Australia on the cards for ultra-impressive Well Written
“Bring on Australia” was the message from winning jockey Matt Cartwright after Well Written (Written Tycoon) lived up to her exciting reputation with a breathtaking fifth win from as many starts in Saturday’s Karaka Millions 3YO Classic (RL, 1600m).
The Stephen Marsh-trained sensation went into the NZ$1.5 million feature as a prohibitive odds-on favourite, having built an ultra-impressive CV through her first four starts.
That included a 2.5 length romp in her one elite-level attempt, the New Zealand 1,000 Guineas (Gr 1, 1600m) in November, in her first start bearing Yulong’s colours after a 50 per cent buy-in from the stud that stands her sire, Written Tycoon (Iglesia).
Marsh admitted he’d been nervous before Well Written’s last start in the Auckland Guineas (Gr 2, 1400m), when a troublesome parade left her trainer “a shade of green” before his charge managed a 0.3 length success.
But there were no such misgivings on Saturday, and far less doubt about the verdict. Well Written settled in midfield from gate three of 13, found clear air at the 300 metres, and veritably exploded away from her rivals to score by six lengths.
Te Akau Racing pair He Who Dares (Snitzel) and La Dorada (Super Seth) took second and third.
The NZ$797,500 first prize took Well Written’s earnings to NZ$1.42 million, and had Cartwright almost lost for words as the expat Australian reflected on what fate had brought him since his brave decision to move from Melbourne to New Zealand for better opportunities in 2024.
“Wow – I think we’ve seen a very, very special win today,” Cartwright told Sky.
“The best horse I have ever ridden. This thing is an absolute weapon. It’s so exciting.
“We got the right run, I got through, and wow – I nearly fell off the back of her.
“The job was on today with her – she was very keen today. But I’ve always just wanted to ride her with a bit of cover. Every time I’ve ridden her, she drops her head and relaxes, just so she can show that great turn of foot.
“She’s a very, very good horse. I think she’s right up to it with Australia’s best.”
Marsh indicated he wouldn’t charge into an Australian mission with the filly without a good deal of consideration, saying her next major target would be the $4 million slot race, The Kiwi (1500m) at Ellerslie on March 7.
“We’ll just play around with her. You’ll see her in The Kiwi,” said Marsh, a mixture of relief and ecstasy.
“Everything went good early. We probably got a length further back than I thought, but then you see her come up underneath Matt, and gee.
“I just thought she paraded so much better today. I was a shade of green before her last start, but I was relatively relaxed today.
“What have we just seen? We’ve seen something very special. I’m absolutely over the moon.
“People have said, ‘How good is she? Is she the best we’ve had?’ I hope she keeps continuing this way and I hope we are saying she’s the best.
“But she’s awesome. She’s back, unbelievable, and she just keeps on improving, so it’s very, very exciting.”
Marsh said he was pleased to see Cartwright stay calm when Well Written was still several lengths off the leaders in the ruck on the turn.
“One thing I always say to them is, ‘Just don’t panic. If you get into a bit of trouble, just have faith in the horse and yourself, and it’ll happen’. He didn’t panic, and that’s what I like about Matt,” said Marsh, admitting it was a thrill to have a horse of this ability.
“It makes me feel bloody good actually. This is why we all do it. This helps us out of bed. I love seeing the owners, everyone’s so excited, she’s got a following and she hasn’t let them down yet.”
Well Written has quickly become a star money-spinner for her connections, especially considering her modest origins.
She was initially offered as a weanling by breeder David Digney via Lemrac Lodge at Inglis’s Great Southern Sale. She was bought for $32,500 by Foxhill Thoroughbreds, which has Benji and Harry King behind it. The brothers are sons of Nick and Anne-Marie King of New Zealand’s Brighthill Farm, with Harry now best known as Yulong’s sales and nominations manager, through which he has a keen interest in Written Tycoon.
Well Written was then pinhooked through Brighthill’s draft at New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Online Yearling Sale in 2024, bought by Marsh and Dylan Johnson Bloodstock for $80,000 – a figure she’s already recouped many times over, with many more times set to come.
The well proportioned chestnut is the first foal – and only one to race of three – from Mozzie Monster (Sebring), who was twice Listed placed in Victoria and is a daughter of Melbourne Group 3 victor Valentine Miss (Danetime).
Mozzie Monster now has a colt foal by Nicconi (Bianconi) but missed to Written Tycoon last month.
Well Written is one of 82 stakes winners from 1,354 runners (6.05 per cent) for Written Tycoon, the 23-year-old who covered 43 mares under fee-on-arrangement terms at Yulong last spring, according to latest studbook figures.
New Zealand has been a particularly fertile field for Written Tycoon. He has six black type victors there from 36 starters, at 16.66 per cent.