Taupo Double - What You Wish For Wonderful

From last to first, What You Wish For (4 g Embellish – Grand Wish, by Smart Missile) won the $17,000 Reliable Man @ Westbury Stud Rating 65 1300 metres on 21 August at Taupo.

Ending his previous campaign after the NZ Derby (Gr. 1, 2400m) What You Wish For, who won impressively as a two-year-old over 1300 metres at Hastings, had closed strongly for third in two preparatory trials and stripped fit and well to resume.

Apprentice jockey Rihaan Goyaram (a4) picked up the ride after Te Akau apprentice Tayla Melvin was unfortunately injured earlier in the day at track work.

Easy early to settle last, after drawing barrier 13 of 14, What You Wish For stood the leaders 10 lengths at the 600m, circled wide quickly topping the rise approaching the home turn and sustained a huge run to win impressively.

“He is a really nice horse and I’m very happy with him,” Goyraam said. “I’d like to thank Te Akau Racing for putting me on the horse, my first time in these colours.

“The horse was drawn wide and my instructions were to ride quietly, but he showed a very good turn of foot and he flew. 

“I think I got out at the right time and his turn of foot was very impressive.”

What You Wish For ran 1300 metres in 1:21.8, last 600m in 36.0 (approx) on Soft7 footing, and paid $5.50 & $2.40 on the NZ TAB tote. 

“It was a really good effort to win today, especially from a staying horse over the 1300 metres,” said Mark Walker, who trains with Sam Bergerson.

“We had to have a late jockey change after Tayla Melvin was injured in a fall this morning, which was really bad timing because she had been doing a lot of work on this horse.

“He will only improve with this run under his belt, he still has to come on in the coat, but he ran home in very good sectionals and has certainly returned to work as a stronger horse in this campaign. 

“I think the progeny of Embellish, with his oldest now four-year-olds, have just needed a bit of time to mature and they’re going to be very good staying horses.

“What You Wish did well for sixth in the Derby to end his previous campaign and I think the form from that race will be very strong heading into this season.” 

What You Wish For commenced his three-year-old season with two seconds before finishing fourth in the Sarten Memorial (Gr. 2, 1400m) and later came from last for third in fastest last 600m (34.9) in the Waikato Guineas (Gr. 2, 2000m).

Te Akau racing manager Reece Trumper said: “It was a great ride by Rihaan and once the horse gets further than 1300 metres he’ll be even better.

“He’s a horse that we learnt later last season that if we let him find his feet he’s got an explosive turn of foot.” 

Owned by Te Akau Wish & Win Racing Partnership (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM), What You Wish For was purchased as a yearling by David Ellis CNZM for $60,000 at the 2022 Karaka Book 1 Sale, from the draft of Cambridge Stud.

Ellis also purchased his sire, Embellish (Savabeel), as a yearling at Karaka, who won the 2000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m), beating stable-mates Age of Fire (Fastnet Rock), while subsequent superstar Te Akau Shark (Rip Van Winkle) was beaten a nose for third. 

“It was a very smart win and what a great job the team has done bringing him back from the Derby to win first-up over 1300 metres,” Ellis said. “It was a brilliant training performance.

“He’s another very good horse by Embellish. They keep winning, they’re getting better with age, and he’s developing into a really good sire.

“We’ve got some beautiful yearlings on the farm by Embellish and I’m sending four mares to him this season.

“We’ve backed him as a sire and we’re having plenty of success.”

From New Plymouth, syndicate owners Michael and Barbara Stevenson were on course and thrilled with the victory.

“He ran some really good races as a three-year-old, with seconds and thirds while unable to win, but he trialled well leading up to this - what a thrill,” said Michael Stevenson.

What You Wish For was strapped by Sara Taylor. 

Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz