5 Win Saturday - What You Wish For - You Got

Doing everything right, What You Wish For (2 g Embellish - Grand Wish, by Smart Missile) broke through at his second start in the $30,000 2YO 1300 metres on Saturday at Hastings.

After finishing strongly to win a trial on 21 March at Taupo, What You Wish For came from the rear when running the fastest last 600m (34.8) for second on debut in the Maiden 2YO 1050 metres on 29 March at Matamata, and warranted favouritism.

Beginning quickly from barrier three to lead, What You Wish For was able to dictate terms for jockey Craig Grylls despite having company to his outside and after kicking clear at the 300m he sustained a strong gallop to win comfortably.

“I was able to lead and got a decent lead, really, and he found a good kick at the top of the straight,” Grylls said.

“He's still pretty raw, pricking his ears and wandering around a bit. He's got a ton of ability, but still learning his craft.

“He's a well put together sort of horse and will furnish into a lovely three-year-old. I'd say he'd probably head down that Guineas' path.”

On Good4 footing, in the race named Thank You Resource for Your Help in the Community, What You Wish For ran time (1:15.7) indicative of a horse with plenty of upside and gave punters few concerns in returning $2.00 & $1.20 on the NZ TAB tote. 

“He's a nice big horse and has the makings of a three-year-old, and the older he gets the better he'll get,” said Te Akau's Racing Manager Reece Trumper.

“We gave him time to grow into himself and he came back and trialled enormous.”

Owned by Te Akau Wish & Win Racing Partnership (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM), What You Wish For was purchased as a yearling by David Ellis CNZM for $60,000 at the 2022 Karaka Book 1 Sale, from the draft of Cambridge Stud.

Ellis also purchased his sire, Embellish (Savabeel), as a yearling at Karaka, who won the 2000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m), beating stable-mates Age of Fire (Fastnet Rock), while subsequent superstar Te Akau Shark (Rip Van Winkle) was beaten a nose for third. 

“It's always a thrill when you buy a yearling like Embellish that can remain as a colt, win such a great sire making race as the 2000 Guineas, and then purchase their progeny,” Ellis said. 

“He's made a great start to his stallion career and even though his progeny look more three-year-old types, he's shown with the likes of Talisker and this horse, that they have natural ability to race at two.”

An athletic juvenile bought by Ellis, Talisker finished powerfully from the rear for second to stable-mate Trobriand (Kermadec) in the Eclipse Stakes (Gr. 2, 1200m) on 1 January at Te Rapa.

“It's a great thrill for the owners to win with this horse as a two-year-old, especially looking forward to his three-year-old season, and we bought his three-quarter sister by Savabeel at the sales this year. She's one of the nicest fillies you'll see and reports from those that ride her say that she's a pretty good filly, too.  We still have two shares available in her as well which I think won't last long!

“I think the Embellish's are a big chance and we've got some really nice ones in the stable. They're not natural two-year-old types, but they'll be beautiful three, four, and five-year-olds. 

“The team today at Hastings is being looked after by our Racing Manager Reece Trumper, who is doing an outstanding job and the sky's the limit for him.”

Embellish is a brother to Group One winning mare Diademe, and What You Wish is the first foal from Grand Wish who won as a two-year-old over 1200 metres in Australia, by terrific sire Smart Missile (Fastnet Rock), a Group Two winner and Group One placed sprinter and sire of over 1000 winners. 

Second dam Grand Strategy (Strategic) left Group One, Two, and Three winning sprinter Griante (Good Journey), winner of seven races.

What You Wish For has a Sir Tristram cross on his sire side and Danehill cross on the dam side. 

“He's a nice progressive horse What You Wish For and he's got a lot of size and scope about him,” said trainer Mark Walker.

“We think he'll measure up more as a three-year-old, and we'll probably give him a break now.”

What You Wish For was strapped by Katija Cherie. 

Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz