Swiss Ace gelding Sergio takes out Anzac Mile

Breednet - Sunday April 24

A brave front-running performance by underrated galloper Sergio (NZ) (Swiss Ace) was rewarded with a first victory at stakes level when he took out the Listed Manawatu ITM Anzac Mile (1550m) at Awapuni on Sunday.

The Chrissy Bambry-trained four-year-old had bounced back to winning form on Easter Monday with a similar display in lesser company at Woodville and backed that effort up with another gritty showing that saw him hold out the challenges of Cambridge raiders Providenceprovides (Real Impact) and Zee Falls (NZ) (Sacred Falls) to register the fourth and most important victory of his 12-start career.

Chris Dell guides Sergio to an all-the-way win in the Listed Manawatu ITM Anzac Mile (1600m) at Awapuni Photo Credit: Race Images – Peter Rubery

Bred by the late Kevin Pratt under his Kamada Bloodstock banner and sporting his distinctive black colours, rider Chris Dell and Sergio put the pedal to the metal from barrier rise as the son of Swiss Ace defied his chasers to run him down.

Sergio responded gamely when asked to kick on the home bend and he had too much up his sleeve as he provided Bambry with consecutive victories on the day after she produced intermediate galloper Kingfisher Lad (Unencumbered) to win over 2100m in the previous event.

Bambry, who registered her 15th win for the season and third at black type level, was delighted to see how much fight her charge exhibited when challenged in the straight.

“The penny has finally dropped with the big doofus,” she said good naturedly.

“He is not a horse that generally backs up as quick as this as he has been a late maturer who was injured as a yearling, so I’m always mindful of that.

“I babied him all week and worked him on the water treadmill and took a blood off him just to make sure he was coping.

“His blood was absolutely spot on and he was zooming around his paddock like a lunatic which gave me plenty of confidence and he has gone out and justified running him with a really top performance.”

Bambry believes that with further maturity, Sergio can go on and perform at the highest levels in the future.

Advertisement

“He is a huge horse, 17 hands high and over 560kgs,” she said.

“Jockeys tell me they never quite know how fast they are going as he has such a huge stride.

“He loves to get out in front and just roll along, where he sustains a very high cruising speed.

“Now that the penny has dropped, I can see him going on with it in his next campaign.

“He can have a week in the paddock now and if the weather stays okay, we might give him one more start in the Rangitikei Cup (Listed, 1600m) at Trentham later next month.

“If the weather packs it in then he can take a longer break and then we will just get him on the water treadmill and tick him along before we get serious in the spring.”

The 15th stakes-winner for Westbury Stud's Swiss Ace,,Sergio became Kamada Bloodstock’s 100th race winner when he led all the way in last Monday’s Woodville-Pahiatua Cup (1600m).

He is out of the Lonhro mare Shanro and is the younger half-brother of Listed Timaru Stakes (1400m) winner Windsor (NZ) (Alamosa), while he hails from the extended family of multiple Australian Group Two winner Camena who was also placed on two occasions at Group One level.

NZ Racing News

Advertisment

Race Result - Manawatu Itm Anzac Mile LR 1550m

Awapuni Track: Good(4) Time: 1:31.19
1
Sergio
- 4g Swiss Ace (AUS) x Shanro (AUS) (Lonhro (AUS))
Tnr: C A Bambry Rdr: C Dell 54
2
1.0
Providenceprovides
- 4m Real Impact (JPN) x Statuette (AUS) (Redoute's Choice (AUS))
Tnr: A W Pike Rdr: W F Pinn 54
3
1.8
Zee Falls
- 4m Sacred Falls (NZ) x Zelitist (NZ) (Zabeel (NZ))
Tnr: S B Marsh Rdr: C J Grylls 54
4
2.6
Lincoln Raider
- 7g O'Reilly (NZ) x Elusive Dreams (NZ) (Elusive City (USA))
Tnr: Ms L Latta Rdr: M Singh 54
5
2.8
Side By Side
- 4m Star Witness (AUS) x Boito Belle (NZ) (Centaine (AUS))
Tnr: S Ramsay & J Ritchie Rdr: A C Goindasamy 54
6
4.1
Amusez Moi
- 5g Dalghar (FR) x Next (GB) (In The Wings (GB))
Tnr: J Benner & H Wynyard Rdr: L J Allpress 54
7
4.9
Pep Torque
- 8g Nadeem (AUS) x Cosmic Flight (NZ) (Star Way (GB))
Tnr: Ms K Lawrence Rdr: M Hashizume 54
8
5.9
Champers
- 5m Tavistock (NZ) x Cold Shoulder (NZ) (Volksraad (GB))
Tnr: Peter Didham Rdr: R J Hannam 54
9
6.1
Marietta Lane
- 7m Zed (NZ) x Crichele (NZ) (Lord Ballina (AUS))
Tnr: F J Auret Rdr: M Mudhoo 55
10
7.1
Chase
- 5g Zed (NZ) x Dantessa (NZ) (Danasinga (AUS))
Tnr: S Nickalls Rdr: D G Bradley 54
11
8.6
Mauna Kea
- 8g Per Incanto (USA) x City Class Rose (NZ) (City On A Hill (USA))
Tnr: P R Moseley Rdr: J Parkes 57.5
12
10.1
Father Lenihan
- 7g O'Reilly (NZ) x Platinum Princess (NZ) (Keeper (AUS))
Tnr: Ms L Latta Rdr: J Kamaruddin 54
More Reading...
Nominees Announced for Australian Racehorse of the Year Awards
The nominees for the prestigious 2024/2025 Australian Racehorse of the Year awards have been announced today by Racing Queensland in association with Racing Australia.
Te Akau Stars Warm Up at Taupo Trials
Perennial bridesmaid Qali Al Farrasha headlined a strong contingent of trialists out of Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson’s stable at Taupo on Monday.
Bred to Win Returns on Monday night
Caroline Searcy’s Bred To Win returns this Monday night profiling new and proven stallions heading into the Spring of 2025 and promoting the thoroughbred breeding industry in Australia and around the world.
Per Incanto Mare Wins $100,000 Polytrack Championship
Synthetic flyer Cosentino silenced any doubt about running out the seven furlongs with a blistering performance to claim Sunday’s $100,000 Japac Homes Polytrack Championship (1400m) at Awapuni.
G1 Plans for Wexford Stable Mares
Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott have their sights set on the opening Group One of the season with a pair of talented mares, both of which appeared at the Taupo trials on Monday.
Victorian Breeders Celebrate Annual Awards Night
The 2025 Victorian Breeding Awards has once again showcased the outstanding achievements within Victoria’s thoroughbred breeding and racing industry.
Trans Tasman Options for La Crique
Trainers Simon and Katrina Alexander are contemplating options on both sides of the Tasman with their multiple Group One winner La Crique following her pleasing trial at Taupo on Monday.
Zed 9YO Wins G3 Winter Cup
Saturday’s $110,000 Group Three Winning Edge Presentations Winter Cup (1600m) at Riccarton continued an incredible ride for the connections of Chase (NZ) (Zed), who bought him for only $9,000 from Book 3 of Karaka 2018. Originally a $6,000 purchase by JD Corcoran when offered as a weanling from Valachi Downs in the 2017 National Weanling, Broodmare & Mixed Bloodstock Sale.
Sires With Winners - Sunday August 3
Here is the full list of 57 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Too Darn Hot Mare Claims Third G1
Too Darn Hot (GB) will be a returning superstar to Darley NSW this spring and there is no doubt he can get an exceptional horse with Fallen Angel capturing her third Group I in France on Sunday when taking out the G1 Prix Rothschild (1m) at Deauville.