3 Win Saturday - War of Succession Superb

Given a positive ride by Vinnie Colgan, War Of Succession (4 g Tavistock – Ziffel, by Zabeel) recorded a very good second-up victory in the $25,000 Sistema Rating 65 1600 metres on Saturday at Ellerslie - the first of three Saturday wins for the Te Akau team.

Progressing the right way before winning his Maiden over 1950 metres, and bred to stay, War Of Succession ran a similar final 600m (34.1) to the winner when resuming in the Rating 65 1600 metres on 27 April at Wanganui, and had shown enough ability to prove competitive.

Pushed out by Colgan to take up a handy position, War Of Succession moved into contention turning for home, improved between runners in staying fashion to lead at the 200m and kept going strongly to stave off the second and third placed finishers.

“We went forward early and got into a nice spot, travelled very well all the way, and although a couple of horses passed me turning for home, I think that helped me,” Colgan said. 

“I thought he was beat, but he lifted to lead, got a bit lost in front, and found again when he saw them in his peripheral vision.”

Given a beautiful autumn-day in Auckland, on Soft5 footing, War Of Succession ran 1600 metres in 1:38.0, last 600m in 35.8, and shortened in betting from an earlier $15.00 & $4.50 quote to pay $9.40 & $2.80 on the NZ TAB tote. 

“It was really good to get that win at Ellerslie, as the owners have been super patient and he will still improve out of today’s performance,” said Mark Walker, who trains with Sam Bergerson.

“He was second-up off quite a long break, so a really good effort and a nice ride of Vinnie’s.

“Hopefully that win will tighten him up further in fitness and also be a great boost for his confidence. 

“It’s great to see him let down like that on the Strathayr surface at Ellerslie, which is racing so well, and there should be good staying assignments there for him in the future.”

On course, Bergerson added: “He sort of looked beaten at the top of the straight and he really fought hard.

"We think the mile is still a distance short of his best, and he’ll certainly improve from it. 

“His run at Wanganui was a lot better than it looked on paper, so with the win under his belt we can hopefully step him up in distance and see him go through the grades.”

War Of Succession was purchased by David Ellis CNZM at the 2022 Karaka Book 1 Sale, from the draft of Curraghmore Stud, and owned by Te Akau 2022 Stallion Breeding Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM). 

A fine specimen by dual Group One winner Tavistock (Montjeu), out of mare by Champion Sire and Broodmare Sire Zabeel (Sir Tristram), the genetic cross has proved a revelation and includes Hong Kong Horse of the Year Werther.

The same Tavistock / Zabeel cross has also produced Group One VRC Derby winner now successful stallion Tarzino (ex. Zarzino), while deeper into the pedigree of Tavistock, the cross, which has proved most effective in producing males, includes Group One winners Tavago, Volkstok’n’barrell, and Infantry, along with Group Two winners Hasselhoff and Tavidream. 

Although purchased with the pedigree and physical make-up to become a stallion, as Ellis pointed out, it is not always that easy to accomplish. 

“He was a really nice colt, one of the picks of the sale and it’s a proven bloodline cross in the pedigree,” Ellis said.

“It’s not always easy to keep them as colts with a view to future stallion careers. They get too heavy, others won’t focus on training and racing, but we’ve still managed to retain some very well performed colts that we’ve bought to be stallions.

“Darci Brahma, King’s Chapel, Burgundy, Rock ‘N’ Pop, Noverre, Embellish, Sword Of State, Xtravagant, Heroic Valour, Cool Aza Beel (who had his first 2YO Group winner today from his first crop), are some that were able to reach their potential on the race tracks, many as multiple Group One winners, and then make their name as a stallion.

“So, some we can keep as colts and some we can’t, and if you try and keep them for too long as a colt then you only ruin them for racing, whereas a horse like War Of Succession could develop into a top staying horse as a gelding.

“It’s never an easy decision to make, when and whether to geld a colt, but we’ve got world-class horse people looking after these horses, so it gives you the confidence in making the right decision.”

War Of Succession was strapped by Murala (Mali) Mallesh.

Photo credit - Kenton Wright - www.raceimages.co.nz