Te Akau Season of Success - Explosive Debut Return To Conquer

Another of Te Akau's undoubted season star's was beautifully bred colt Return To Conquer - four starts, four black type victories - unbeaten during the 2024/2 season ... time to reflect on the first of his impressive wins ...

Te Akau’s powerful two-year-old squad kicked off in the best possible fashion when Return To Conquer (2 c Snitzel – Vaujany, by Lonhro) made a sparkling raceday debut in the $110,000 Listed Counties Challenge Stakes over 1100m at Pukekohe on 23 November.

From the moment he stepped onto the track, this colt looked the part - having won all three of his trials with ease, the betting told the story: he started a commanding $1.20 favourite. And in true professional fashion, he delivered - effortlessly.

Positioned beautifully by Wiremu Pinn, Return To Conquer travelled like a seasoned runner, and when asked to let down, he exploded clear in the straight. Ears pricked and powering to the line, he scored with authority by two and a half lengths, stopping the clock for 1100 metres in 1:05.1, closing in a slick 33.8 for his final 600m on a Soft5 surface.

“He’s an absolute machine, a freak of a horse,” Pinn said post-race - and you could sense the excitement rippling through the crowd. Despite being understandably starry-eyed before the race, the colt was all business when the gates opened.

Owned by the Te Akau 2024 Stallion Breeding Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM), Return To Conquer was purchased by David Ellis CNZM for A$1.3 million at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale from the respected draft of Blue Gum Farm.

“We thought he was the best Snitzel colt in the sale,” Ellis said. “He had absolutely everything we look for - balance, presence, pedigree, and temperament. There was plenty of competition in the ring for him, but we were determined to bring him home.”

And bring him home we did - now unbeaten in four starts, including the coveted Group 1 Sistema Stakes, Return To Conquer has already banked $534,750 in prize money and built a reputation as one of New Zealand’s most exciting young colts.

His pedigree is every bit as glittering as his race performances. By Snitzel, Australia’s four-time Champion Sire and heir to the great Danehill–Redoute’s Choice dynasty, Return To Conquer is out of Vaujany, a Lonhro mare (by Octagonal), giving this colt a double dose of class and toughness.

Although unraced, Vaujany is a three-quarter sister to multiple sprint winner Andermatt (Snitzel), a stakes performer himself. The grand-dam, Portillo (Red Ransom), was a Group Two winner of the Surround Stakes and runner-up in the Group One Flight Stakes - showcasing brilliant ability over 1400m–1600m, and she left five individual winners from six foals.

The colt also carries a valuable Danzig (Northern Dancer) cross on both sides of his pedigree - a hallmark of elite, precocious racehorses the world over.

After a dazzling two-year-old season, Return To Conquer is now in training at Te Akau's Victorian stable, in the hunt for valuable Australian black type. He is gearing up for a jump out at Cranbourne in mid July, and remains firmly on the radar as a spring three-year-old prospect and a genuine future stallion candidate should his upward trajectory continue.

Previous Te Akau winners of the Counties Challenge Stakes (Listed, 1100m):

2021 – Bright Blue Sky (Fastnet Rock)

2014 – Windborne (Darci Brahma)