4 Win NY Day - Towering Above Them

On a Derby path, Towering Vision (3 g Circus Maximus – Qiji Vision, by Iffraaj) came from last to win the $80,000 Eagle Technology 3YO 1600 metres on 1 January at Ellerslie. 

After doing well for fourth in the Listed Trevor & Corallie Eagle Memorial 3YO (1500m) on 29 November, Towering Vision, a juvenile stakes' winner, the first for his sire, had since contested a Group & Listed trial on 19 December at Matamata, where he settled off pace and ran on down the outside.

Trainers Mark Walker & Sam Bergerson, who won earlier on the programme with Drops Of God in the Rating 65 1200 metres and Kinnaird in the Group 2 Eclipse Stakes 1200m, elected to put blinkers on Towering Vision for the first time, which switched him on to winning form.

Easy through the early stages, Towering Vision was 10th and six lengths astern at the 600m, but quickly into contention turning for home and kept winding up down the outside with a big finish.

It was the fourth win on the programme for stable rider Opie Bosson ONZM, who made the best start possible to 2026.

“It was a great win, today, especially considering the race was a Handicap and, obviously, with 58kg he was giving the rest of them weight,” said Mark Walker, training partner with Sam Bergerson.

“It was another lovely ride of Opie’s, there was no panic, he challenged at the right time, and really has his eye in.

“It’s also great for the Windsor Park Stud sire Circus Maximus (Galileo). He’s starting to leave some good horses here in New Zealand, with his first crop now three-year-olds, they’ve promising staying types.”

Walker suggested that prior to the $1.25 million Group 1 Trackside NZ Derby (2400m) on 7 March at Ellerslie, Towering Vision would likely contest the $275,000 Group 2 Legacy Lodge Waikato Guineas (2000m) on 7 February at Te Rapa, and $250,000 Group 2 Eagle Technology Avondale Guineas (2100m) on 21 February at Ellerslie.

Bergerson added: “It was a patient ride by Opie and good to see the horse relax like he did in the blinkers. 

“He tracked into the race nicely, and we’ve been working back from the Derby the whole way through and he seems on track now.

“He’ll take really good confidence from the win, as well, having only had one stakes' win previously.  He’s beaten a pretty good field, today, and way he hit the line gives us the confidence to go up in trip, as well.

“He’s a good, tough, good-doing horse at home, and seems to love the work. The more we’ve asked of him, the more he’s given.

“He was a bit of a larrikin as a young horse in the stable, but he’s slowly working it out, and I think the trial in between times certainly did him the world of good.

“The team at home, I can’t thank them enough, and they’ve done a great job with him.”

On Soft6 footing, Towering Vision ran 1600 metres in 1:37.6, last 600m in 35.9, and shortened dramatically in betting from an early $6.00 fixed odds quote to pay $3.30 & $1.50 on the NZ TAB tote.

Interestingly, each of the last two NZ Derby winners, Willydoit (Tarzino) and Orchestral (Savabeel), won the corresponding 3YO 1600-metre race on 1 January at Ellerslie.

Owned by the Te Akau Look Smart Racing Partnership (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM), Towering Vision was purchased by David Ellis CNZM for $105,000 at the 2024 Karaka Book 1 Sale, from the draft of Windsor Park - he was amongst the final horses to sell in his year.

Accepting on behalf of the owners, Ellis said: “Thank you very much to Duane (Eagle) and his wife for the sponsorship of this race. 

“Duane has shares in horses with Te Akau, owns horses, breeds horses, and his sponsorship is highly valued in the racing industry.

“You never get tired of winning races, especially at Ellerslie, and the club has yet again prepared a fantastic racing surface after there being a fair bit of rain in Auckland. 

“It’s fantastic to see Towering Vision record a really timely win in his three-year-old campaign and congratulations to all the owners, many of whom have owned a lot of horses with us over the years, have been great supporters, and it’s hugely appreciated by Karyn and I. 

“We were thrilled when Towering Vision became the first stakes' winner for Circus Maximus, for the Schick family at Windsor Park Stud, and we’re looking forward to his progress towards the Derby.”

By the greatest sire of stakes' winners in the world, Galileo (Sadler’s Wells), Circus Maximus was a Champion Miler and triple Group One winner that won the St James Palace Stakes (1600m), a noted stallion-making race, and like Champion racehorse Frankel (Galileo) before him, won the Group 1 Queen Anne Stakes (1600m) also at Royal Ascot.

His dam Qiji Vision is a sister to multiple stakes' winner Who Dares Wins (Iffraaj), from the family of Joint Top Filly Talk Talk (Lord Ballina) and impressive winning race mare Rumour Has It Now (Traditionally).

Towering Vision has a lovely balance of quality sire crosses in his pedigree, with Northern Dancer on the sire line of Circus Maximus and the dam line of Iffraaj, along with Mr Prospector, and super mare Special. 

Towering Vision was strapped by Kohen Collett. 

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