Champions' Day Double - Top Shelf Indeed

Te Akau trainers Mark Walker & Sam Bergerson made a perfect start to Champions Day at Ellerslie, when Top Shelf (4 m Savabeel – Saoirse, by Iffraaj) won the $80,000 Elsdon Park Rating 75 1600 metres.

Presented in outstanding order, Top Shelf won stylishly over a mile last season before finishing second in the Group 2 David & Karyn Ellis Fillies Classic (2000m), and placed in four of five starts this season while being unlucky last start when denied room in the Rating 65 1500 metres on 25 February at Pukekohe. 

Caught on a limb in the early stage, Kiwi jockey Michael Dee took positive action to position in second at the 1000 metres, travelled well turning for home, and drew to winning advantage when finding plenty inside the 300m.

It was a really good effort by the mare to beat a competitive field, and a great moment for the Fell family (Fairdale Stud), all on course, whose black and gold diagonal colours have been carried to victory in many top races over the years at Ellerslie. 

“It’s a famous set of silks and awesome to have a winner for them on Champions' Day,” Bergerson said.

“She’s a mare that hasn’t had a lot of luck, especially this season, and a good effort after having to do a bit of work early.

“We were really happy with her heading into the race and we think she’s going to continue to get better and better. A big, long leggy, girl, she’s still six months away with plenty of furnishing to do. 

“There was a good field behind her today and, obviously, the goal is to get more black type with her down the line.”

On Soft5 footing, Top Shelf ran 1600 metres in 1:36.1, last 600m in 34.9, and paid $8.70 & $2.80 on the NZ TAB tote. 

On course, Walker added: “It was a good ride of Mick Dee’s to sum up the situation when they relaxed the pace, and being caught wide he was able to slide forward outside the leader.

“She’s been promising to win a nice race, but been a slow maturing type of mare and just starting to grow into herself. I think she’ll be even better this time next year and has the potential to develop into a good staying mare. 

“It’s an honour to train horses for the Fell family, whose colours are very well known throughout the history of racing in New Zealand, and I remember Noel Eales training some very good horses for them.”

Bred by Fairdale Stud and owned by them along with G B Fell MNZM, Gimme Some Of That Top Shelf Syndicate & Top Draw Racing Syndicate, Top Shelf is a sister to Te Akau purchased and trained dual Group Two winner and dual Group One placed Brando (Savabeel), while dam Saoirse has also produced promising three-year-old Cool Boy (Per Incanto), winner of three from four in Hong Kong, for former Te Akau trainer Jamie Richards.

Accepting on behalf of owners, Duncan Fell said: “Thank you to Elsdon Park for sponsoring the race and thank you to the Te Akau team who do a great job with her.

“She’d had bad luck in her last couple of runs, so great to see it go smoothly and win on such a big day.”

As well as buying Brando from the draft of Fairdale Stud, Te Akau principal David Ellis CNZM also purchased $1 million Karaka Million 2YO (1200m) and Group 1 Sistema Stakes (1200m) winner Cool Aza Beel (Savabeel), who went on to be named Champion Two-Year-Old, and is now standing at Newhaven Park Stud in N.S.W, Australia. 

While at the Karaka yearling sales in 2025, Ellis paid $65,000 for Quinn The Eskimo, a half-sister to Brando, Cool Boy, and Top Shelf, by Proisir (Choisir), who is being prepared to race at the Te Akau stables in Melbourne. 

A generational family that has sold yearlings for over 70 years in New Zealand, in more recent times the Fell family bred and raced high-class racehorse Tall Poppy (Kaapstad). 

A beautiful black mare with a fantastic turn of foot and determination to match, Tall Poppy won eleven races from 1400 metres to 2000m and culminated her career by winning the Group 1 NZ Stakes (2000m) at Ellerslie. At the highest level, she also won the Group 1 Thorndon Mile (1600m), Group 1 Waikato Sprint (1400m), two Group Two races and two Listed titles. 

Top Shelf was strapped by Tom Murphy. 

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