Te Akau Snitzel Colt Headed to Wanganui Guineas

Media Release - Wednesday August 28

Group Three performer Unbridled Joy will be out to capture his maiden stakes victory when he heads south to Wanganui on Saturday to contest the Listed HS Dyke Wanganui Guineas (1200m).

The Snitzel colt won one and placed in two of his four starts as a juvenile last season, including a third placed run in the Gr.3 Matamata Slipper (1200m) before finishing unplaced in the Gr.1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) at his last raceday outing.

Unbridled Joy will contest the Listed HS Dyke Wanganui Guineas (1200m) on Saturday.  Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images)

He has had two trials leading into his spring preparation, both unplaced behind last year’s outstanding three-year-old Crocetti and hype filly Alabama Lass.

While not overly enamoured with his trials, trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson believe their charge will lap up the rain-affected track, which was rated a Heavy10 on Wednesday morning, and is capable of featuring in the finish.

“He had a relatively good two-year-old season. His run in the Manawatu Sires’ wasn’t that bad,” Bergerson said. “His trials have just been okay this time around, but we know he handles wet ground and he worked well on Tuesday morning on a pretty testing track.

“It has come up a reasonably strong field. There are a few lightly-raced ones but they look very talented.

Advertisement

“He certainly deserves his chance, but if he doesn’t shape up he will probably end up a gelding following Saturday.”

Te Akau Racing’s Riccarton barn was a key pillar to their premiership-winning success last season, and they are hoping to continue on a similar path when they head to Riccarton Park on Saturday with nine runners.

“It has come up a Heavy10, but they have got a relatively fine forecast leading up to the races. We are hoping that that track can bounce back,” Bergerson said.

“The Riccarton barn has been massive for us. They tend to get the better tracks earlier in the year, so it is a really good place to get horses down there and settled. They come to hand a bit quicker.”

Bergerson is particularly looking forward to seeing The Victress and About Last Night contest the Vale Kevin Hickman Three-Year-Old (1000m).

“We have got quite a few nice chances there on Saturday,” he said. “It will be good to see the three-year-olds step out – The Victress and About Last Night. We think the 1000m should really suit them. They have had a couple of trials and are ready to go. I think they will be two nice chances.”

Stablemate Fierce Flight will commence his spring preparation in the TAB Open Mile (1600m), with Walker and Bergerson eyeing the Gr.3 New Zealand Cup (3200m) in November with the six-year-old gelding.

“I am looking forward to Fierce Flight getting back to the races,” Bergerson said. “The mile is short of his best, but he has had three trials and he is really full of himself. We are just mindful that he does take a while to find form in the spring. Usually, he is quite disappointing towards the back-end of winter, early spring. We are not really sure why but once we get him up over a trip hopefully we can map him to the New Zealand Cup.”

Another stablemate set to head to New Zealand Cup week is El Viento, who will contest the NZ Cup Week Tickets On Sale 1 September Rating 75 (1200m).

I think El Viento is a more than capable galloper,” Bergerson said. “He can hopefully go through the grades down there and hopefully see him end up in something like a Coupland’s Mile (Gr.3, 1600m) with a nice, low handicap.”

Meanwhile, Group One winner Quintessa has made her way across the Tasman where she will line-up in the Gr.3 Cockram Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on Saturday.

The winner of last season’s Gr.1 Levin Classic (1600m), Quintessa has already tested herself in Australia, finishing fourth in the Gr.1 Australian Oaks (2400m) and Gr.1 Australian Guineas (1600m), and runner-up in the Gr.2 Alister Clarke Stakes (2040m).

“She did a wonderful job for us last year,” Bergerson said. “Her trial was okay, but she is a bit like that, she only does what she has to until she gets the blinkers on and gets to raceday.

“Ben (Gleeson, Cranbourne assistant trainer) and the team are happy with the way that she has travelled over.

“It is interesting for four-year-old mares that come out of a big three-year-old season, you are always a bit mindful of whether they can back it up coming out of their age group. We think she is above average and deserves her chance.” – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

Advertisment
More Reading...
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.
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.
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.
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.
Switzerland Brother an Inglis Easter Highlight for 2025
An “arrogant’’, “dominant’’ and “awesome’’ victory solidified Easter Sale superstar Switzerland’s future at stud when he produced a devastating performance to win the stallion making G1 Coolmore Stud Stakes at Flemington today.
Fawkner Park Back to Winning Ways in G3 Rosehill Gold Cup
Since winning the Listed Albury Gold Cup in March, Fawkner Park has undergone an amazing transformation.
Third G1 Win for Star Savabeel Mare Atishu
A year after flying home for second behind Pride Of Jenni in the Gr.1 Empire Rose Stakes (1600m), Go Racing’s pin-up girl Atishu(NZ) (Savabeel) returned to Flemington on Saturday and went one better for the Kiwi syndicators.
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.
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.