Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson will head to Champions Day at Ellerslie on Saturday with a number of leading prospects, and the country’s leading trainers are looking forward to being a part of the monumental meeting.
The 10-race card will include eight stakes races, three at Group One level, and the inaugural running of the $3.5 million NZB Kiwi (1500m), and Bergerson said it will be a landmark day for New Zealand racing.
“It is a ground-breaking day in terms of the history of New Zealand racing,” he said. “It is probably the best race meeting that has ever been put on. To be a part of it and to have some nice, live chances on a big day of racing like that is something the whole team is excited about.
“It is a credit to Auckland Thoroughbred Racing, New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing and Entain, who have come on board and really changed the game.
“It is an exciting time in New Zealand racing. Even speaking with my Dad (Roydon Bergerson, trainer) who has been in the game a long time, he said he couldn’t remember a time that it’s ever been like this.
“There is plenty to look forward to, and that is highlighted by Saturday’s racing and the quality of the fields is second to none.”
The Matamata stable have a strong hand in the opening Group One of the day, the Sistema Stakes (1200m), where they will be represented by a quartet of runners, including the undefeated Return To Conquer.
The two-year-old son of Snitzel has won all three of his starts to date, including the Listed Counties Challenge Stakes (1100m), Gr.3 Colin Jillings 2YO Classic (1200m), and Gr.3 Matamata Slipper (1200m), and will get his first tilt at elite-level this weekend.
“He has got the perfect record, and he was very good at Matamata,” Bergerson said. “We are putting the blinkers on Saturday, we have kept them up our sleeve for the Group One. His work has been super, and he is a colt that is hard to fault at home, he just keeps raising the bar.”
Stablemate La Dorada shares a similarly impressive record, winning three of her four starts, including the Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m) and Gr.2 Matamata Breeders’ Stakes (1200m), with her only defeat coming when runner-up to Too Sweet in the Gr.2 Eclipse Stakes (1200m).
“It is hard to knock her as well, she is not very big but she is just so tough,” Bergerson said. “She is really thriving on racing and is another one we have asked a lot of and she has never missed a beat. She has come through the Matamata fillies race in really good order.”
The stable will also be represented in the juvenile feature by Matamata Slipper runner-up He Who Dares, and Group Two performer Marokopa Falls.
“He Who Dares is a real up-and-comer who is out of a good race mare (Rondinella),” Bergerson said. “I thought he was really good at pushing Return To Conquer at Matamata. He has trialled well right-handed, so we are hoping he gets around Ellerslie okay. He is a horse that is not out of it.
“Marokopa Falls probably needs to step up a bit from that last start effort (fourth in Matamata Breeders’). She won so well on debut and then we are scratching our heads a bit about her last couple of runs. We have adjusted a bit of gear, the blinkers go on and we have taken the nose band and tongue-tie off. Her work has been good, and she is a filly we think will be a nice three-year-old.
“All four have drawn well, so we are fortunate in that regard.”
The NZB Kiwi has top-billing on Saturday’s card, and Te Akau Racing will be represented in their slot by last start Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m) victor Damask Rose.
She will once again be partnered by leading Australian hoop Blake Shinn, who rode her to her Karaka Millions victory, 12 months after guiding her to a runner-up result in the Karaka Millions 2YO.
She won a star-studded 1100m trial at Taupo last month to ready for Saturday’s assignment and is rated New Zealand’s leading chance with the TAB at $8, behind Australian raiders Evaporate ($2.40), Public Attention ($6), and Perfumist ($7.50).
“We think she is coming into the race 110 percent,” Bergerson said. “We have been really happy with her since the Karaka Millions, she had a bit of a freshen-up and the quiet trial at Taupo, which we were really pleased with. Gryllsy (Craig Grylls) rode her that day and certainly couldn’t knock her, and she has come through it really well.
