Te Akau Lads on Exhibition

Te Akau trainers Mark Walker & Sam Bergerson took the opportunity to give Group winners Trobriand (Kermadec) and Wild Night (Vanbrugh) an exhibition between races on Saturday at Ellerslie.

Ridden by Craig Grylls, Trobriand, who was scratched from resuming on very heavy footing last Sunday at Te Aroha, led at an interval and looked good motoring through the line.

“He travelled easily, balanced up once around the home bend and worked really well to the line,” Grylls said. “And he pulled up well, too.”

Content to sit off Trobriand, Wild Night, ridden by Opie Bosson, also appeared to travel comfortably throughout.

“He enjoyed the (Soft5) ground, but is never quite as comfortable in his action going right-handed,” Bosson said. “He felt great though and ready to get back to the races.”

Both horses are scheduled to resume Sunday week (14 September) at Te Rapa, in the $50,000 Open Handicap 1200 metres. 

Winner of the Group 2 Sarten Memorial (1400m), Listed Uncle Remus Stakes (1400m), and placed in the Group 1 Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m), Wild Night won his first two starts last season, both over 1300 metres, was unsuccessful contesting three Listed races in Australia, and returned home for a fourth in the Group 2 Japan Trophy (1600m).

Winning eight of his 20 starts for owners in the Te Akau Love to Party Racing Partnership (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM), and $550,995 in prize money, Wild Night was purchased as a yearling by David Ellis CNZM for $50,000 at the Karaka 2021 Book 1 Sale, from the draft of Windsor Park Stud.

Winner of the Group 2 Eclipse Stakes (1200m), placed three times at Group Three level to 1600 metres, and fourth in two Group One races, Trobriand resumed last season with an emphatic win over 1200 metres at Taupo. 

The winner of five races for his owners in the Te Akau Island Paradise Racing Partnership (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM), Trobriand was purchased as a yearling by David Ellis CNZM for $260,000 at the 2022 Karaka Book 1 Sale, from the draft of Windsor Park Stud.