Split loyalties set to test the Huddy family
Given that they bred Quintessa (Shamus Award) and own her Let’s Elope Stakes (Gr 2, 1400m) rival Comrade Rosa (Capitalist), the Huddy family will have divided loyalties when the pair of mares clash for a second time this Saturday at Flemington.
It was Quintessa who prevailed when the duo met for the first time in the Cockram Stakes (Gr 3, 1200m) at the end of last month, when the four-year-old mare powered home under Daniel Stackhouse to register her third stakes success for the Te Akau Racing team.
Linda Huddy, who operates the sprawling Peachester Lodge on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast in tandem with husband Graham, was trackside at Caulfield that day and although Quintessa’s win was undoubtedly good for the family business, victory for Comrade Rosa would have been a better outcome for the bank balance.
A previous commitment to attend a showjumping event in New South Wales will prevent Huddy from witnessing the rematch, while her son Lachie – a budding film-maker who is also in Comrade Rosa’s ownership group together with his wife Renee – will be required on set at the Gold Coast rather than at Flemington.
Instead, the family will be watching on intently from afar as favourite Quintessa bids to repel the challenge of three-time stakes heroine Comrade Rosa, whose distinctive maroon and gold diagonal silks were carried to four Group 1 victories by Preferment (Zabeel).
With a whole host of well-credentialled mares lining up in the Let’s Elope Stakes, including Comrade Rosa’s stablemate Wollombi (Extreme Choice), South Australian raider See You In Heaven (Divine Prophet) and last-start Australasian Oaks (Gr 1, 2000m) winner Vibrant Sun (The Autumn Sun), the contest should serve as a tantalising entrée to the Maybe Diva Stakes (Gr 1, 1600m) that immediately follows.
“A dead-heat between Rosa and Quintessa would be perfect,” joked Huddy.
“Quintessa’s turn of foot was amazing in the Cockram, I don’t think even Te Akau had expected her to win first-up over 1200 metres. I think both mares should be suited by the step up in trip to 1400 metres, and even though Rosa went well in the Cockram she was in the stall next to the horse [Skybird] that got herself trapped under the barriers, which would have affected her at the start.
“She still only finished two lengths behind Quintessa so with even luck, I think she will run really well again. It was a funny feeling with them both running and it will be the same on Saturday, we will definitely have split loyalties but I suppose two chances are better than one and hopefully we’ll be celebrating again.”
Quintessa was the third foal produced by Chaquinta (High Chaparral), who won five times on the track before she joined Rosemont Stud’s broodmare band. When Anthony Mithen’s Gnarwarre operation held an online dispersal sale via Magic Millions in 2020, Huddy was scouring the market for mares to send to Preferment and was quick to pounce on Chaquinta, whom she purchased in foal to Shamus Award (Snitzel) for $65,000.
Chaquinta then boarded a plane to New Zealand and subsequently gave birth to a brown filly on the lush pastures of Wentwood Grange, the stud farm in Cambridge owned and operated by the Hawkins family where several Huddy-owned mares call home.
Twelve months later, their filly fetched $170,000 at the New Zealand Bloodstock Yearling Sale, providing the Huddy family not only with a serious return on their investment but also, given Te Akau supremo Davis Ellis’ astute judgement, with the confidence that she might perform with distinction on the racetrack.
“We were obviously pleased when David showed an interest in the filly, and even more delighted when Te Akau ended up buying her,” Huddy told ANZ Bloodstock News.
“They had previously bought another filly from us but unfortunately she never made it to the races, so we’re absolutely thrilled for them and for us that this one has turned out to be such an amazing racehorse.
“When Quintessa won the Levin Classic at the start of the year, we decided to bring Chaquinta back to Australia in foal to Per Incanto, who is doing such a great job at stud. It will be a late foal as she wasn’t covered until December, so we will give her the year off with a view to sending her back to Shamus Award next season. We would obviously love to have a full-brother or sister to Quintessa to take to the sales, particularly if she keeps winning these big races.”
As for Comrade Rosa, who was purchased for $100,000 at the 2020 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, this is likely to be her last season on the track before she begins her new life as a broodmare at Peachester Lodge.
“It’s always easy to have 20/20 vision in hindsight, but even at the time we thought she was a really good buy,” said Huddy.
“She had a strong rear end on her, which is always a good sign especially in sprinters and she also comes from a great family, so there was a lot to like about her. I couldn’t believe she only went for $100,000, so we were pretty happy with the price and we’re even happier with it now. She won a couple of races in New South Wales, but she’s just absolutely thrived since she came up to Queensland with Tony [Gollan].
“She will definitely join us here on the farm when she retires, but before then hopefully she can win another race or two. I just hope she doesn’t keep racing against Quintessa, because it’s not great for my nerves.”