Mitre Peak Perfect

Te Akau trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson made an impact early on the programme at Riccarton, when Mitre Peak (3 f More Than Ready – Liten Prinsessa, by Bernardini) won the $17,000 Entain – NZB Insurance Pearl Series Maiden Fillies & Mares 1200 metres (eligible $26,000 bonuses).

Breaking through at her fifth start, Mitre Peak had improved notably last start when finishing strongly for fourth in the Maiden 1200 metres on 16 May, also on the poly track at Riccarton, and had 15 days between runs to score on 31 May.

Away well from barrier two to trail for Te Akau apprentice Niranjan Parmar, Mitre Peak capitalised on a rails' run in the straight and gamely held a winning advantage inside the 200m. 

Running 1200 metres in 1:10.3 on the poly track, Mitre Peak won by a neck and drifted in market fluctuations from $4.60 to pay $6.40 & $1.70 on the NZ TAB tote.

Mitre Peak became the 65th win for the Premiership leading trainers from Te Akau's southern stable at Riccarton, which has established a terrific 3.9 strike rate this season.  Senior team member Hunter Durrant has done a wonderful job with our southern team, also ably assisted by Ashley Handley.

“It’s always good to get a winner for Fortuna Racing,” Walker said.

“She’s been a slower maturing filly, but she’s got a lovely pedigree and that will enhance her value after winning today.

“It was a lovely ride of Parmar’s. He’s riding with a lot of confidence and got the timing of the race to perfection. 

“She will continue to improve with time, also, but really starting to put it altogether now.”

Owned by Fortuna Mitre Peak Syndicate (Mgr: John Galvin), she was purchased for A$60,000 by David Ellis CNZM/Fortuna Racing at Inglis 2022 Classic Yearling Sale in Sydney. 

“We didn’t pay a lot of money for her, but she’s got a lovely pedigree,” said Galvin, while packing for Melbourne, in preparation for last start hurdle winner Leaderboard contesting the 3900m Australian Hurdle on Sunday at Sandown.

“She was actually passed in at that sale, but with Mark’s (Walker) help, he chased her and we managed to get her for the price she was passed in at, so it was good buying. 

“Mark and Sam have been very patient with her, giving her the time she’s needed to mature, and she had been building towards a win. Her last start was very encouraging. 

“She got a nice trip today and was well handled by Parmar. He got her into a nice spot and the leader rolled off the rail, so she never went around a horse.

“She’s still furnishing, physically, but she’s in great physical order, still has a really nice coat, and I think she’s in the right place. Sending her south has been a good call and she obviously likes the synthetic (poly track).” 

From the last crop of world renowned sire More Than Ready (Southern Halo), with over 2000 winners, Mitre Peak is from Liten Prinsessa, by another worldwide acclaimed sire Bernardini (A. P. Indy).

Liten Prinsessa, the winner of four races to 1400 metres in Australia, is a sister to Karaka Million 2YO (Restricted Listed, 1200m) winner and Champion Two-Year-Old Ruud Awakening, now the dam of Group Three winner Rise Of The Masses (Russian Revolution).

Both Liten Prinsessa and Ruud Awakening are out of Dawn Almighty (Danehill), the dam of seven individual winners of 31 races, while the family includes dual Group Two winner Ruud Van Slaats (Van Nistelrooy), whose daughter Smashing (Pins) was trained by Te Akau to win six races and be stakes' placed twice. 

Mitre Peak carries a Northern Dancer cross on the dam line of both Southern Halo and Liten Prinsessa. 

Mitre Peak was strapped by Hollie Smith.

Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz