Ellerslie Double - Pokuru Gold's Winning Vein

In the cobalt blue colours of breeder/owner Ian Farrelly, and recording his fourth win from six starts, Pokuru Gold (4 g Darci Brahma – Pokuru Nugget, by Stravinsky) was dominant over his rivals in the $25,000 Yourride Rating 75 1100 metres on 7 May at Ellerslie.

Farrelly has a strong association with Te Akau and had many successes with horses carrying the Pokuru prefix.

Trainers Mark Walker & Sam Bergerson had prepared Paravane (Merchant Navy), a half-sister to former stable-mate and Champion Two-Year-Old Sword Of State (Snitzel), to win the first race on the programme and had to wait until race nine for their next two representatives: with Pokuru Gold winning impressively and stable-mate Bella Voce (Fastnet Rock) quickening once clear for fourth. 

After finishing strongly down the outside to win a trial on 3 April at Ellerslie, Pokuru Gold had travelled wide near the pace when resuming with a close third in the Rating 75 1200 metres on 10 April at Waverley, and rated a top three chance from barrier four.

Chasing a genuine speed in eighth, six lengths 600m, Pokuru Gold circled quickly under rider Craig Grylls turning for home to ascend on the leaders 300m out and boldly galloped clear to score by nearly three lengths.

It was the performance of a horse destined for higher grades, and a continuation of the promise shown from the outset when he raced away to win on debut last season, and did a similar job at his next two starts to record a hat-trick.

On footing that remained Soft5 throughout the day, Pokuru Gold ran 1100 metres in a slick 1:04.2, last 600m in 34.0, and held firm in betting to pay $4.60 & $2.00 on the NZ TAB tote.

“It’s good to see him getting another win,” Walker said. “He’s a horse that has had a few problems, with bone chips removed from his knee, so he’s doing a good job given the issues he’s had.

“He’s a homebred of Ian Farrelly’s and great to see his colours in the winner’s circle again, especially at Ellerslie, where there is so much good racing now and he seems to handle the Strathayr track really well.

“It opens the door to some bigger assignments, going forward, at Ellerslie, and it’s always exciting to have winners by Darci Brahma (Danehill), after Dave (Ellis) bought him as a yearling and he won five Group One races for us before becoming a Champion sire. 

“He takes a bit of managing and the team at the Colt Barn can be proud of the way they’ve turned him out, and Gryllsy did a good job sitting off a hot speed before letting him loose.”

Deriving speed from dam Pokuru Nugget (Stravinsky), who won over 1200 metres, Pokuru Gold is out of a top Waikato Stud family, going back to third dam Star of the Knight (Sir Tristram), which includes Group One winners by Savabeel (Zabeel): Diademe and Te Akau trained Noverre (now standing at Waikato Stud), along with terrific filly Starcent (Centaine), while Farrelly purchased the grand-dam Pokuru Star (O’Reilly), from Waikato, as a yearling at Karaka. 

Pokuru Gold was strapped by Nicole Weatherley. 

Photo credit - Therese Davis - www.raceimages.co.nz