Renaissance Woman (NZ) Brilliant in Bracelet

8 May 2023

A stunning finishing burst in Saturday’s A$160,000 Listed Aquis Stallions Gold Coast Bracelet (1800m) at the Sunshine Coast has put Karaka graduate Renaissance Woman (NZ) (Reliable Man) on target for a Group One assignment later in the winter carnival.

Renaissance Woman (NZ)
Renaissance Woman (NZ) was a $250,000 purchase from the Westbury Stud draft.

Bought for $250,000 from Book 1 of Karaka 2021, Renaissance Woman has now had 10 starts for three wins and A$276,000 in stakes.

The Bjorn Baker-trained filly was a Group Three winner of the Ethereal Stakes (2000m) in Melbourne last spring, and she later finished sixth in the Group One Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) and ninth in the Group One VRC Oaks (2500m).

After returning from a long summer break with a sixth over an unsuitable 1400-metre distance in Sydney, Renaissance Woman relished the step up to 1800 metres in Queensland on Saturday. With Josh Parr in the saddle, she sprouted wings and charged home from second-last with a sensational sprint down the roomy Sunshine Coast straight.

“I’m really pleased with how that turned out,” Parr said. “She’s such a talented filly, and when they’re taking you into the race like that, you can go wherever you damn well please.

“She came up underneath me really well, and we were in a good position. The pace was muddling, but I was still so confident with her.

“I can’t wait until she reaches her full potential, because I don’t think we’ve seen it just yet. So there are exciting things to come with her.

“It was masterful by Bjorn to give her an extended break before bringing her up here. It was the perfect training performance.”

Baker now has his sights firmly set on the Group One Queensland Oaks (2200m) at Eagle Farm on June 3.

“She was well beaten in the VRC Oaks in the spring, but they went so slow that she never got into it,” the expat New Zealand trainer said.

"She is a really nice filly who appreciated the 1800 metres today. She has a lovely laid-back demeanour and takes everything in her stride.

“It really was a big thrill today. She is a filly with a very good turn of foot.”

Renaissance Woman is out of Mrs Kennedy (Fastnet Rock), whose stakes-winning half-sister Miss Judgement (Strategic) is the dam of current high-class sprinter Passive Aggressive (Fastnet Rock), as well as the multiple Group One placegetter Missrock (Fastnet Rock).

Vendor Westbury Stud
Purchaser Attunga Stud (New South Wales)
Breeding Reliable Man – Mrs Kennedy
Sale Lot 562, Karaka 2021 Book 1, $250,000
Bred by G Harvey

Photo Credit - Ross Stephenson