Taranaki Breeders Stakes (1400m) | Photo: Race Images / Jane Davidson
Top class mare Qali Al Farrasha added a second stakes victory to her impressive career record when she burst clear in the concluding stages to win the Gr.3 Grangewilliam Stud Taranaki Breeders Stakes (1400m) with consummate ease.
The Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson-prepared daughter of Almanzor hadn’t been seen at the races since finishing just a neck behind Khanshe in the Gr.2 Travis Stakes (2000m) at Te Rapa back in April this year.
Traditionally a strong performer in her fresh-up runs, Saturday’s performance was no surprise albeit the ease of the victory in the hands of rider Wiremu Pinn was eye-catching as she simply destroyed her female rivals in the final 100m on the Heavy 8 rated surface that had been downgraded from a Soft 7 due to steady rain throughout the day.
Pinn bounced the mare smartly away from barrier six before allowing her to settle nicely in third as favourite Circus Dancer set up proceedings out in front.
Eased to a position out wider on the track turning for home, Qali Al Farrasha hit overdrive at the 200m as she raced past eventual runner-up Royal Flower and put the victory to bed as she coasted home to score by a widening two length margin at the winning post.
Pinn was confident of victory leading into the contest and the mare had delivered on those expectations.
“She is the one I came down here for,” Pinn said.
“The track was a little bit worrying, but she is a pretty good horse, is Group One placed and I thought this was an easy kill for her.
“It was a good training effort by Mark and Sam, and she was just the best horse in the race.”
Bred by Nearco Stud Ltd, Te Akau Racing principal David Ellis and Westonlea Bloodstock’s David and Matthew Peacocke from lightly raced Burgundy mare Nucleonic (NZ), Qali Al Farrasha is raced by Ellis and the Peacockes.
She has now won four of her 24 starts with the Gr.2 Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1400m) amongst those victories while seven of her 11 placed efforts include four at Group One level, with total prizemoney earned of $718,175.
