Te Akau Hoping for Hometown Cup Win

Media Release - Thursday December 19

Te Akau Racing, the country’s leading stable, has captured some of the biggest prizes in New Zealand racing this year, and trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson are keen to add their home cup, the Listed Team Wealleans Matamata Cup (1600m), to their trophy cabinet on Friday.

“You would love to win your hometown Cup,” Bergerson said.

The stable will have a two-pronged attack in Friday’s feature, including recent New Zealand stable addition Midnight Blue and in-form mare My Lips are Sealed.

Midnight Blue won the Seymour Cup in Victoria for Te Akau - image Racing Photos

Midnight Blue has had just the one run since his arrival to Te Akau’s Matamata base, a fourth placing in the Gr.3 Great Northern Challenge Stakes (1600m), and his trainers are expecting an improved showing second-up.

“Midnight Blue has travelled over from Australia in fantastic order,” Bergerson said. “I thought his run at Ellerslie, his first time out in New Zealand, was very good. On the corner he looked the winner, he just wobbled a bit late.

“As an eight-year-old, it was his first race or trial right-handed. So back left-handed at Matamata, on his home track, we are confident he will give a really good sight.

“He has got a positive racing pattern, so he will be in the first three or four hopefully and from that barrier (10) we will look to be positive. He seems in really good form and is enjoying the New Zealand lifestyle. He is out in a paddock every day and he seems to be really thriving around the stable.”

Advertisement

Te Akau principal David Ellis purchased the son of So You Think as a tried horse from Inglis Digital in November last year for A$92,500, having already won five races, including the Gr.2 Perth Cup (2400m) and Listed Ascot Gold Cup Stakes (1800m). He has gone on to add a further two victories to his record since joining Te Akau, including the Listed Seymour Cup (1600m), and has accrued more than $226,000 in prizemoney in that time.

Te Akau will also be represented in their local cup by My Lips Are Sealed, who has been in good form this preparation, winning two and placing in two of her five starts before being freshened, and she pleased with her 1100m trial at Pukekohe earlier this month.

“My Lips Are Sealed had a really good spring,” Bergerson said. “We tried to get her to the Wanganui Cup (Listed, 2040m), but she had a bit of a foot niggle, so we had to back off and gave her a quiet trial in-between times. A mile on her home track with a very nice, light weight (53kg) with a soft draw (2) (is ideal), and she is in good form.

“They are two nice eachway chances. You need a bit of luck in those bigger races, but we are really happy with our two,” Bergerson said.

Midnight Blue is a $5.50 second favourite for the Matamata Cup, with the Andrew Forsman-trained Mary Shan at the top of the market at $2.20, while My Lips Are Sealed is rated a $10 winning chance by TAB bookmakers. – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

Advertisment
More Reading...
So You Thinks Midnight Blue Triumphs in Seymour Cup
Midnight Blue was purchased by Te Akau Racing’s David Ellis for $92,500 when offered by Bob Peters through Inglis Digital after finishing fifth in the 2023 Seymour Cup. Twelve months on Midnight Blue captured Sunday’s $200,000 Listed Bet 365 Seymour Cup (1600m).
Hard To Cross swoops to Valley win
Six-year-old gelding Hard To Cross was aided by the three-kilo claim of Rose Hammond as the Kiwi bred landed his first victory of the preparation when landing the Ascend Sales Trophies Handicap (1523m).
Midnight Blue Makes it Ten Perth Cups for Bob and Sandra Peters
The Peters Investments and Grant and Alana Williams show rolled on without Willie Pike in the Group II Perth Cup (2400m) at Ascot on New Year's Day.
Idyllic Prince Stakes - Phanta Leads a Sweet Trifecta for Gingerbread Man
Yarradale Stud's senior stallion Gingerbread Man achieved a rare career high for any sire when the son of Shamardal provided the trifecta in Saturday's Listed Idyllic Prince Stakes over 1300m at Belmont Park.
Inglis Ready2Race Sale Now Online
The strongest collection of sire power ever assembled for an Australian 2YO Sale will be offered at the Inglis Ready2Race Sale, for which the catalogue is now available online.
Wootton Bassett Juvenile G2 Double
Wootton Bassett (GB) featured in Ireland overnight at The Curragh with two stakes-winning juveniles, Constitution River taking out the the Group II Futurity (7f), while the Group II Debutante (7f) went to the filly Composing, who comes from the family of Amelia’s Jewel.
Top Filly Beats Top Colt in G1 Prix Morny
The Group I Prix Morny (1200m) at Deauville overnight produced a mightly clash between unbeaten Starspangled banner colt Gstaad and unbeaten filly Venetian Sun with the filly prevailing, although Starspangledbanner got some consolation with a new G3 winning 2YO at Goodwood.
Sires With Winners - Sunday August 24
Here is the full list of 67 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Navy King sails to Valley victory
A well-judged front-running ride by Daniel Stackhouse has aided five-year-old gelding Navy King to claim the lion’s share of the prize in the MSC Signs Handicap (2040m) at The Valley on Saturday.
Bates gets creative at The Valley
Six-year-old gelding The Creator led throughout to claim the Ladbrokes Top 2/3/4 Betting Handicap (1600m) at The Valley on Saturday under a perfect Logan Bates ride.