“Her work was good here (Matamata) on Tuesday for Opie (Bosson) and she is just flying in the stable. She probably needs to go up another level again from the Karka Millions, but we think she can.
“Barrier eight, we are happy enough, but we would have loved to have drawn a little bit closer. We are confident she can give it a real shake, it is shaping up very interesting with the Aussies in it, it should be a good race.”
Earlier on the card, Campionessa will be looking to add to her elite-level haul in HKJC World Pool New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m).
“We were disappointed with Campionessa’s run at Wellington (sixth in Gr.3 Trentham Stakes, 2100m) so we gave her a freshen-up,” Bergerson said.
“A freshen-up and a change around here at home we are hoping can spark her back into a bit of form. She is going to have to lift off her previous efforts to beat the likes of Legarto.
“She seems bright and well here at home, and on her day she is a Group One-winning mare, so she is more than capable.”
Te Akau will have a two-pronged attack in the Gr.1 Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes (2000m) courtesy of Midnight Blue and perennial bridesmaid Qali Al Farrasha, who has finished runner-up in her last four outings, including the Gr.1 Thorndon Mile (1600m) and Gr.1 Otaki-Maori WFA (1600m).
“There isn’t much of Qali Al Farrasha, but she is all heart,” Bergerson said. “She has done a fantastic job this season without winning that Group One. She seems in good form, she has come through Ellerslie well, I thought she was really game behind El Vencedor, who is absolutely flying.
“She has drawn well (1), should get a good trip in behind the speed and she will run well, it’s just whether she can turn the tables on the two favoured runners.
“We have freshened Midnight Blue up from the 2400m (Gr.3 Avondale Cup). He has had a quiet time of it between runs. He was unlucky in the Avondale Cup. Speaking to Ryan (Elliot, jockey) post-race, he thought if he had an unchecked run he would have gone close to winning it. We think he is capable of a cheeky race.”
Te Akau’s Ellerslie Group One offering will be rounded out by Hakkinen in the $1.25 million Gr.1 Trackside New Zealand Derby (2400m).
“Hakkinen was very good (when fourth) in the Avondale Guineas (Gr.2, 2100m) and Rory (Hutchings, jockey) gave him a lovely run on speed,” Bergerson said. “We have drawn well again (2), so we will hopefully be able to put him up there in behind the speed in the race, which we think will suit.
“He has gone the right way since the Avondale Guineas, he is lightly raced and he will take great benefit from his last run. There are a few talented ones that he needs to turn the table on, but we think he is going the right way and is a nice each way chance.”
I’m A Dirty Rascal will be the stable’s sole contender in the Gr.2 Barfoot & Thompson Auckland Cup (3200m), and Bergerson believes he will appreciate the two miles.
“We weren’t overly disappointed with his run at Ellerslie five or six weeks ago. He got back off a slow tempo, they sprinted and he is very one-paced,” Bergerson said.
“We think he is going to love the 3200m. We have given him a European style prep. We thought his trial at Taupo was good over a distance (1100m) well short of his best. He has a nice, light weight (53kg) with Gryllsy (Craig Grylls) aboard and we think he is a nice live chance.”
Meanwhile, across the Tasman, Captured By Love will carry Te Akau’s tangerine and blue silks in the Gr.2 Kewney Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on Saturday.
She finished fourth in her Australian debut in the Listed Desirable Stakes (1400m) at Flemington last month and her connections are hoping for an improved performance this weekend.
“It is pretty easy to knock her run last time,” Bergerson said. “We thought the rain on the day just cost her. She loomed up like she was going to really be in it, but when Blake (Shinn) went for her she floundered in the ground a little bit.
“I know they (Cranbourne stable) are really happy with her and her work has been very good leading into it. Back up to the mile really suits her. Hopefully she can bring back that (New Zealand) 1000 Guineas (Gr.1, 1600m) form, and if she does, we are confident she can be in it.”
By Joshua Smith, LOVERACING.NZ News Desk
