5 Win Saturday - To Bravery Born - Season's 1st 2YO Winner

What a Super Saturday!

Five wins, including a stunning Group 3 Melbourne victory - here is the first of the day ...

As it has previously, Te Akau Racing won the first two-year-old race of the season when To Bravery Born (2 c Snitzel – Milunka, by All Too Hard) scored in the $25,000 Dave Hoskin Carriers Maiden 2YO 800 metres on Saturday at Wanganui.

Stable-mate and subsequent Group 2 Eclipse Stakes 1200m winner Bellatrix Star won the race last year, while Rubicon Crossing won in 2022 before being twice stakes' placed, and in 2019 Cool Aza Beel scored prior to becoming the fourth of seven consecutive Karaka Million 2YO winners for the stable, before also winning the Group 1 Sistema Stakes 1200m. He now stands at Newhaven Park Stud in Australia.

To Bravery Born had quickened with a strong finish into third when having his sole trial on 6 August at Te Rapa, and similarly accelerated too well for his opponents under Te Akau stable rider Opie Bosson ONZM.

Camped on the two leaders before working into contention nearing the home turn, it was clear To Bravery Born had the measure of his rivals with a good turn of foot to lead a furlong out and he was pretty soft at the line when drawing clear by two lengths.

“The horses inside me ran really wide at the start, took us out a bit, but we just got back off them and he got into a rhythm,” Bosson said.

“Once I stoked him up before the turn he stretched out really nicely and did it quite easily in the end.

“He’s definitely got the ability, had a few gears left, so the further he goes the better.”

Clocking 49.9 for 800 metres on Heavy10 footing, To Bravery Born paid $2.40 on the NZ TAB tote, starting second elect behind runner-up Toretto (Ardrossan).

Last season premiership winning trainers Mark Walker & Sam Bergerson prepared 16 individual two-year-old winners for 23 wins, including seven stakes' wins, and have again commenced on the right note. 

“I remember when Dave (Ellis) bought him as a yearling, we looked at each other and couldn’t believe that he only made for $200,000, and were quite perplexed at the time as to why, but it was late in the day and there was torrential rain,” Walker said.

“For a Snitzel colt he was great value, and it was exciting to see him win the way he did on his debut outing. 

“He broke in well, has always been a very forward type, and the way he relaxed and went to the line today, really uncontested, which suggests he has a really nice future. 

“Greg Tomlinson (Nearco Stud) bred the horse and we’ve had a lot of luck buying horses off him. We had a really good horse in Singapore called Distinctive Darci that Dave bought from Greg, and he won multiple races, and also the Group 1 NZ 1000 Guineas winner Kahma Lass that Dave bought off him too. 

“So it’s a very lucky connection and hopefully this bloke goes on with it to the next level.”

From a dam line with which Te Akau has had plenty of success, To Bravery Born was purchased by David Ellis CNZM for $200,000 at the Karaka 2024 Book 1 Sale, from the draft of Curraghmore Stud, and owned by the Te Akau Secret Identity Racing Partnership (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis).

By the four-time Champion Sire in Australia, Snitzel (Redoute’s Choice), who was also the Leading Sire of Two-Year-Olds four times, the dam of To Bravery Born, dual winner Milunka, is by proven sire All Too Hard (Casino Prince), a half-brother to unbeaten Black Caviar (Bel Esprit) and sire of Queensland Horse of the Year and seven-time Group One winner Alligator Blood.

The illustrious dam side of the family is very well known by Te Akau, through the outstanding deeds of grand-dam Distinctive Lass (Orientate).

At the time of purchase, Ellis said: “We love buying from this family, have had plenty of success, and to buy a Snitzel colt with this sort of pedigree for that price is quite incredible.

“There are a lot of similarities to other family members we have bought and trained, and it’s just an incredible family of horses that love racing and winning.”

From the same draft (Curraghmore Stud), Ellis purchased Group 1 NZ 1000 Guineas' winner Kahma Lass (Darci Brahma), a subsequent stakes' winner at Caulfield; stakes' placed winner of three in Wairau Cove (Darci Brahma), and big winner Distinctive Darci (Darci Brahma). 

A smart four-length trial winner on debut at Te Aroha, Distinctive Darci transferred to Te Akau's Singapore stable where, trained by Mark Walker, he won 11 races, including a Group Two, and over NZ$1 million in prize money. 

Dam Milunka is also a half-sister to Kuro (Denman), winner of five stakes' races in a total of eight wins, and Southern Lad (Ocean Park) who also won seven in Australia while overall, Distinctive Lass has produced eight individual winners of 36 races. 

In addition, Ellis purchased five-time Group One winner and Champion Sire Darci Brahma (Danehill) as a yearling at Karaka, and the mating with Distinctive Lass has worked extraordinarily well. 

Fourth dam, Special (Habituate), won 10 races including three Group Ones, all at Flemington: the Newmarket Handicap 1200m, the Lightning Stakes 1000m and the Gadsden Stakes 1200m. At stud, Special produced 14 foals, 10 raced and nine were winners.

A total of 13 stakes' winners and eight stakes'-placed performers descend from Sal II (Sallust), the dam of Special.

To Bravery Born carries a cross of Danehill through his sire lines, and Snippets on the sire line of Snitzel and dam line of All Too Hard. 

On course, Te Akau racing manager Reece Trumper said: “It was big training effort from Mark and Sam. 

“He got better in his time away after the trial, in a good training move we got him out of the stable for a week doing dressage and it really has made the horse.

“I loved the way he relaxed, didn’t overdo it or do anything silly, so it was really good to see.

“Well done to Dave (Ellis). He bought the horse off Greg Tomlinson, and he’s stayed in as a part-owner, and John and Denise Elstob, they have a big share in him, and Karyn is syndicating these horses, and honestly, we just can’t thank them enough with what they do for us.

“We have new and long-term Te Akau owners in the horse, some that were in Tokyo Tycoon and a lot of other good horses as well. 

“We can’t do this without the owners and we’ve got to thank them so much for everything, because they support Te Akau, and we can’t buy these horses unless we have their support.”

To Bravery Born was strapped by Errol (Egg Roll) Rich.

Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz