Knowledge is Power(ful) Indeed

Making the necessary improvement, Knowledge Is Power (3 g Written Tycoon – Hectopascal, by Pins) recorded an all-the-way win in the $18,500 Loveracing.nz Maiden 1200 metres on 21 November at Timaru.

Collared after leading in the Maiden 3YO 1200 metres on 3 November at Ashburton, Knowledge Is Power adopted the same tactics for jockey Diego Montes de Oca and duly obliged.

Leading with a comfortable buffer and appearing to travel well within himself, Knowledge Is Power was given a breather rounding the home but found plenty to comfortably keep his rivals at bay by two lengths.

After winning 89 races during his apprenticeship in Argentina, Montes de Oca was invited by former Te Akau trainer Jamie Richards, now training in Hong Kong, to join the team at Matamata, before transferring to the South Island. 

On Soft5 footing, Knowledge Is Power ran 1200 metres in 1:12.3 and paid $9.10 & $2.70 on the NZ TAB tote.

A stylish trial winner before racing twice as a two-year-old, Knowledge Is Power was claimed near the line after leading when resuming in the Maiden 3YO 1000 metres on 6 October at Awapuni (poly-track), and broke through third-up in this campaign. 

“He’s been something of a frustrating fellow, so it was really good to get a win with him for his owners at his fifth start,” said Mark Walker, who trains with Sam Bergerson.

“He showed some talent as an early two-year-old, but he went through a growing stage and we just hope that the win gives him the confidence to step up in grade.

“We’re thankful that the owners have been patient and we’ll assess his progress through the run and see if he noticeably grows in confidence.”

Owned by the Te Akau Powerful Knowledge Racing Partnership (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM), Knowledge Is Power was purchased by David Ellis CNZM for $260,000 at the 2023 Karaka Book 1 Sale, from the draft of Curraghmore Stud. 

Knowledge Is Power is by Australian Champion Sire Written Tycoon (Iglesia), who also sired stable-mate and recent Group 1 NZ 1000 Guineas winner Captured By Love. A nominee for Champion Two-Year-Old after two Group Two and a Group Three wins, Captured By Love was given a terrific ride by visiting Australian jockey Josh Parr, who claimed his 12th Group One and provided the smart filly with a richly deserved and valuable success. 

The winner of six races from 1200m – 1600m in Australia, and stakes' performed, the dam of Knowledge Is Power, Hectopascal, is by Champion Sire Pins (Snippets), while grand-dam Sussex Dancer (Danehill Dancer) has left winners and stakes' placed Meghan (So You Think) and Reeverderci (Reliable Man).

At the time of purchase, Ellis said: “He’s from a great farm at Curraghmore Stud, where in recent times we’ve bought and trained the Group 1 NZ 1000 Guineas winner Kahma Lass, dual stakes' winner and Group 1 performer In A Twinkling, and Group 1 winner Heroic Valour who now stands at stud in Australia.

“He’s a beautiful type by an outstanding sire, from a good Cambridge Stud family, and he’s athletically well conformed and has great balance.”

Knowledge Is Power carries a cross of Champion Two-Year-Old in Britain and Ireland, Try My Best (Northern Dancer), on the sire line of Written Tycoon and dam line of Hectopascal. 

Knowledge Is Power was strapped by Hunter Durrant. 

Photo credit - Ajay Berry - www.raceimages.co.nz