Kiwi Stakes-Winner for Stratum

Stratum mare Miss Wilson has the hardest of acts to follow, but the well-related mare is making good strides with the first black type victory of her career now on her record.

The half-sister to the multiple Group I winner and former New Zealand Horse of the Year Jimmy Choux stretched her current winning sequence to four with victory in the Group III Wentwood Grange Cuddle Stakes at Trentham on Saturday.

Miss Wilson crossed the field from a wide gate to lead under Samantha Collett before handing up to Pretty Good Excuse.

They were back in front before the turn and the daughter of Stratum held a strong gallop in the straight to win for the first time at 1600 metres.

Northern visitors Stylish Attack, Charmont, Our Abbadean and Let Her Rip were next to cross the line.

“Everything told me that she would get the trip,” trainer John Bary said.

“Her work has gone to the next level and she delivered today. We were pretty confident, or as much as you can be and it was a fantastic ride from Sam.

“She’s a big-striding mare and she doesn’t want to get caught up in a field.”

Like the now Rich Hill Stud-domiciled Jimmy Choux, Miss Wilson is raced by her breeders Richard and Liz Wood under their Chouxmaani Investments banner.

She began her career with Bary before a stint in Victoria with Simon Morrish and despite winning a race at Ballarat, she never fully acclimatised to life in Australia and she has been unbeaten since returning home.

Miss Wilson is now likely be given her chance in the Group I  Fiber Fresh New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes at Te Aroha on April 8.

“We’ll see how she pulls up, but we’ll probably go to Te Aroha,” Bary said.

Miss Wilson is the 34th stakes-winner for our former favourite Stratum, who has an outstanding draft of seven yearlings for Inglis Easter.