Well-performed Almanzor mare Qali Al Farrasha looks set for another lucrative campaign following her impressive return to racing at Ellerslie.The Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson representative was resuming over a distance well short of her best, but in a fresh state she exploded clear to coast home at the end of 1400 metres.Qali Al Farrasha measured up well against the best fillies last season when she ran third in the G1 New Zealand Oaks, off the back of a runner-up finish in the G3 Sunline Vase, to earn a crack at another top-flight title at Morphettville.“She went to Adelaide for the Australasian Oaks, drew the outside and things didn’t work out, but she spelled brilliantly at the farm where Deane Lowcay, our bloodstock manager, and the team there had her looking really good for when she came back into training,” Walker said.“We’ve just brought her along nice and slowly and since she’s turned in the coat she started to really do well, and Nicole Shailer had her looking in great order at the stables.“I think she’s in for an exciting preparation as a middle-distance mare that can win like that over 1400 metres first-up. There was a lot to like about the way she won and how well she’s developed.”She is raced by breeders Te Akau Stud, Nearco Stud and Westonlea Bloodstock and is a sister to the unbeaten Listed Welcome Stakes winner Nucleozor, who is now in Hong Kong.Their dam is the Burgundy mare Nucleonic, who has produced a pair of colts by Hello Youmzain in the last two seasons.

Gezora has displayed an admirable mix of talent and versatility during her brief career, which has now been significantly complimented by a stakes-winning strike.Bred and raced by our friends at Haras d’Etreham, the daughter of Almanzor finished fourth on debut before breaking her maiden next time out over 1800 metres for trainer Nicolas Le Roch.The filly then finished runner-up on top of the ground in the G3 Prix de Conde over the same trip at Chantilly before going one better over a mile on heavy going in the G3 Prix des Reservoirs at Deauville.�The major question mark was how she would handle very soft ground because she only works on sand tracks at home, and she only ever gets on the grass when she goes to the races,� Le Roch said.�She has shown herself to be a very good filly on good going and ground with a little ease in it, so it's great that she handled this so well. “She just has a lot of quality, and she thoroughly deserves a break now.�Gezora is a daughter of the American-bred Silver Hawk mare Germance, whose record features a victory in the G1 Prix Saint-Alary and was second in the G1 French Oaks.

Te Akau Racing’s winning form in the Central Districts continued at Waverley on Sunday, with promising three-year-old Class claiming his maiden on debut in the Summit Electrical (1400m). The son of Embellish had made six appearances at the trials since mid-February this year and that experience was evident from the jump, gliding to the lead under Lily Sutherland and setting up a solid tempo.Fellow debutant Movin Out joined the gelding at the 600m but Class gained a break turning for home, showing a slick turn-of-foot to score easing down by 3 – ¼ lengths to Only The Lonely. Mark Walker, who trains Class in partnership with Sam Bergerson, anticipates the son of Embellish will only continue to improve as the distances rise. “It was a lovely positive ride by Lily and he’ll only get better as we step him up over more distance,” Walker said.“He was bred out at the farm, so he’s had plenty of time to develop and it’s always great to see the horses bred at Te Akau Stud as weanlings, then yearlings, and train on to win the way he did.“He may become the type once we get him up in trip, and with further maturity, that he could have a nice staying future.”Te Akau’s racing manager Reece Trumper added that Class will continue south from Waverley to the stable’s barn at Riccarton Park, with an intention to target the South Island Guineas’ races through the season. Class is a homebred galloper, with the Te Akau Opulent Syndicate breeding him alongside Glenn and Cathie Holmes. Te Akau principal David Ellis initially purchased the four-win dam, Opulent, as a yearling in 2013, and she has gone on to produce four individual winners including Luxuriant, Plenty O’ Style and the Australian-based Called To Account. “It’s always especially exciting for Karyn and I, and the Te Akau owners that breed horses like this, to see them win,” Ellis said.“Opulent is from one of the best families in the studbook and a beautiful filly with plenty of strength and great balance when we bought her as a yearling at Karaka.“She was a smart filly that worked effortlessly and looked the part when trialling as a two-year-old, and while she may not have reached the heights we hoped for, she has become a great mother and bred talented horses.” – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk