4 Win Saturday - La Dorada Group 2 Gold

Continuing an incredible family tradition, recent Karaka Millions 2YO (Restricted Listed, 1200m) winner La Dorada (2 f Super Seth – Gold Fever, by Savabeel) scored in the $225,000 Group 2 J Swap Contractors Matamata Breeders’ Stakes (1200m) on Saturday at Matamata.

Not only did her mother, Gold Fever (Savabeel), win the race for Te Akau in 2017, after being purchased by David Ellis CNZM as a yearling on the Gold Coast, but her dam Gold Rocks (Oratorio) also left the 2016 Group 2 Matamata Breeders’ Stakes' winner Gold Rush (So You Think).

La Dorada became the 10th winner of the race for Te Akau, after also winning it last year with subsequent Group One winner Captured By Love (Written Tycoon).  

La Dorada had made it two impressive wins from three starts in the $1 million TAB Karaka Millions 2YO (Restricted Listed, 1200m) on 25 January at Ellerslie, and everything about her, including the pedigree, pointed to favouritism. 

Ridden by Michael McNab, who earlier on the card won the equivalent race for males, the $150,000 Group 3 Fairview Matamata Slipper (1200m) aboard stable-mate Return To Conquer (Snitzel), La Dorada received a genuine challenge in the straight from To Cap It All (Capitalist), who sat outside her on pace, but true to her steely resolve she would not yield.

In each of her three wins, La Dorada has drawn on levels of tenacity reserved for only a few and combined with her talent it equates to a very exciting filly.

“I thought Stephen’s (Marsh) filly (To Cap It All) might want to go on with it, but she was happy to sit outside me,” McNab said. 

“She’s as tough as anything. It was all her, really, she was going to keep fighting and not let anything get past her. 

“And she’s a really good horse, the second horse, so it just shows how much heart my filly showed. She’s a sweetheart.

“She’s now earned her status to try and get a Group One next to her name.”

McNab was referring to the upcoming assignment for La Dorada in the $550,000 Group 1 Sistema Stakes (1200m) on Saturday 8 March at Ellerslie, where she will clash with stable-mates Return To Conquer (Snitzel) and He Who Dares (Snitzel). 

“She paraded fantastic and she’s got that little bit of grit in her, toughness, and sassiness, that gives her the edge, I suppose,” said Sam Bergerson, who trains with Mark Walker. 

“Fair play to Dave (Ellis) who goes to the sales, putting up the money and buying these lovely horses on spec, and it’s a real privilege for me to play a small part in it.

“And a massive thank you to the team at home, working hard, and they’ve got the horses here today in tip-top order.”

On Good4 footing, La Dorada ran 1200 metres in 1:11.6, last 600m in 34.1, and paid $1.80 & $1.40 on the NZ TAB tote.

Owned by the Te Akau Solid Gold Racing Partnership (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM), La Dorada was purchased by David Ellis CNZM for $190,000, from the draft of Waikato Stud, at the 2024 Karaka Book 1 Sale, and the win boosted her earnings to $744,500. 

“It’s a great thrill to here on such a great day of racing and winning the Breeders’ Stakes again,” Ellis said.

“I’d like to thank the Swap family for their ongoing sponsorship. Swap is one of the great companies in New Zealand, and I’d like to thank and congratulate all the owners. They’ve supported Te Akau Racing all the way through and they’re having the thrill of a lifetime with this filly.

“Congratulations to Mark Walker & Sam Bergerson. Sam has had his trainer’s licence for two years and he’s won the Breeders’ Stakes each year. 

“I’d also like to congratulate Michael McNab for winning both the two-year-old feature races for us today. He’s a world-class rider and a great person, and we’re just thrilled to have him helping us at Te Akau. 

“And, finally, well done to the everyone at the Matamata Racing Club for putting on such a great day. The track is credit to everyone involved.”

With his oldest crop only three-year-olds, the progeny of Super Seth (Dundeel) has impressed trainers from the outset, as horses with great natural strength and talent, and La Dorada became his fifth individual stakes winner. 

“What an exciting young stallion Super Seth is and Waikato Stud has done such an amazing job promoting him.

Dam Gold Fever made a made a perfect start to her racing career with a dominant three and a half length win and became a finalist for Champion Two-Year-Old and Horse of the Year following her victory in the Group 2 Matamata Breeders’ Stakes (1200m) and placing in the Group 1 Sistema Stakes (1200m).

In a brief career, Gold Fever won three of her six starts, while finishing third in the others, and being by eight-time Champion Sire Savabeel (Zabeel) she has the best possible chance of making it as a broodmare.

La Dorada carries a cross of Champion Sire Zabeel (Sir Tristram) on the dam line of grand sire Dundeel (High Chaparral) and sire line of Gold Fever. 

Representing the breeders, Chittick Investments & Waikato Stud, Mark Chittick said: “Congratulations to Te Akau for winning the race with La Dorada.

“La Dorada’s mother won the Breeders’ Stakes as well and the family has left three winners of the race, which is a massive achievement.

“Congratulations to all the owners, Mark and Sam, and Reece.”

Mark Walker said: “On behalf of Sam and I. We’d really like to thank the Swap family for sponsoring this. Not only do they do this for racing, but they a lot for the whole Matamata community, and they’re a great company to do business with.

“All the staff, thank you. Everyone has been working hard to get results like this and there is a lot of people involved in making it all happen.

“Congratulations to Nabber (Michael McNab) for riding such a prestigious double for us, and to Waikato Stud, who bred the filly, I did say to Garry Chittick earlier in the season that we’ve got one that is very, very, good and that filly is La Dorada. She’s as tough as old boots, so thank you Ginni – that’s her stable-name. 

Receiving his trophy, McNab said: “Thank you to Te Akau, especially Dave (Ellis). Everyone knows how much he changed my life and what he’s done for me, so to repay him on such a special day, on two very good horses, I’m very humble and honoured for the opportunities.”

La Dorada was strapped by Aiman Azrul.   

Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz