4 Win Saturday - Tokyo Tycoon Scores Group 1 Glory

Unbeaten two-year-old Tokyo Tycoon (2 g Satono Aladdin - All About The Coin, by Starcraft) set Auckland Cup Day alight when winning the $320,000 Sistema Stakes (Gr. 1, 1200m) on Saturday at Pukekohe.

The flashy two-year-old had rocked the house when becoming the seventh consecutive winner for Te Akau in the $1 million Karaka Million 2YO (Restricted Listed, 1200m) in January at Pukekohe, had no bother winning the Matamata Slipper (Gr. 3, 1200m) on 25 February at Matamata, and made it five from five when winning as a hot favourite should.

With stable rider Opie Bosson aboard, who registered his 10^th win in the race and 90^th Group One overall, Tokyo Tycoon began well to situate outside the leader and drew away for an impressive victory after finding another gear over the final furlong. 

“He changed legs at the 200m and took off again,” Bosson said. “You could take him to pony club and he'd just stand there. That's how quiet he is and he just takes everything in his stride.

“He's not a big horse, but he feels big underneath you and he glides across the ground. 

“He'll run 1400 metres and probably further because he's just so relaxed.”

On Soft5 footing, Tokyo Tycoon ran 1200 metres in 1:10.8, last 600m 33.5, and paid $1.30 to win.

“Opie (Bosson) sat and waited, he loafed for a little bit, but he just goes out there and knows what his job is,” said trainer Mark Walker, after preparing his 28^th stakes' winner this season.

“He's so workmanlike. He does nothing in his track work and you couldn't pick him in a million years, but Dave (Ellis) obviously did and he didn't cost a fortune either. 

“It just shows that anyone can be involved and quite amazingly we still had shares available in him in June. So a few close mates came in on him and it just shows that there are no rules to this game.

“There are some wonderful owners involved in this horse and he was the last horse to sell. Anyone looking to be part of the team can have a look at the website and see what shares are still available.”

Walker was loath to commit to the next assignment for Tokyo Tycoon following the Group One victory, saying he would see how the horse eats up, and trots up on Monday in front of vet Dr Ronan Costello, Assistant Trainer Sam Bergerson, and Stable Foreman Scott Lucock, before discussing options with David Ellis. 

“You've got to hand it to Opie,” said Walker, of the former Te Akau apprentice. “He's wasted hard since he was 16-years-old, now in his early 40s and he's still here doing it.

“I've got a great relationship with Opie, we've been mates for years, and I'd rather him on Group One days than a Wednesday at Taupo,” he added with laugh.

For Walker, it had been 20 years since he trained Maroofity (Maroof) to win the Ford Diamond Stakes (Gr. 1, 1200m), while Tokyo Tycoon provide the eighth win in the race for Te Akau, including six of the past eight years. 

Owned by Meadowbank Masters Racing Partnership (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM) & Te Akau Satono Samurai Racing Partnership (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM), Tokyo Tycoon, who took his earnings to $830,000, was purchased by David Ellis CNZM at the 2022 Karaka Book 1 Sale, paying $125,000, from the draft of Rich Hill Stud.  

“It's such a thrill to see this horse remain unbeaten in five starts and now win a Group One,” Ellis said.

“It's incredible for the owners to be experiencing this kind of success and get such a good return, and it's well documented that he was one of the last yearlings to sell.

“We're very proud of the job that Mark (Walker) and the team are doing with all our horses, and horses like Tokyo Tycoon, who is establishing an incredible record, really is icing on the cake.

“He looks like a really top horse and seems to do everything right. He's sound, good in the stables, is from a great family, and hopefully he continues to improve as he matures.”

His dam, All About The Coin, is by New Zealand bred stallion Starcraft (Soviet Star), a world-class galloper and five-time Group One winner that claimed titles of Champion 3YO in Australia, Champion Sprinter in New Zealand, and Champion Miler in Europe.

The dam-line goes back to Champion Sire Zabeel (Sir Tristram), being out of fourth dam Lady Giselle (Nureyev). 

Tokyo Tycoon was strapped by Stephanie Hyde-Richards. 

Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz