Boom! Baronet Goes Back to Back

Gleaming in condition, Baronet (4 g Contributer – Alpha Dame, by O’Reilly) made it back-to-back wins when streaking away in the $17,000 Rating 65 1200 metres on 7 July at Tauranga.

Baronet had sustained a strong gallop from outside the leader to win the corresponding event on 27 June at Te Aroha, when first combining with former Te Akau apprentice Wiremu Pinn. Pinn gained invaluable experience riding 26 winners last season in Melbourne, and the pairing again worked harmoniously to deliver.

Intent on leading from barrier five, Baronet soon had company, which intensified as the race progressed, but it mattered little as he cast them aside in the straight to score impressively by five and a quarter lengths.

Remaining in the same grade following his last start victory was a bonus, and while there was a two-kilo increase in weight to carry 59.5kg, the manner of victory suggested a massive lift in performance.

“We think the confidence he gained from the win last time at Te Aroha, and all the schooling he’s doing over the big hurdles, has really turned his form around,” said Mark Walker, who leads the premiership clearly this season with training partner Sam Bergerson. 

“Wiremu (Pinn) had him away from the gates quickly again today, so it was another lovely ride, and the owners are being rewarded for their patience.

“He was a debut winner last season over 1200 metres and placed eight times before winning again, so he’s very consistent and has now strung a couple of strong wins together.

“He’s obviously going to be up in grade now, but I think these wins and the extra maturity will mean that he remains competitive in Rating 75 grade.”

In the race sponsored by I.C.I.B Financial Independence, Baronet ran 1200 metres in a respectable 1:14.6, last 600m in 35.9 (approx.), on Heavy9 footing, and held firm in betting to pay $3.50 & $1.60 on the NZ TAB tote. 

From a hardy family, including four time Group One winner Volkstok’n’barrell (Tavistock), Baronet was purchased by David Ellis CNZM for $135,000 at the Karaka 2021 Book 1 Sale, from the draft of Mapperley Stud, and owned by the Te Akau Alpha Lord Racing Partnership (Mgr: Karyn-Fenton Ellis MNZM). 

“He was a good buy from that family, under the sale price average, and he’s really starting to hit his straps as a rising five-year-old,” Ellis said.

“Donna Logan, who is Te Akau Singapore trainer, trained Volkstok’n’barrell and he was a really good horse. Baronet has O’Reilly and Volksraad as his first two dam sires and those two Champion Sires are hard to beat in any pedigree.

“He’s out a nice young mare by O’Reilly and from a really good family of Mapperley Stud.

“They’ve changed his work to include some jumping, which I think not only strengthens horses up but also keeps them motivated and the variation gives them something else to think about.

“We’ve been very impressed by the progeny of Contributer and he’s also the sire our great mare Campionessa. We also bought her from Mapperley and she’s his best performer with 11 wins, including a New Zealand Group One and a Melbourne Group 2, winning over $1.2 million in prize money.

“It’s a great thrill for Sam Bergerson in his first season of training, to join Mark (Walker) and have had 167 wins so far this season. 

“It’s the second highest in history in New Zealand, after Te Akau recorded 160 in the 2020/21 season and then set the current record of 203 wins last year.”

Ellis and Te Akau Syndicates, the leading syndication owners in the TRC Global Owners Rankings, have purchased and almost sold 60 yearlings this year.

“We were buoyed by the introduction of Entain into New Zealand racing, partnering the TAB, and making significant financial contribution to stakes, plus we opened our stables at Cranbourne in Melbourne late last year.

“I think we have shares still remaining in about six horses, so the uptake from owners has been incredible. We’ve got owners involved from all around the world.

“We obviously bought at Karaka, but also Magic Millions in January and June on the Gold Coast, and Inglis in Melbourne and Sydney.” 

Baronet was strapped by Ahbi Pawar.

Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz