After a spring of setbacks with Wrote To Arataki, Warrnambool trainer Matthew Williams set his sights on claiming a first-up Stakes race victory with the mare.
The plan paid a dividend on Saturday when Wrote To Arataki claimed her second victory in the Group 3 Geoffrey Bellmaine Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield.
Saturday’s outing in the Bellmaine Stakes was the fourth time the mare has contested the race and comes on top of her win in 2023 when the race was run at Sandown.
In 2024, Wrote To Arataki finished fourth while last year she commenced her autumn campaign by finishing third at Caulfield.
Ridden by Dean Yendall, Wrote To Arataki ($12) led throughout to win by a length from Damask Rose ($7) with Bossy Benita ($5) a further 1¾ lengths away third.
Williams said Wrote To Arataki had been a sound mare throughout her 29-start career, which includes seven wins, but a virus last year curtailed her campaign.
“We’ve never had a soundness issue with her,” Williams said.
“She had a couple of little viruses there in the spring and we just couldn’t get her back right, so we had to pull up stumps.
“The owners have been very patient and were happy to do that and we just set her for this race.
“It’s a good way to start her program and she’s not a good traveller, so we don’t look to go anywhere interstate with her.
“Mares are very well catered for in Victoria if you can follow that program and she loves 1400 and 1600-metre races, so it works well and they’re on our backdoor.”
Williams said a lingering cough last spring resulted in Wrote To Arataki being afforded extra time in the paddock.
“We could have had a crack late in the spring and we felt for one race it wasn’t worth it, so we opted to pull up stumps and give her a bit more time in the paddock,” Williams said.
“It’s such a tight turnaround to get them back. She came back fresh and we were able to get a nice building preparation into her.
“Her jump-outs were good and the team have done a great job.”
The Group 3 Frances Tressady Stakes (1400m) followed by the Group 3 Matron Stakes (1600m), both at Flemington, are likely to be the next targets for Wrote To Arataki.
