5 Wins in 24 Hrs - Altari Simple Awesome

Beautifully related, Altari (4 g Savabeel – Bohemian Lily, by O’Reilly) kept a good thing going for trainers Mark Walker & Sam Bergerson when resuming with victory in the $55,000 Myracehorse Rating 65 1500 metres on Saturday at Pukekohe - becoming the stable's fifth win in less than 24 hours!

A day beforehand, the training partners recorded three wins on programme at Riccarton, with Hello Bess (Hello Youmzain), High Roller (Ace High), and Cognoscenti (Castelvecchio), and made it a double after Sibling Rivalry (Satono Aladdin) won impressively earlier on the card.

A smart winner on debut as a two-year-old, Altari indicated his readiness to resume when running home solidly for third in a trial on 14 November at Avondale, had shown to act fresh previously, and rated a top four chance from barrier one.

Ridden by Wiremu Pinn, who also combined with Sibling Rivalry, Altari received a cushy trip three back on the inner, had gaps open favourably near the rail in the straight, and kept mounting a finish to score narrowly but well.

“He’s a horse that has shown promise throughout his career, but just hasn’t quite had the physical strength to be able to handle much racing until now,” Walker said.

“Time was always going to be his friend and having kicked off his campaign with a win I think he can keep improving through this preparation, and be better again as he gets older and more mature, as well.

"He a horse that as a five-year-old could develop into a really nice staying type, especially given his pedigree.

“It was another nice ride of Wiremu’s to have him relax and save ground the way he did, and he’s in a good winning vein.”

On Good4 footing, Altari ran 1500 metres in 1:30.0 and returned terrific $17.00 & $4.60 fixed odds on the NZ TAB. 

On course, Bergerson added: “It was a really nice ride by Wiremu, he was patient and got the right split up the fence. 

“It was a good effort by the horse, obviously fresh-up over 1500 metres, and hopefully he’s in for a good summer and autumn. 

“He’s taken a bit of time, but hopefully the owner’s patience will pay off and we can have some fun with him.

“He’s run in some good races, certainly hasn’t been disgraced, and I think he’ll keep getting better with even more time and as we step him up distance.”

Owned by the Te Akau Bohemian Beauty Racing Partnership (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM), Altari was purchased by David Ellis CNZM for $360,000 at the 2022 New Zealand Bloodstock National Weanling Sale, from the draft of Valachi Downs - being the top lot of the sale.

By nine-time Champion Sire Savabeel (Zabeel), dam Bohemian Lily (O’Reilly) won the Group 2 The Roses (2020m) at Doomben (Queensland). His second dam Bohemian Blues (Blues Traveller) won five races and in turn at stud has left Champion 3YO Filly in Australia Shamrocker (O’Reilly), winner of the Group 1 Australian Derby (2400m) and Group 1 VRC Australian Guineas (1600m), Group 1 Auckland Cup (3200m) winner Rock Diva (Lucky Unicorn), and Group 3 Taranaki Cup (1800m) winner Vernanme (O’Reilly). 

“It’s a fantastic pedigree and family, bred on the Savabeel/O’Reilly cross, two Champion Sires, and it looks like the horse is coming of age,” Ellis said.

“We actually bought him as a weanling, so he’s been in the system for quite a while, and with more time he’s got the pedigree to step up and perform well around 2000 metres and possibly further.

“The training teams are doing a really good job for us in both the North and South Island, and it’s generally the case that when the tracks are consistently good then our stables find form.

“We had a really good winner earlier on the programme, when Sibling Rivalry won, and she still has a small share available, and people can have a look on a website at a few more too.”

Altari was strapped by Kohen Collett. 

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