4 Win Saturday - Powerful Knowledge

Te Akau trainers Mark Walker & Sam Bergerson got Saturday off to a good start when Knowledge Is Power (3 g Written Tycoon – Hectopascal, by Pins) won the $35,000 Rating 65 1200 metres at Riccarton.

After recording an all-the-way Maiden win over 1200 metres in November at Timaru, Knowledge Is Power returned from a break to easily win a trial on 24 March at Riccarton, and appeared in the right fettle to prove competitive.

Ridden by Triston Moodley (a2), claiming to 56.5kg, Knowledge Is Power raced handily, as expected, and stayed strong in the finish to beat stable-mate and race favourite Hooray For Harry (Harry Angel), who recorded a deserved victory on the course over 1200 metres on 5 March and stepped up to Rating 65 grade with a close second on 22 March. 

It was a good effort by Knowledge Is Power, who indicated his readiness in the trial, to take over at the 400m after stalking the leader and not flinching on his run to score by one and a half lengths. 

Knowledge Is Power ran a slashing time of 1:08.8 for 1200 metres, which instigated a track upgrade to Good4 following the race sponsored by Windsor Park Stud Luncheon & Yearling Sale 2nd May, and paid $10.40 & $3.50 on the NZ TAB tote. 

“It was a good effort after missing a trial earlier in the week, when they were cancelled, but (assistant trainer) Hunter (Durrant) and the team have got him fit and well,” said Walker, who with Bergerson recorded their 50th Riccarton course victory together in March, in just their second season training together, to be the leading South Island trainers. 

“He’s just starting to mature now, so hopefully that win gives him confidence and he can go on to another level.

“He showed a bit early on, but went through a growth spurt, and to win in the manner that he did suggests that he is continuing to improve.”

Knowledge Is Power is by Australian Champion Sire Written Tycoon (Iglesia), who also sired stable-mate Captured By Love, who won the Group 1 NZ 1000 Guineas during Cup Week in November at Riccarton. 

Owned by the Te Akau Powerful Knowledge Racing Partnership (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM), Knowledge Is Power was purchased by David Ellis CNZM for $260,000 at the 2023 Karaka Book 1 Sale, from the draft of Curraghmore Stud. 

Hectopascal, the dam of Knowledge Is Power, a winner of six races from 1200m – 1600m in Australia, and also stakes' performed, is by Champion Sire Pins (Snippets), while his grand-dam Sussex Dancer (Danehill Dancer) has left winners and stakes' placed Meghan (So You Think) and Reeverderci (Reliable Man).

At the time of purchase, Ellis said: “He’s from a great farm at Curraghmore Stud, where in recent times we’ve bought and trained the Group 1 NZ 1000 Guineas winner Kahma Lass, stakes' winner In A Twinkling, and Heroic Valour, a Group One winner and now a stallion in Australia.

“He’s a beautiful type by an outstanding sire, from a good Cambridge Stud family, and he’s alert with great balance.”

Knowledge Is Power carries a cross of Champion Two-Year-Old in Britain and Ireland, Try My Best (Northern Dancer), on the sire line of Written Tycoon and dam line of Hectopascal. 

Knowledge Is Power was strapped by Grace Stevenson.

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