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...
Sires With Winners - Friday May 30
Here is the full list of 41 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
One to Watch – Bendigo
A flashy chestnut filly with a bit of the Apache Cat’s about her was an eye-catching five length debut winner at Bendigo on Friday for the Ciaron Maher stable.
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).
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.
Juvenile Trial Watch – Randwick
There were six heats for juveniles at the Randwick trials on Friday and some interesting unraced winners including a $1.45million colt by Extreme Choice and a Too Darn Hot (GB) filly bred to win an Oaks..
First Local Win As New Endeavour (IRE) Records Stakes Success
While it may have taken the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott trained New Endeavour (IRE) a while to record his first Australian success, connections were rewarded for their patience as the 5yo dominated under Tim Clark to win the Group 3 BRC Lord Mayor’s Cup (1800m) at Eagle Farm.
Ears Back Wins Listed Stakes at Wanganui
A two-race North Island campaign has ended on a career-defining high for Ears Back and her Rangiora trainer John Blackadder, who scored their first black-type win in Saturday’s Listed AGC Training Stakes (1600m) at Wanganui.
Bright Future for El Roca 3YO
Owner-trainer-breeder Kylie Little believes she might have a promising stayer on her hands with Eagle Rock, who left maiden ranks with an emphatic performance in Saturday’s Matt Edwards-Lime Group Mile (1600m) at Te Rapa.
Another Win for Smart Exceedance Filly
Apprentice Liam Kauri has continued a winning association with the Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott stable by partnering their smart three-year-old Tristar to victory in the Ambient Group 3YO (1100m) at Te Rapa, his second victory aboard the filly from just two rides.
First Winner for Palace Pier
Kingman’s Champion 3YO Miler Palace Pier(GB) was a one term shuttler to Australia for Darley in 2022 and that crop will race next season, but in the meantime he had his first Northern Hemisphere winner overnight at Haydock.