By Kevin Robertson
Superstar mare Well Written was back to the business of winning when she triumphed in the first race of her four-year-old campaign, the Gr.1 Proisir Plate (1400m) at Ellerslie.
Unbeaten in six starts in her first season on the track, the Stephen Marsh-trained daughter of Written Tycoon went into the race as the raging hot favourite in the Fixed Odds market ($1.50) and never gave her supporters a moment of concern as she drove clear in the last 150m to defeat sentimental favourite Alabama Lass by two lengths, with Marsh also claiming third and fourth with Media World and Tardelli respectively.
Regular pilot Matt Cartwright must have been giggling as he found the one-out and one-back position from her midfield barrier as Media World set up a solid clip out in front.
Turning for home it was evident that Alabama Lass was going to be the main danger to the favourite as she ranged up alongside Media World and went on by as her many supporters willed her on to honour the legacy of her co-trainer Bev Kelso, who passed away last week after a long illness.
For a brief moment Alabama Lass looked to have the measure of Well Written, however, Cartwright asked her for a final effort at the 150m and she found another gear as she soared past and raced away to not only take out the $230,00 first place cheque, but also a $500,000 bonus available to the first NZB Kiwi starter from last season to win a domestic Group One this term.
WOW! The special story continues as equine superstar Well Written goes from Princess to Queen winning the Gr.1 Proisir Plate at @Ellerslie_Races
Ridden by @MattCartwrigh14 and trained by @marshracing
Live Racing
👉 https://t.co/hIPmC7TmTV pic.twitter.com/5KKZjuSd3I— Trackside NZ (@TracksideNZ) September 5, 2026
Marsh admitted that he was as relieved as he was delighted to see his superstar win after a moment of panic, when he thought Alabama Lass may have had her measure.
“I’m proud, real proud,” Marsh said.
“I’m not going to get emotional, but I was very nervous as it is hard for these mares to take on the older horses.
“When Alabama Lass kicked, I thought we were going to be second, which was amongst the many things that go through your mind, but when she really let down it was just awesome to see.
“I’m also proud of the other colts of ours in the race as they have run third and fourth and just went so creditably.
“She is amazing and full credit to Alabama Lass who is a very good mare who doesn’t go down without a fight.
“To have such a good support team of staff, owners and well-wishers is just amazing and is why we do this as we had had a rough old day up until now, but it makes it all worthwhile.”
Marsh will now prepare to take Well Written across the Tasman to tackle the best Australia has to offer in the Gr.1 Epsom Handicap (1600m) on October 3 at Randwick followed by the A$10million Golden Eagle (1500m) at the same venue on October 31.
“She is very special, seven from seven and has now won well amongst the best weight-for-age horses we have,” he said.
“She has a couple of big assignments ahead of her now and I hope we are right on track.
“We have a month until the Epsom, so we will leave her here until pretty late and go over there near the race date, then onto the Golden Eagle.
“We will get her home first though and make sure she is 100 percent.”
Cartwright continued to sing the praises of the mare after the victory.
“It is a little bit emotional to see her doing it at this level as she was still an unknown,” he said.
“We enjoyed a lovely run, although she was racing onto the heels of Alabama Lass, so I popped out 100m earlier than I wanted to as I wanted to keep her in a beautiful rhythm.
“When she kicked into gear it was all over.
“If she can do that to the field that she was against I think she definitely has the quality to be right there (in Australia) and race at the top of her game.”
Marsh and his racing manager Dylan Johnson paid a sale-topping $80,000 to buy Well Written from Brighthill Farm’s draft in the 2024 NZB National Online Yearling Sale on Gavelhouse Plus.
Marsh’s large syndicate of owners that originally raced Well Written all sold down their share after she scored a seven-length victory in the Gr.2 Soliloquy Stakes (1400m) last year, with major international player Yulong Investments coming into the ownership before she took out the Gr.1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton in November.
Her seven race victories have rewarded her connections to the tune of $2.845million in prizemoney
