5 WIN SATURDAY: System of Play Dominant

In a stellar five hours on Saturday, Te Akau Racing horses won four races at Ellerslie, and one in Victoria - a five-win, five hour celebration for our owners .... it all began with System of Play ...

Now favourite for the Group 1 NZ 2000 Guineas (1600m), System Of Play (3 c Ole Kirk – Statuesquely, by Medaglia d’Oro) resumed with victory in the $55,000 3YO 1400 metres on Saturday at Ellerslie.

An impressive debut winning two-year-old over 1200 metres on Anzac Day (25 April) at Te Rapa, System Of Play found the line solidly for third in a trial on 25 August at Waipa, had shown to be a smart individual and warranted favouritism first-up.

Ridden again by 2023 Champion Jockey Michael McNab, who has commenced the season in terrific form, System Of Play secured a beautiful position in fourth, ranged into contention at the 200m, before pinning his ears back and lowering down to charge home.

“He should improve a lot, he’s only had two trials and straight to 1400m, but just getting him back racing, it should tidy him up well,” McNab said. “He felt super.”

A colt with a good attitude, there was plenty to like about his debut win, when sprinting from well off the pace, and following a spell the first outing in his three-year-old campaign was quite special too.

Te Akau has won the both the 2000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m) and 1000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m) seven times apiece and the TAB Futures Market shaving the price of System Of Play from $8.00 to $4.00, after the win, suggests they have another fine chance.

In the race sponsored by Hello Youmzain – Champion Second Season Sire, System Of Play ran 1400 metres in 1:25.9, last 600m in 34.6, and continued shortening in betting to pay $1.80 & $1.30 on the TAB tote.

“He was put into a lovely spot by Michael (McNab) and I loved the way he had him on a rein of cotton, relaxed and breathing well, and there is so much more improvement to come in the horse,” said Mark Walker, training partner with Sam Bergerson.

“There was a bit of apprehension during the week about going 1400 metres first-up, but I assured Sam (Bergerson) and Reece (Trumper) that a good colt can do it. Darci Brahma was the last colt we asked to do it, similarly, because of the weather, and he ran in the Hawkes Bay Guineas fresh-up over 1400m and won it.

“It was great to see System Of Play win like he did, getting around Ellerslie really well, and he’s certainly an exciting colt for everyone involved. 

"Well done to the owners that invested him, being quite an expensive purchase from the NZB Ready to Run Sale, but he’s done everything asked of him so far.”

On course, assistant trainer Reece Trumper added: “He has a lovely temperament and he’s a class animal on the way up.

“We’d been in discussions with Michael (McNab) throughout his preparation and he thought 1400 metres would be no problem first-up.

“He oozed class when Dave (Ellis) bought him, Karyn syndicated him, and we’ve got some wonderful owners involved.

“He’ll enjoy a week out of the stable, now, at the water treadmill. It’s what we did following his trial. He likes getting out of the stable and likes variety as all colts do.” 

System Of Play will be aimed towards selected assignments prior to the $700,000 Al Basti Equiworld NZ 2000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m) on Saturday 14 November at Riccarton. 

Impressive when breezing-up down the straight at Te Rapa, prior to being purchased by Sir David Ellis for $480,000 at the New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale, from the draft of Ohukia Lodge, System Of Play is owned by Te Akau Brickonian Racing Partnership (Mgr: Lady Karyn Ellis MNZM).

“He was really impressive on debut at Te Rapa, and it’s great to see him win fresh-up again at Ellerslie,” Ellis said.

“We’ve had colts like Darci Brahma, King’s Chapel, Rock ‘N’ Pop, Embellish, Xtravagant, and Noverre win the 2000 Guineas and go on to stand at stud, so it would be great to see System Of Play head down a similar path.

“It was a lovely ride by Michael, gee, he’s riding with a lot of confidence, and it was an exciting race to win.

“Mark (Walker) went through all the Breeze Ups prior to the Ready to Run Sale and liked what he saw, so we all went and inspected him, I got Joe Walls to give me his opinion, and we all agreed he was the best colt in the sale, so I bought him.

“It’s been a good outcome, he’s a really well put together colt, has a great attitude and demeanour and I think he’ll have a lot of improvement to come.

“We’ve got owners in the horse that have been massive supporters of Te Akau, so congratulations to all the owners involved and hopefully there are exciting times ahead. 

“I’d also like to congratulate Nathan Trumper for strapping the horse to win. Nathan has had plenty of experience in the industry, is very skilled, and like his brother, Reece, is a top young man that we are thrilled to have in the team and they both have big futures in the game.”

System Of Play is from the second crop of Australian Champion 3YO Colt and Leading First Season Sire in Australia Ole Kirk, by Champion Sire and proven sire of sires Written Tycoon (Iglesia).

Winner of the Group 1 Golden Rose (1400m) and stallion-making Group 1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m), Ole Kirk has already left 63 individual winners, including seven stakes’ winners. 

Ole Kirk is out of a mare by Bel Esprit, the sire of Black Caviar who was unbeaten in 25 starts including 15 Group One.

System Of Play is the second foal out of Statuesquely, a dual winner to 1600 metres and Group Three placed, by highly respected international sire Medaglia d’Oro (El Prado), the sire of Group 1 Golden Slipper (1200m) winner and sire Vancouver. 

Grand-dam Fonssagrives, by Champion Sire and Champion Broodmare Sire Encosta de Lago (Fairy King), left four individual winners, in turn out of dual Group One winning miler Lotteria, by Champion Sire and Champion Broodmare Sire Redoute’s Choice (Danehill), who left six individual winners.

To cap an impeccable line-up of Champion Sires on the dam side of the pedigree, fourth dam Rose Reward is by breed shaping stallion Sir Tristram, whose bloodlines remain evident within the very best horses globally.

It is also the family of Singapore Horse of the Year, The Inferno (Holy Roman Emperor). 

System Of Play was strapped by Nathan Trumper.

Photo credit - Kenton Wright - www.raceimages.co.nz