Te Akau Season of Success - Exactly What You Wish For

As the huge 2024/25 season concludes this week - we continue our reflection on a wonderful season for Te Akau owners - truly a season of success with a total of 23 Group/Listed victories - one of the absolute highlights was a massive day on our home track at the Matamata premier meeting ...

On a day that will be remembered as a showcase of Te Akau Racing brilliance, What You Wish For (4 g Embellish – Grand Wish, by Smart Missile) capped off a sensational meeting by claiming the $100,000 Listed Matamata Veterinary Services Kaimai Stakes (Listed, 2000m) on 15 February at Matamata. His victory not only sealed a fourth win on the card for the Te Akau powerhouse training duo of Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson but also secured the stable's third stakes' triumph of the day - an extraordinary feat.

The Matamata meeting had already sparkled with juvenile star La Dorada storming to victory in the $225,000 Group 2 Matamata Breeders’ Stakes, while unbeaten colt Return To Conquer blitzed the $150,000 Group 3 Matamata Slipper field, and Balance Of Power (Almanzor) impressed in the $40,000 Rating 75 2000 metres. 

Yet it was What You Wish For who added the crowning touch, powering home to claim a memorable win and announce himself as a serious middle-distance contender.

A dual winner earlier in the season up to a mile and placed at 2000 metres in the Group 2 Waikato Guineas, What You Wish For had shown his toughness with a bold late run to finish sixth in the $1 million Listed Elsdon Park Aotearoa Classic (1600m) at Ellerslie. Returning to his home track with proven course form and carrying just 53kg, he looked primed to strike - and he did so in emphatic fashion.

Under a perfectly judged ride by premiership-winning jockey Craig Grylls, What You Wish For was given every opportunity. Grylls had him handily placed along the rail throughout, conserving energy while the leaders cut out the work. Approaching the home turn, he angled the gelding into clear air, and when Grylls asked the question, What You Wish For unleashed his trademark turn of foot. He surged past his rivals with authority to defeat recent Group 3 Wellington Cup (Gr. 3, 3200m) winner Wolfgang, showing class and determination in equal measure.

The clock backed up the performance: on Good4 footing, he covered the 2000 metres in 2:07.8, storming home with a sizzling last 600m in 33.9. Holding firm in betting, he rewarded his supporters handsomely at $7.10 & $2.30 on the NZTAB tote.

Owned by the Te Akau Wish & Win Racing Partnership (managed by Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM), What You Wish For continues to justify the faith shown in him when David Ellis CNZM secured the son of Embellish for just $60,000 from Cambridge Stud’s draft at the 2022 Karaka Book 1 Sale.

His sire Embellish (Savabeel), also purchased as a yearling by Ellis, was a Group 1 winner of the NZ 2000 Guineas and has quickly become an emerging stallion, passing on his class and courage. Embellish’s pedigree combines with the quality of What You Wish For’s dam, Grand Wish (Smart Missile), to give this gelding a rich genetic foundation that is now shining through on the track.

With four career victories, a Listed title, and more than $220,000 in prizemoney, What You Wish For has transitioned from a promising miler into a horse with genuine staying credentials. His performance in the Kaimai Stakes signals that he is ready to take on the next level of challenges in the cups' and middle-distance ranks.

Currently in training and thriving, What You Wish For is scheduled to trial in mid-late August - and if his recent performances are anything to go by, this is a horse on the rise, ready to grant even bigger wishes in the season ahead.