One Tough Treaty

With only one on the programme for trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson, Treaty Of Paris (4 g Tavistock – Echezeaux, by Encosta de Lago) won the $25,000 Rating 65 Jumpers & High-Weight 2100 metres on 20 March at Pukekohe.

Given time (25 days) since finishing back in the Rating 65 1600 metres on 24 February at Matamata, and twice a winner to 2140 metres, Treaty Of Paris not only benefitted by stepping up again in distance but also from the ride of accomplished young high-weight jockey Dean Parker (a2) who claimed to 68kg.

Biding his time in a small field, Treaty Of Paris was hot on the leaders turning for home and after levelling inside the 400m he sustained a strong gallop to win comfortably by one and a half lengths.

“It was a really good ride today by Dean Parker,” Walker said.

“It’s a good time of the season to get the horse’s confidence back and I think that with the win he should be able to go on with it.

“He’s been a slower maturing horse and had indifferent form during the spring season, but his good form last year was in the autumn and hopefully he can keep improving.

“He’s still a young horse, but he's very well bred and once we get him out over even more distance he should appreciate that too.”

Treaty Of Paris won his Maiden over 2000 metres by nearly eight lengths last season at Cambridge (poly track), before scoring again two starts later at Awapuni (poly track).

Interestingly, when winning on 27 July at Awapuni, Treaty Of Paris became the 201st winner last season for Walker, after snaring 200 earlier on the card, in a record-breaking effort that surpassed the previous record of 160 wins set by Te Akau trainer Jamie Richards in 2020/21.

Again leading clearly in the Trainers' Premiership this season, Treaty Of Paris provided the 128th win to remain in keeping with the winning tally last year.

In the race sponsored by Auckland Co-op Taxis, Treaty Of Paris ran 2100 metres in 2:10.5, last 600m in 35.1 (approx.), and drifted in betting to pay $9.60 & $2.40 on the NZ TAB tote.

Treaty Of Paris was purchased as a yearling by David Ellis CNZM at the 2021 Karaka Book 1 Sale, from the draft of Pencarrow Stud, and owned by the Te Akau 2021 Stallion Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM).

Te Akau has had plenty of experience with the family, as not only did they train the dam Echezeaux, a stakes' placed winner of four races from 1600m – 2100m, but Ellis also bought, and Te Akau trained, both five-time Group One winning Champion Sire Darci Brahma (Danehill), and five-time stakes' winning stallion Burgundy (Redoute’s Choice).

Regarded as a Blue Hen mare, the highest accolade afforded to broodmares, grand-dam Grand Echezeaux is the dam of successful stallions such as Darci Brahma (Danehill) and Burgundy (Redoute’s Choice), from a line that produced Caulfield and Melbourne Cup winner Ethereal (Rhythm) to win $6 million in stakes, and become the pride and joy of owner/breeder Sir Peter Vela.

“We couldn’t keep him as a colt, and he’s been a slower maturing horse, but the ability is there for him to go on and win more races,” Ellis said.

“It’s the family of Darci Brahma and Burgundy, which we bought and trained, and each of them became notable sires, especially Darci (Brahma), while unfortunately Burgundy has his career cut short, just when he was starting to takeoff.”

Treaty Of Paris was strapped by budding Te Akau apprentice Cooper Stumbles, who rates him his favourite horse.

Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz