What You Wish For Completes Big Treble For Te Akau

Breednet - Saturday February 15

Matamata’s biggest day of the year was completely dominated by Te Akau Racing, who won three of the four black-type features on Saturday afternoon.

What You Wish For winning the Listed Kaimai Stakes (2000m) at Matamata on Saturday. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images)

What You Wish For’s hard-fought victory in the Listed Matamata Veterinary Services Kaimai Stakes (2000m) completed a big treble for the tangerine army and trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson. They had previously filled the trifecta in the Gr.3 Fairview Matamata Slipper (1200m) with Return To Conquer, He Who Dares and To Bravery Born, then saddled La Dorada, Born To Be Royal and Marokopa Falls to finish first, third and fourth in the Gr.2 J Swap Contractors Matamata Breeders’ Stakes (1200m). The all-conquering stable also picked up a win on the undercard with Balance Of Power in the Gavelhouse (2000m).

The only Matamata feature to elude the Te Akau team on Saturday was the Listed Lisa Chittick Champagne Stakes (1400m), where My Lips Are Sealed carried their colours into third behind Legarto and Acquarello.

“It’s been a great day,” Walker said. “It’s our home-track meeting and it’s always special. Now everyone who comes down to clock their horses has to go past the tangerine on the statue!

Advertisement

“But the locals always come out in big numbers to support this day, and Graeme Styles and his team have presented an outstanding track today. It’s been fantastic.”

While Te Akau’s two-year-old victories came with red-hot favourites at $1.20 and $1.80 respectively, What You Wish For jumped as a $7 chance in an even-looking Kaimai Stakes line-up.

The Embellish gelding had shown bright promise earlier in his career, winning as an autumn two-year-old and finishing third and sixth respectively in last year’s Gr.2 Waikato Guineas (2000m) and Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m).

What You Wish For collected two wins from his first three starts this season, then finished ninth in the Gr.3 J Swap Sprint (1400m), eighth in the Gr.2 Rich Hill Mile (1600m) and sixth in the Listed Elsdon Park Aotearoa Classic (1600m).

The step up to 2000m on Saturday brought What You Wish For into his element. He jumped smartly for jockey Craig Grylls and was prominently placed throughout, settling in third or fourth in a muddling race that saw multiple lead changes.

Grylls presented What You Wish For on the outside of the leaders at the home turn, and he lengthened stride and soon reeled them in.

The challenge came from last-start Gr.3 Wellington Cup (3200m) winner Wolfgang, who quickened well under his 59kg topweight and drew up alongside him. What You Wish For rose to meet his challenge, edging back in front and winning by a long head. The third-placed Nigella Lane finished just under two lengths behind the first pair.

“He hasn’t been beginning that great in his recent runs,” Grylls said. “The plan was to be midfield, but this time he absolutely flew out of the gates. I took the opportunity to come across and get into the trail.

“It was a real slack tempo. He was on the steel all the way. Once he was presented in the straight, he travelled up really strongly.

“He was probably aided by the second horse, because once he came up alongside him, it made him find more and more. It was a great run.”

What You Wish For was offered by breeders Cambridge Stud in Book 1 of Karaka 2022, where David Ellis bought him for $60,000. He is a son of Cambridge Stud stallion Embellish, who himself was an Ellis purchase at Karaka and won the Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) in the Te Akau colours.

What You Wish For has had 17 starts for four wins, six placings and $207,890 in stakes.

“He’s always promised a lot,” Walker said. “We actually sprinted him up over 400m this morning, which got him thinking a little bit. You wouldn’t want to play cards with this horse, but it was good to get the win today.

“With the stock of Embellish, I think you’ve just got to have a little bit of patience with them. He’s an under-rated sire. If you’re patient and you take your time with them and nurse them along, they can be very good four-year-olds and five-year-olds.”

By Richard Edmunds, LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

Advertisment

Race Result - Matamata Veterinary Services Kaimai Stakes LR 2000m

Matamata Track: Good(4) Time: 2:07.85
1
What You Wish For
- 4h Embellish (NZ) x Grand Wish (AUS) (Smart Missile (AUS))
Tnr: Mark Walker & Sam Bergerson Rdr: C J Grylls 53
NZB Karaka Book 1 $60,000
Seller: Cambridge Stud
Buyer: Mr DC Ellis
2
0.2
Wolfgang
- 6g Puccini (NZ) x Navy Beach (NZ) (Darci Brahma (NZ))
Tnr: Peter & Shaun Mckay Rdr: Joe Doyle 59
3
2
Nigella Lane
- 5m Niagara (AUS) x Casabella Lane (NZ) (Volksraad (GB))
Tnr: R R Manning Rdr: K A Myers 53
4
2.5
Outovstock
- 4g Tavistock (NZ) x Orphea (AUS) (Fastnet Rock (AUS))
Tnr: C K Ormsby Rdr: V A Colgan 53.5
5
3.3
Loch In Ora
- 5m Pierro (AUS) x Irish Dream (NZ) (Savabeel (AUS))
Tnr: S A Sharrock Rdr: L Sutherland 53
6
3.7
Myla
- 7m Swiss Ace (AUS) x Augusta National (NZ) (O'reilly (NZ))
Tnr: M & K Murdoch Rdr: J J Fawcett 53
7
4
Terra Mitica
- 6m Ulysses (IRE) x Mississippi Delta (USA) (Giant's Causeway (USA))
Tnr: L R Noble Rdr: W B Kennedy 54
8
5.2
Trust in You
- 6g Sweynesse (AUS) x Shinko Bay (NZ) (Shinko King (IRE))
Tnr: B Wallace & G Cooksley Rdr: M J Mc Nab 56.5
9
5.5
Lingjun Xiongfeng
- 6h The Factor (USA) x Harvest Start (AUS) (Sebring (AUS))
Tnr: Ms P Gerard Rdr: G Rooke 53.5
10
5.5
Sassy Lass
- 4m Staphanos (JPN) x Artic Breeze (NZ) (Keeper (AUS))
Tnr: L O'sullivan & A Scott Rdr: Harry Grace 53
11
6
Doddle
- 5m Dundeel (NZ) x Into The Groove (AUS) (Redoute's Choice (AUS))
Tnr: S B Marsh Rdr: T L Newman 53
More Reading...
Hellbent Filly Wins Listed Bill Carter
The $160,000 Listed BRC Bill Carter Stakes (1350m) at Doomben on Saturday had a short priced favourite in Hellbent filly Sunrays and she gave punters no cause for concern when powering clear for a dominant victory.
NZ Oaks Winner Strikes Form in Australia for Yulong
Last year’s Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) winner Pulchritudinous landed her first blow across the Tasman with a gritty victory in the Gr.3 Magic Millions Fillies & Mares Mile (1600m) at Doomben on Saturday for trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott.
Listed Chief De Beers Stakes To Manhood
Surprisingly contesting black type racing for the first time in his career, it was first time lucky for the Annabel and Rob Archibald trained Manhood after the 6yo son of Headwater was strong to the line, leading throughout to win the Listed Chief De Beers Stakes (1110m).
Brisbane Possible for Resurgent Velocious
Group One winner Velocious bounced back to her brilliant best in the Jarvis Trading (1100m) at Te Rapa on Saturday, raising the possibility of a trans-Tasman mission.
Philia Highlights Oaks Claims With Tenacious The Roses Win
Successful last time out in the Listed Princess Stakes when becoming the 30th stakes winner for her sire All Too Hard, the David Vandyke trained Philia went four from four this time in, leading through to win the Group 2 The Roses (2000m) at Doomben.
Antino King of Doomben with Track Record Breaking Victory
Trainer Tony Gollan has earmarked the Gr.1 Cox Plate (2040m) as the long-range target for star galloper Antino after a stunning victory in the Gr.1 Doomben Cup (2000m) on Saturday in track record time.
Stakes Potential for Miss Ole
Vinery Stud’s Ole Kirk added an 11th winner to his tally when the Clinton McDonald trained filly Miss Ole scored a stylish win in quick time at Sandown on Saturday.
G1 Stradbroke Next for War Machine
Hot favourite War Machine made light work of his rivals in the Gr.3 BRC Sprint (1350m) at Doomben on Saturday and it is now all systems go as the four-year-old son of Harry Angel (IRE) heads towards the Gr.1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) at Eagle Farm on June 14.  
Almanzor Keeps Winners Coming for Moody- Coleman
The Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman-trained Roadcone led his rivals a merry dance when winning the Stow Storage Solutions Handicap (1600m) at Sandown on Saturday, bringing up a treble for the stable and jockey Luke Cartwright.
Sires With Winners - Saturday May 24
Here is the full list of 102 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.