Cover image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
On Tuesday, it was announced that the brilliant mare Prowess (NZ) (Proisir) had been retired due to a degenerative hoof issue. Trained by Kingsclere Stable trainers Roger James and Robert Wellwood, she was a veteran of only 12 starts, winning eight races.
Among them are two Group 1 victories in the Vinery Stud S. in Australia and the G1 Bonecrusher New Zealand S. against the older gallopers.
The daughter of Rich Hill Stud's Champion Sire Proisir was bred by the North Waikato-based Hallmark Stud and offered by them at the 2021 New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Yearling Sale, selling to Roger James and Robert Wellwood for NZ$230,000.
Mark Baker of Hallmark Stud told The Thoroughbred Report, “Whilst it’s obviously disappointing, we are very grateful for the many thrills Prowess provided us (Hallmark Stud) and the Skipper family, who purchased her off us as a yearling, in such a relatively short career.
“A huge thanks to Roger (James) and Robert (Wellwood) for the masterly job they did in training Prowess. We look forward to following her career as a broodmare.”
“Whilst it’s obviously disappointing, we are very grateful for the many thrills Prowess provided us. We look forward to following her career as a broodmare.” - Mark Baker
All athlete
Co-trainer Robert Wellwood recalls the first time he laid eyes upon Prowess, “She was a standout from day one,” he told The Thoroughbred Report.
“I remember seeing her at Hallmark Stud on the farm parades, and I recall saying to Roger, 'I think we’ve found a pretty nice one here'. At the sales, we landed on her as one of the better fillies on the complex.
“It’s quite difficult to pinpoint one thing we really liked about Prowess. We just loved her movement. As a physical type, she just looked like a real athlete.”
“It’s quite difficult to pinpoint one thing we really liked about Prowess. We just loved her movement. As a physical type, she just looked like a real athlete.” - Robert Wellwood
A debut winner at Wanganui followed by a success at Cambridge Synthetic, Prowess then headed to Te Rapa to contest the G3 Soliloquy S. where she was placed behind the future Group 1 winners Legarto (NZ) (Proisir) and Romancing The Moon (NZ) (El Roca).
Prowess was then placed in the G1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas, beaten by the high-class Pier (NZ) (Proisir) and last Saturday’s G1 TAB Classic victor Desert Lightning (NZ) (Pride Of Dubai). It didn’t take long for Prowess to get her name back on the board in the G2 Auckland Guineas before a sensational victory in the R. Listed Karaka Million 3YO Classic.
The daughter of Proisir won three successive races, including the G1 Bonecrusher New Zealand S. over 2000 metres, denying a competitive field of open-class gallopers. Prowess then ventured across the Tasman, where she stunned those trackside with a 3.32l romp in the G1 Vinery Stud S.
Proisir | Standing at Rich Hill Stud
The G1 Golden Slipper and G1 Sires’ Produce S. victress Fireburn (Rebel Dane) was behind Prowess at Rosehill.
Career of thrills
Prowess’ last hurrah came in the G2 Schweppes Crystal Mile in front of a packed crowd at Moonee Valley on Cox Plate Day.
“We got to see her only 12 times, but what she could achieve in those starts was incredible. It gives us some huge thrills,” Wellwood said.
“We always thought that the autumn of her 4-year-old year, and as a 5-year-old mare, was really where she was going to hit her straps because she was always immature right throughout her life. As a 3-year-old, Prowess could do it because of her tremendous ability.
“But Roger and I felt she was going to be top class later in life. She was so impressive to the eye in the Vinery Stud, winning by a long margin and not often do you see margins like that in Group 1s.
“But the Karaka 3YO Classic was touted as the best 3-year-olds at the time, alongside her success in the Bonecrusher New Zealand winning at weight for age over 2000 metres. There are not a lot of 3-year-olds that win at weight for age, let alone over a trip. So, it’s hard because she had some pretty remarkable performances.
Robert Wellwood and Roger James | Image courtesy of NZ Racing Desk
“The Crystal Mile was the icing on the cake because her owners had thirty or forty of their very closest friends and family on Cox Plate Day and were able to enjoy not only the whole weekend and the races but her winning.”
Prognosis positive for Prowess
Stable vet Greg Quinn and Wellwood are confident the prognosis for Prowess to become a broodmare is good. They reported due to the degree of change present in the left foot, Prowess will require a period of specialist farriery treatment and rehabilitation.
A statement from Kingsclere Stables and Quinn read, “Once changes of laminitis have developed to this degree, it is very uncommon for horses to return to the stresses of racing.
“Her response to treatment will be monitored closely over the next weeks and months, and the current aim is to restore her foot to a condition that will set her up for a breeding career.”
“... the current aim is to restore her (Prowess) foot to a condition that will set her up for a breeding career.” - Greg Quinn
Wellwood added, “The owners only ever intended on racing her, so once she has completed rehabilitation, she will be sold at a broodmare sale.
“However, the main focus now is preparing her and making sure she is fit and comfortable for the next part of her career, and it sounds very positive from a veterinary perspective.”
