5 Win Saturday - It's Business Time Indeed

Rounding out four wins on the programme, and five for the day, It’s Business Time (5 m Turn Me Loose – Risque Business, by Volksraad) made it four wins from her last five starts when resuming with victory in the $40,000 Cantabrian Magazine Rating 75 1200 metres on Saturday at Riccarton.

Trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson had a red-letter day, contesting six races and winning five, including four in succession at Riccarton – all either with fresh-up or debutante runners. 

It’s Business Time followed wins by Viva Vienna (All Too Hard), Insatiable (All Too Hard), and Challa (Dissident), while Bellatrix Star (Star Witness) took out the first two-year-old race of the season at Wanganui. 

From a talented Windsor Park Stud family and racing in their colours, It’s Business Time was passed in at the yearling sales and stud master Rodney Schick elected to race her with some friends.

She is raced by V I Curtin, M Delahunty, C W McArthur, J Ormsby, S P Parham, J Peacocke, C R Scott, J & R Taylor, and Windsor Park Stud, and has now recorded four wins and placed twice from seven starts.

It’s Business Time travelled south to join a current number of 15 horses for Te Akau stabled at Riccarton, after finishing strongly for a close second when trialling on 1 August at Te Rapa, and she rated a top three chance jumping from barrier five.

Ridden by Sam Weatherley, who also won on Viva Vienna, It’s Business Time was given a nice trip behind the leaders from barrier five, speared through to lead inside the 300m and raced away to win as she liked by three lengths.

It was nothing if not impressive, by a mare that has very good form around her and must surely be a strong contender in upcoming stakes' races during Cup Week in November at Riccarton. 

Holding firm in betting to return $5.40 & $2.00 on the NZ TAB tote, It’s Business Time ran 1200 metres in 1:10.0 on footing upgraded to Soft5. 

“She’s a progressive mare by a promising young stallion, Turn Me Loose (Iffraaj), that Windsor Park stand at stud and we really like his progeny,” Walker said.

“I think she’s headed towards black type and we just have to decide which races to really target over the next few weeks.

“It was great to see her stride out and win the way she did and fantastic for Rodney (Schick), the friends he races her with, and whole Windsor Park team.”

The third dam of It’s Business Time, Satirical (Kaapstad), left Champion Filly Star Satire (Volksraad), who was miraculously saved for breeding after breaking a leg, and she in turn left brilliant Australian filly Satin Shoes (Flying Spur) and Zarzuela (Zabeel). 

The latter, Zarzuela, was trained by Mark Walker to win the Great Northern Guineas (Gr. 2, 2100m), Waikato Guineas (Gr. 3, 2000m), and Championship Stakes (Gr. 2, 2100m), before finishing third in the NZ Oaks (Gr. 1, 2400m). 

“We’ve had a long association with the Schick family at Windsor Park Stud and it’s always a thrill to train winners for them,” said Te Akau principal David Ellis CNZM.

“They tried to sell this filly as a yearling at Karaka, but she was passed in and now that’s a blessing because she’s creating such a good record and will be a valuable broodmare for them.

“It’s a great equine family, one we’ve been fortunate enough to prepare and it’s always a privilege receiving horses from the commercial studs to train. 

“This mare is really flying and the way she won today I’d say she’s right up to competing in stakes races, so there’s plenty to look forward to.”

It’s Business Time was strapped by co-trainer Sam Bergerson.

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