4 Win Saturday - Return To Conquer Victorious

Winning his third stakes' race on end, Return To Conquer (2 c Snitzel – Vaujany, by Lonhro) took out the $150,000 Group 3 Fairview Matamata Slipper (1200m) on Saturday at Matamata.

Commencing his career with a stylish victory in the Listed Counties Challenge Stakes (1100m) on 23 November at Pukekohe, and following suit with authority in the Group 3 Colin Jillings 2YO Classic (1200m) on 1 February at Ellerslie, Return To Conquer was backed ($1.20) as the one to beat.

Although not rushed in the early stages, Return To Conquer was sent forward to situate on the quarters of stable-mate and leader He Who Dares (Snitzel) at the 800m by jockey Michael McNab, quickened to lead inside the 300m, and sustained a strong gallop to maintain his advantage.

“It was a good win and the race mapped that way,” McNab said.

“He’s a staying horse in the making, great attitude, and he’s got it all there.”

Craig Grylls, who rode He Who Dares said: “He began like a bullet out of the chamber and relaxed well when he got there (lead). 

“To his credit – I thought the winner was going to put a length on me when he got to me – but he’s fought back, so he’s a promising horse in the making.”

Adding to a trifecta for the Te Akau trained Snitzel colts, To Bravery Born (Snitzel) finished well to grab third.

Winner of two from three, including the first two-year-old race of the season at Wanganui, To Bravery Born did well at his previous start for fourth in the Karaka Millions 2YO (Restricted Listed, 1200m), won by stable-mate La Dorada (Super Seth).

On footing upgraded to Good4, Return To Conquer ran 1200 metres in 1:10.8, last 600m in 34.1, and provided the stable with their 11 victory in the Matamata Slipper (Gr. 3, 1200m), having won it most recently in 2023 with Champion Two-Year-Old Tokyo Tycoon (Satono Aladdin).

“It was a good win and a good effort by the second horse because he’d only had one run (winning on debut),” said Mark Walker, who trains with Sam Bergerson.

“The winner is obviously more experienced and it was a top effort, and with To Bravery Born finishing third it was a good overall result.

"Return To Conquer seems to win, but not by big margins, and we have a bit of thinking to do with regards where they race next.”

Walker suggested the first two, Return To Conquer and He Who Dares, would prepare for the $550,000 Group 1 Sistema Stakes (1200m) on Saturday 8 March at Ellerslie, while reserving a decision about To Bravery Born.

Owned by the Te Akau 2024 Stallion Breeding Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM), Return To Conquer was purchased by David Ellis CNZM for $1.3 million at the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, from the draft of Blue Gum Farm.

“Firstly, I’d like to thank the Matamata Racing Club for putting on such a great day’s racing and everything looks so well prepared,” Ellis said. “They know how to prepare a track as well as anybody in New Zealand, and it’s so nice to be here.

“To trifecta a Group race is not that easy to do, so congratulations to Mark and Sam and all the owners.

“We’d had a few quinellas previously in this race, but it’s the first trifecta. The best we’ve done was having the first four across the line in the 1000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m) in 2021.

“I’d like to thank sponsor Fairview Motors and Steven Dyke, who is a big supporter of Te Akau and our stable and he’s a good friend of mine. 

“Thank you to the owners that have invested a lot of money in the Stallion Breeding Syndicate and it’s great to see so many of you here. 

“The syndicate has spent a lot of money, backed our judgement, and it’s so nice to see you all being rewarded. Whatever this colt does as a two-year-old, he’s the type to be even better next season as a three-year-old.”

With commitments in the following race, the trainer’s trophy was presented to racing manager Reece Manager.

Ellis said: “Reece is going to the top in racing. He’s doing an unbelievable job: out of bed every morning at 3 o’clock and helping me sell horses until 8 o’clock at night, and we’re so proud of the job he’s doing.”

By the four-time Champion Sire in Australia, Snitzel (Redoute’s Choice), who serves so well the trilogy of Danehill – Redoute’s Choice – Snitzel, the dam sire, Lonhro (Octagonal), was Champion Three-Year-Old, Champion Miler, Horse of the Year, and simply an outstanding Australian racehorse that won 11 Group Ones. 

The dam of Return To Conquer, Vaujany, although unraced, is a three-quarter sister to six-time Australian sprint winner Andermatt (Snitzel), who stakes placed on three occasions, while grand-dam Portillo, by sensationally fast juvenile Red Ransom (Roberto), won the Group 2 Surround Stakes (1400m) and finished runner-up in the Group 1 Flight Stakes (1600m) as a three-year-old filly, while winning three times to 1400 metres, and she left five individual winners of 12 races.

Return To Conquer has a Danzig (Northern Dancer) cross on the sire line of Snitzel and dam line of Vaujany. 

Return To Conquer was strapped by Kohen Collett. 

Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz