News Detail

Verzain (2 f Zousain – Written Verse by Written Tycoon) continued her rapid rise through the juvenile ranks when landing Saturday’s Breeders’ Stakes (Gr 3, 1200m) at Morphettville.

The Phillip Stokes-trained filly arrived off a win in the Without Fear Stakes (Listed, 1050m) and made it back-to-back black-type victories with a professional performance under a tactful ride by Harry Coffey.

Despite being a touch restless pre-race, she settled just behind the speed before quickening strongly to take control inside the final furlong and draw clear to score by 1.5 lengths over Wonderful Sky (Ole Kirk), with Vandaross (Anders) the same margin further back in third.

“Full credit to the team. She’s a tough little filly,” Stokes said. “She put on a bit of a show before the race, but once she got out there she did everything right. There was good speed which helped her run the 1200 metres strongly and she’s done a good job this preparation.

“She's a valuable filly now with a couple of stakes wins, so we'll have to think about what we do next. There is another stakes race in a couple of weeks, but she’s been in work for a while, so she'd want to be pulling up well.”

A $40,000 purchase from the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale Book 2 by Mick Malone Bloodstock, Verzain has already more than recouped her purchase price, with earnings now exceeding $200,000 from just four starts.

Bred by Jen Campin Bloodstock, she is the first foal from the placed Written Tycoon (Iglesia) mare Written Verse and hails from the family of dual Group 1 winner and champion sire Extreme Choice (Not A Single Doubt).

Written Verse has since produced a yearling colt by In The Congo (Snitzel) and a colt by Wyndspelle (Iffraaj) last spring.