Te Akau ~ Ellerslie Exhibition

Te Akau New Zealand trainers Mark Walker & Sam Bergerson gave three horses an exhibition gallop between races on Saturday at Ellerslie.

Preparing to race next Saturday (25 Oct.) at Ellerslie, Midnight Blue (So You Think), ridden by Corentin Berge, and Celestial Wonder (Xtravagant), with Craig Grylls aboard, worked over 1000 metres in 59, 800m in 47.5, and 600m in 35, on Good4 footing.

A staying horse, Midnight Blue rolled nicely through the line, providing an ideal lead-up to the $65,000 Open Handicap 1600 metres, while Celestial Wonder was happy to sit a couple of lengths back, in preparation for the $65,000 Open Handicap 1200 metres. 

Owned by Te Akau Midnight Blue 1 and Te Akau Midnight Blue 2 Racing Partnerships (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM), Midnight Blue was purchased by David Ellis CNZM for A$92,500 at the Inglis Digital 2023 November (early) Online Sale.

Midnight Blue (8 g So You Think – Midnight Special, by Zabeel) was a former Group 2 Perth Cup (2400m) winner, and last season won the Listed Seymour Cup (1600m) in Victoria, and finished second in the Group 3 Taranaki Cup (1800m). His seven wins have amassed over $1 million in earnings. 

Celestial Wonder (4 m Xtravagant – Meteoric Lass, by Stratum) was a fresh-up course/distance winner in September at Ellerslie, when overcoming the outside gate (14), having been an impressive Maiden winner who also finished second in Listed O’Leary’s Fillies Stakes over 1340m)last season.

Owned by Te Akau Beyond The Stars Racing Partnership (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM), Celestial Wonder was bred by David Ellis CNZM, who purchased her dam Meteoric Lass for A$50,000 as a yearling at the 2016 Gold Coast Yearling Sale, from the draft of Kitchwin Hills.

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The second exhibition gallop featured first and second placed horses in the Listed Sir Colin Meads' Trophy 1200m on 6 September at Ellerslie, where Te Akau-trained He Who Dares (3 c Snitzel – Rondinella, by Ocean Park) was narrowly beaten by Affirmative Action.

Both horses worked very well, running 800m in 48, last 600m in 34.8, going through the line in unison, in preparation for the $150,000 Group 2 James & Annie Sarten Memorial (1400m) on Monday 27 October at Te Rapa. 

Ridden by Opie Bosson ONZM, He Who Dares impressed winning on debut, finished second in the Group 3 Matamata Slipper (200m) and fifth in the Group 1 Sistema Stakes (1200m), both won by stable-mate Return To Conquer (Snitzel).

Owned by the Te Akau 2024 Karaka Stallion Breeding Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM), He Who Dares was purchased by David Ellis CNZM for $825,000, from the draft of Haunui Farm, at the 2024 Karaka Book 1 Sale. 

Photo credit - Midnight Blue - Kenton Wright - www.raceimages.co.nz