Mitre Peak Keeps Winners Coming for Te Akau

Media Release - Friday July 12

Mitre Peak made it two wins from her last three starts on Riccarton’s Synthetic track on Friday when powering home late to capture the Speight’s Summit Ultra On Tap 3YO (1400m).

The three-year-old filly was the slowest away and settled at the rear of the field for apprentice jockey Niranjan Parmar. Parmar bided his time before setting his charge alight around the final turn and the daughter of More Than Ready needed the entire length of the straight to nab Motiontime on the line to win by a nose.

Mitre Peak pictured with Riccarton stable foreman Hunter Durrant and strapper Naomi Warrander.  Photo: Race Images South

Trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson were pleased with the win and made special mention post-race of Te Akau Racing’s Ashley Handley and Hunter Durrant, who run their Riccarton barn.

Advertisement

“She looked terrific in the coat and it was a really good run to win, so well done to Ashley and Hunter,” Walker said.

“They’re two highly accomplished horse people, totally dedicated and professional, and we’re very fortunate to have them on staff.

“They’ve helped manage the horses and staff for Sam and me in the South Island, and it’s all worked well to have that many wins from the stable there this season.”

Owned by Fortuna Mitre Peak Syndicate, Mitre Peak was purchased for $60,000 by Te Akau principal David Ellis at the Inglis 2022 Classic Yearling Sale in Sydney.

“My heart went into my mouth when she was slowly away,” Fortuna Syndicate Manager Galvin said. “She seemed to travel well and on the corner I thought she was a chance to run in the money, but she really motored home down the straight.

“It ended up being a good watch because she showed a very good turn of foot, so it was very pleasing and she’s beaten a good field.”

Galvin believes the best is yet to come from the filly.

“We don’t think Mitre Peak is the full deal yet because she still has quite a bit of furnishing, physically, to go,” he said. “For her to win a couple of races, as she’s done this time in, is very satisfying.

“It was reported to us that her work had been good leading up to the race, we couldn’t fault her, but there were a couple more favoured in betting that appeared quite hard to beat.

“We were confident that she was going to run well, but not completely convinced that she was going to beat the others, But in the end, she did.

“We’ll see how she comes through it before making plans, but she will have to have a break at some stage.

“She’s been performing well on the synthetic track, but it would be good to see her race on the turf again, especially down there (Riccarton) on the roomier track.

“I think that in late summer and into the autumn she could really come into her own.” – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

Advertisment
More Reading...
Bravo Centurion - How Good is He?
Ridden by Chris Parnham for Luke Fernie, Bravo Centurion stretched his winning run to six, making every post a winner to defeat Saloon Bar (Sessions) by a long three and three-quarter lengths with Crippalenko (Maschino) a half-length back in third.
Sires With Winners - Friday November 1
Here is the full list of 45 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Back to Back Victoria Derby Winners for Triple Crown Hero American Pharoah
The Watson family owned South Australian nursery Mill Park is a name synonymous with serious Group I horses and in particular those bred by astute breeder Harry Perks and this winning association struck for a third time in the $2million Group I VRC Victoria Derby (2500m) at Flemington on Saturday when Goldrush Guru saluted to join previous winners they have produced in Rebel Raider and Warning.
Switzerland Wins the G1 Coolmore Stud Stakes for Coolmore
After Coolmore’s $875,000 I Am Invincible colt Home Affairs captured the Coolmore Stud Stakes in 2021, it was the turn of the $1,500,000 Snitzel colt Switzerland to do the sponsor proud in the $2,000,000 Group 1 feature at Flemington on Saturday.
Sires With Winners - Saturday November 2
Here is the full list of 137 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Speed is What Sells
There are two Group I events for three year-olds at Flemington on Saturday and both are worth $2million, but the profile of the horses engaged, many of them being colts, couldn’t be more different starting with their purchase price.
William Haggas Trained Lake Forest Triumphs in Golden Eagle
William Haggas is playing his part in keeping the UK economy afloat, taking home a further $5,250,000 after Lake Forest (GB) won an action-packed James Squire Golden Eagle (1500m) at Rosehill.
Invincible Mares Quinella G3 Furphy Sprint
The first foal of triple Group I winning mare Shoals, blueblood I Am invincible mare Isthmus has been threatening to win a stakes race this year and got the job done when charging clear to score a dominant victory in the Group III VRC Furphy Sprint (1100m) at Flemington on Saturday over another I Am Invincible mare in Kundalini.
2024 Melbourne Cup Barrier Draw
The all important barrier draw for the world’s richest handicap, the $8.5million Group I VRC Melbourne Cup (3200m) has been held for a field which contains horses bred in seven countries and trained in four.
Cambridge Stud News and New Website
Cambridge Stud have been on a winning roll and have just launched their exciting new website.