Captured By Love confirmed herself one of the best of her generation with a brilliant win in Saturday’s Group One New Zealand One Thousand Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton.
Sent out the second favourite with bookmakers, Captured By Love finished brilliantly along the inside of the pack to nab the lead and race clear late.
Captured By Love wins the Gr1 One Thousand Guineas 2024 (Pic – Race Images South supplied by Magic Millions)
The win, over the favourite and highly rated filly Alabama Lass, was emphatic with the winning margin a widening length and a quarter at the post.
Top class Australian jockey Josh Parr was beaming after the race – delighted to snare a top tier New Zealand race in the famous tangerine colours of Te Akau Racing.
“It feels great to win a Group One race in New Zealand,” Parr told NZ Racing Desk after the win. “Two years ago, I came to ride for Te Akau at this carnival, and this day didn’t go well with the races being cancelled.”
“Middle to three-quarters of the way out on the track is the place to be, but it opened up on the middle to inside, so I took the shortcut. We idled up alongside the favourite and she was the stronger filly.”
“The Te Akau team has been great to me in the past and they’re huge contributors both here and in Australia.”
Captured By Love was bought for A$525,000 by Te Akau Racing from the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale last year for the Te Akau 2023 Magic Fillies’ Breeding Syndicate. She was bred by Tony Santic’s Makybe operation and sold through the Milburn Creek draft.
“That was a great win,” Mark Walker, who trains in partnership with Sam Bergerson, said post-race.
“At the top of the straight it could have got ugly, but Group One jockeys make Group One decisions and Josh got a lovely run through on the inside.”
“Big thanks to Dave Ellis, who bought the filly without any owners. It takes great nerve to buy the ones you want, and full credit to Karyn Fenton-Ellis for filling the syndicate.”
“It’s been an interrupted preparation for Captured By Love, but the 1000 Guineas was the one we wanted. Full credit to Sam – I’ve spent a lot of time at our Melbourne stable during the spring. He held his nerve by not giving her a hard gallop on Tuesday, just didn’t think she needed it, and the result was a very satisfying win for everyone involved.”
“She’s only going to improve heading into the autumn, so very exciting times ahead for Captured By Love.”
Syndicate manager Karyn Fenton-Ellis was not surprisingly all smiles after the win.
“It’s a privilege to win this race for the seventh time,” Fenton-Ellis said. “Congratulations to David Ellis for buying this filly, the owners who understand how good she is, and Mark and Sam for the way they have managed her through a somewhat difficult preparation.”
“Today she showed all the spirit and class that she possesses and thank you to Josh Parr for coming over and riding such a great race.”
“Nothing gives us more joy than to win a race like the 1000 Guineas for such a great group of owners, and it’s a special privilege to be on the podium accepting the awards from the Canterbury Jockey Club,” Fenton-Ellis added.
From 10 starts, Captured By Love has won five and been a minor placegetter at her five other starts. She’s already earned over NZ$700,000 in prizemoney.
Captured By Love is the first runner for her dam, the twice two-year-old winner Moldova.
A daughter of Snitzel, Moldova was a Flemington juvenile winner and is from a half-sister to stakes winners Savvy Nature and Addictive Nature.
Further back it is the same family of another New Zealand One Thousand Guineas winner Hasahalo.
- Winner: Captured By Love
- Breeding: Written Tycoon-Moldova (Snitzel)
- Race: CJC New Zealand One Thousand Guineas Gr1 (1600m)
- Sold for: A$525,000
- Sale: 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale
- Earnings: NZ$703,435
- Breeder: Makybe Racing & Breeding
- Vendor: Milburn Creek (As Agent)
- Owners: Te Akau 2023 Magic Fillies’ Breeding Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM)
- Trainers: Mark Walker & Sam Bergerson
