Queen Atishu rules at Randwick

Atishu delivered further success for Waikato Stud and Savabeel at the highest level when she blew her rivals away in the G1 Queen of the Turf S. at Randwick.

The regally bred five-year-old crowned a rewarding, but earlier frustrating day for the Matamata nursery when the Chris Waller-trained mare romped home in the fillies and mares’ feature over 1600 metres.

Farm graduate Mo’unga had earlier finished second in the G1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes while Skew Wiff, who also carries the Chittick family colours, was runner-up in the G1 New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ at Pukekohe.

The Waikato Stud-bred and sold Atishu now has a complete set of stakes honours having previously won the G2 Matriarch S., the G3 Bill Ritchie H. and Listed success when prepared by Stephen Marsh in the Inglewood S. and Warstep S.

Atishu had opened her autumn preparation with a strong run for second in the G2 Emancipation S. at Rosehill and Waller said that outing had her in prime order for today’s test.

“It was a great return and that day she had a wide draw and today she had the inside and it was pretty to watch.”

Atishu settled midfield on the fence and as the field fanned out on the turn, she strode to the front early in the straight and careered away to score by 2.5l under rider Nash Rawiller.

“I knew she would get through the ground and hitting the front 300 metres from home at Randwick is a daunting experience, but she just kicked away,” he said.

Atishu was purchased at Karaka by Go Racing’s Albert Bosma’s for $260,000 and is a sister to Waikato Stud-raced G3 Desert Gold S. winner Mazzolino, with their dam the No Excuse Needed mare Posy, who won two races.

Posy is a sister to the three-time Group 1 winner Daffodil from the family of top-flight winners Aegon and Good Faith.

She has an unraced juvenile sister to Atishu and is currently in foal to Noverre.