Last-to-First Fillies’ Classic Triumph for Hawea

Taupo’s $100,000 Chittick Family Fillies’ Classic (1100m) was awarded Listed status in 2026 after a long line of high-class winners in recent years, and a graduate of Karaka 2025 added her name to the list in spectacular style on Sunday.

Hawea (Hellbent) produced a breathtaking finish from the back of the field to win the three-year-old fillies’ feature, which had previously unveiled the likes of subsequent Group One winners Atishu (NZ) (Savabeel), Quintessa (NZ) (Shamus Award), Jennifer Eccles (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle), Bounding (Lonhro), Recite (NZ) (Darci Brahma) and A Touch Of Ruby (NZ) (Pins).

Bred and part-owned by NZB's John Cameron alongside prominent owner Daniel Zigal who also stayed in the ownership, Hawea was purchased by Brendon McCullum and Richardson Racing from the Karaka 2025 Book 1 draft of Wentwood Grange for $300,000. She has now had four starts for a win, a placing and $84,950 in stakes, and Sunday’s performance suggested there could be a lot more to come.

Hawea is trained by Graham Richardson and Rogan Norvall, who gave her three starts as a two-year-old last season. She finished sixth on debut at Ellerslie on Boxing Day, followed by a fourth in the Group Three Colin Jillings 2YO Classic (1200m) and third in the Group Two Matamata Breeders’ Stakes (1200m).

The Fillies’ Classic at Taupo on Sunday was Hawea’s first raceday appearance as a three-year-old, and it marked a big step forward from her juvenile season.

Hawea was ridden patiently by Wiremu Pinn and dropped out to the back of the field. She was still clearly last at the home turn.

But then Pinn unleashed her down the outside of the Taupo straight, and with astonishing acceleration, she powered past her 10 rivals with ease. She hit the front less than 30 metres from the finish and was a length clear at the line.

“Richie (Graham Richardson) said to ride her neutral,” Pinn said. “I was happy when I saw Back Of The Bus (NZ) (Hello Youmzain) in front of me, because I knew she would give me a nice cart into the race.

“I didn’t expect this filly to quicken like she did, it did surprise me, but she’s a lovely filly going forward.

“She’s one of those fillies that doesn’t really like getting told what to do, but you’ve just got to be nice to her. She’s shown today that she’s got a lot of ability there, it’s just about putting it together.

“I thought it was a very dominant win.”

Hawea’s heroics on Sunday came as less of a surprise to Richardson.

“She came from last and has beaten a good field, it’s a big thrill,” the Matamata trainer said. “She is a very good filly that has had a few problems.

“We were having some issues with her at the starting gates – I think she got a fright in the Breeders’ Stakes. She spent some time with Mark Brooks, and I thank him very much for that.

“He’s got her right, and we’ve always had a lot of time for her.

“She’s not a horse that needs a lot of work, she’s pretty clean-winded. She’ll go forward and maybe end up in Christchurch for the 1000 Guineas (Group One, 1600m).

“She’ll go to the Gold Trail Stakes (Group Three, 1200m) and head to the usual fillies’ races.”

Hawea capped a big weekend of three-year-old performances by Karaka graduates. She’s No Saint (Prague) had previously won the $100,000 Group Three Cambridge Stud Northland Breeders’ Stakes (1200m) by three and three-quarter lengths at Ruakaka on Saturday, while first-starter Fortunato (NZ) (Per Incanto) made a big impression with his debut victory in Sunday’s $50,000 Poverty Bay Turf Club 3YO (1100m) at Taupo. Fortunato was bought for $90,000 from the 2025 Ready to Run Sale, with this year’s edition scheduled for 18 and 19 November.

Vendor	Wentwood Grange
Purchaser	Brendon McCullum & Richardson Racing (Waikato)
Breeding	Hellbent – Idlewild
Sale	Lot 2, Karaka 2025 Book 1, $300,000
Breeder	Mr J Cameron, Wcy Fan, MH & E Oram, D Zigal
Owner	K Gibbons, J Cameron, D Zigal, R Goddard, B McCullum ONZM, S Donovan, B McLaughlin, B Worth, J Worth, L & G Lynch, G & F Pickett