3 Win Trans-Tasman Thursday - Top Shelf Indeed

Earmarked for an upcoming stakes' race, Top Shelf (3 f Savabeel – Saoirse, by Iffraaj) won the $18,500 Maiden Fillies & Mares 1600 metres stylishly on 2 January at Tauranga. 

Top Shelf had produced a solid debut performance for fourth in the Pearl Series Maiden Fillies & Mares 1400 metres on 12 December at Ellerslie, and the only hinderance to her advancement at Tauranga appeared to be an awkward draw (9).

Jockey Craig Grylls, who won earlier on the card aboard stable-mate Puketiro, did the right thing by electing to ride Top Shelf conservatively, dropping back to last, and then circling widest from the 600m, the filly quickly engulfed her rivals with an impressive burst of acceleration.

“We settled back and they didn’t go very fast,” Grylls said. “She did a little bit wrong still, and is only new to racing, but she showed a wicked turn of foot once I set her alight.” 

In the race sponsored by New World The Sands Papamoa, on footing that remained Good4 throughout the day, Top Shelf ran 1600 metres in 1:38.6, last 600m in 35.6 (approx.), and shortened dramatically in betting from an earlier $7.00 fixed odds quote to pay $2.50 & $1.50 on the NZ TAB tote.

A sister to dual Group Two winner and dual Group One placed former stable-mate Brando (Savabeel), who won the Group 2 Japan Trophy over 1600m at Tauranga, Top Shelf was bred by Fairdale Stud and is raced it by them along with G B Fell MNZM, Gimme Some Of That Top Shelf Syndicate and Top Draw Racing Syndicate.

“It’s really hard to come from that far back at Tauranga, so it was a very good win and she’s a filly that we think is going places,” said Mark Walker, who trains with Sam Bergerson. 

“The Fell family at Fairdale Stud has had an incredible lifetime in racing and breeding, and it looks like they’ve got another promising filly.”

Walker suggested that next time out, at just her third start, Top Shelf could contest the $275,000 Group 2 David & Karyn Ellis Fillies Classic (2000m) on Saturday 8 February at Te Rapa. 

On course, Bergerson said: “It’s great to win in those colours that have a lot of history and a massive thank you to the Fell family. 

“She still did a bit wrong, but had the class to get over the top of them. 

“I knew the Fell’s growing up, through dad (Roydon Bergerson), and it’s a really special win.”

As well as buying Brando from the draft of Fairdale Stud, Te Akau principal David Ellis CNZM also purchased $1 million Karaka Million 2YO and Group 1 Sistema Stakes'  winner Cool Aza Beel (Savabeel) from its draft - he now stands at Newhaven Park Stud in N.S.W, Australia. 

A generational family that has sold yearlings for over 70 years in New Zealand, the Fell family bred and raced, in more recent times, high-class racehorse Tall Poppy (Kaapstad). 

A beautiful black mare with a fantastic turn of foot and determination to match, Tall Poppy won eleven races from 1400 metres to 2000m and culminated her career by winning the Group 1 NZ Stakes (2000m) at Ellerslie. At the highest level, she also won the Group 1 Thorndon Mile (1600m), Group 1 Waikato Sprint (1400m), together with two Group Two races and two Listed titles. 

Top Shelf was strapped by Tamweer Alam. 

Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz