3 Win Wednesday - Family Ties Fab

Following two wins earlier on the card, Te Akau trainers Mark Walker & Sam Bergerson recorded a quinella when Family Ties (5 m Contributer – Glamazon, by Pins) won the $25,000 Kevin Daly Mowers Rating 75 2000 metres on 19 February at Riccarton.

Impressive winning the Oaks Prelude (Listed, 1800m) when racing against the best fillies of her age as a three-year-old, Family Ties had resumed this season with a terrific victory in the Rating 75 1400 metres on 3 November at Ashburton, and continued good form before being held up to finish fourth in the Rating 75 2000 metres on 5 February at Riccarton.

Already successful aboard the two stable-mates, Best Rose (Maurice) and Kabugee (Satono Aladdin), and having ridden a two-year-old Group winning double for the stable last Saturday at Matamata, jockey Michael McNab secured a lovely trip on the outer from barrier four and once presented in the straight Family Ties put the issue beyond doubt when racing clear inside the 200m to score by two and a quarter-lengths.

While Family Ties showed what an underrated talent she is, stable-mate Elegant Lady (Highly Recommended), who despite the two-kilo claim of Triston Moodley (a2) still carried top weight (60kg), was equally impressive when coming from second last on the inner with a big finish down the outside for second.

Elegant Lady had displayed enormous resolve for close fourth at her previous start in the Marlborough Cup (Open Handicap, 2000m) on 25 January at Riccarton, and the stakes placed mare in the Dunedin Gold Cup (Listed, 2400m) and Rotorua Cup (Listed, 2200m) last season deserves another winning turn. 

Appreciative of the Soft6 footing, Family Ties ran 2000 metres in 2:04.0 and paid $4.90 & $2.00 on the NZ TAB tote. 

“She ran out a really strong winner at 2000 metres, after being a certainty beaten last start, so we’ll give strong consideration to running her in the Dunedin Gold Cup,” said Mark Walker, who trains with Sam Bergerson.

“And Elegant Lady, it was a terrific run under the weight (60kg) and on her form she should be a genuine winning chance in the Dunedin Gold Cup after finishing second in the race last year.”

The $170,000 Positive Signs & Print Dunedin Gold Cup (Listed, 2400m) is held on Saturday 1 March at Wingatui. 

From a very good family, Family Ties was purchased by David Ellis CNZM for $60,000 at the 2021 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale, from the draft of Mapperley Stud, and owned by DJ Bloodstock Partnership (John Elstob & Denise Bassett), Duck Duck Goose Syndicate, GN & CM Bloodstock (Glenn & Cathie Holmes) and Gilbert Southworth.

Sire Contributer (High Chaparral), who unfortunately passed prematurely in September 2024, was a dual Group One winner to 2000 metres in Australia, while the dam of Family Ties, Glamazon, is by Champion Broodmare Sire Pins (Snippets). 

Grand-dam Glitzy (O’Reilly) won the Rotorua Stakes (Listed, 1400m) among nine wins, and left four winners of 18 races including Group Three placed Glintz, a sister to Glamazon. 

Commenting on the additional winners, Walker said: “It was a really good win by Best Rose and (owner/breeder) Gene Tsoi has had a lot of luck with the stable, especially with King’s Rose, which this filly is related to.

“She is ably managed for Dr. Tsoi by Marcus Corban. It was a lovely ride of Michael McNab’s and that certainly won’t be her last win. 

“It was great to see Kabugee back in the winner’s circle for the Hunt family and their friends. He’s been a frustrating horse that has let us down at times, but it was a good ride by Michael (McNab) and hopefully that win will give him confidence going forward.”

Family Ties was strapped by Katherine Hadler. 

Photo credit - Ajay Berry - www.raceimages.co.nz