I Choose You Cruises Home

Premiership leading trainers Mark Walker & Sam Bergerson recorded their 120th win this season when I Choose You (3 f I Am Invincible – Choose, by Starcraft) resumed in the $40,000 Rating 75 1100 metres on Saturday at Trentham.

A race after stable-mate Tightly Laced (American Pharoah) tried hard for second in the $40,000 3YO 1000 metres, I Choose You, also ridden by Ashvin Goindasamy, was able to deliver.

A previous impressive winner over 1100 metres, and multiple times Group placed, I Choose You had stretched out well for close third when trialling on 20 February at Tauranga, rated a top three chance given her ability to act fresh.

Steadied back in the field from barrier seven, I Choose You received a nice split inside the 400m and dashed home to win easing down by one and three-quarter lengths.

In the race sponsored by Top Tips [email protected], I Choose You ran 1100 metres on 1:01.6 on Good4 footing and drifted in betting to $7.80 & $2.70 on the NZ TAB tote.

“It was a really good win and great to see her back in winning form,” Walker said.

“It was a lovely ride of Ashvin’s to get her settled before producing her at the right time and the win should give her confidence going forward.

“We’ve been training her a little bit differently. She does quite a bit on the treadmill, these days, given she’s sometimes difficult to ride in track work, so we’ve worked with her and varied what she does.

“The team in the Middle Barn do a really good job with her and it’s a credit to them that she’s been ready to win first-up.”

Purchased by Te Akau principal David Ellis CNZM at 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, from the draft of Yarraman Park Stud, I Choose You is owned by the Te Akau 2021 Fillies’ Breeding Syndicate  (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM).

I Choose You is by Champion Australian Sire I Am Invincible (Invincible Spirit), the same sire as stable star Imperatriz, from six-time winner (1200 – 1400m) Choose, in turn by New Zealand bred stallion Starcraft (Soviet Star)

Starcraft was a world-class galloper and five-time Group One winner that claimed titles of Champion 3YO in Australia, Champion Sprinter in New Zealand, and Champion Miler in Europe. 

There is no doubt I Am Invincible is a phenomenal sire and that Ellis has a very good eye for selecting them, with Champion Three-Year-Old, Champion Sprinter/Miler, and nine-time Group One winner Imperatriz leading the way.

“It’s great to see her back in winning form and given her black type placed runs as a two and three-year-old any additional wins and stakes results are valuable,” Ellis said.

“I’m thrilled for the owners to see her back to her best. She’s has a really good pedigree, by an absolute champion sire and his female progeny have enormous residual value.

“The New Zealand stable is going really well with 120 wins this season and it’s keeping in line with the 202 record from last season.

“It means that everything and everyone is working really well and Karyn and I could not be happier.

“Our Australian stable is also firing on all cylinders with a winning strike rate of about 33% and we've got a big day coming up at Moonee Valley in two weeks with four horses contesting Group races.”

It is results like these during what is shaping to be another very good season for the stable that translates into confidence from people buying shares in the yearlings that Te Akau has on offer.

I Choose You was strapped by Ashley Handley.

Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz