Te Akau Taupo Treble - In Haste, In Control

Securing Te Akau's second three-year-old feature, In Haste (3 f Snitzel – Prompt, by Exceed And Excel) made it three wins on the card for trainers Mark Walker & Sam Bergerson when taking out the $40,000 Taupo Pak’n Save 3YO Fillies 1100 metres on 17 August at Taupo. 

Following victory by To Bravery Born (Snitzel) in the equivalent race for the boys, In Haste was firmly supported in betting and provided stable rider Opie Bosson ONZM with his fourth win on the programme.

Second and first, respectively, from two starts last season, In Haste had sustained a very good run for a close second when trialling on 22 July at Avondale. She then finished well for fourth, with more in the tank, in a trial on the course in early August, and looked a top chance in the event. 

With 99 Group One victories to his credit, and returning to the ranks following a time away, Bosson had In Haste perched outside the leader and once angled wider for better footing in the straight, she quickly put a winning break on the field.

“Opie Bosson makes a statement, four on the day, and In Haste, after trialing really well recently in the TAB racing colours, with the Newgate cap, makes a very good return,” said commentator Bruce Sherwin. “It looked a good race on paper, and a fitting finale.”

On footing that ended up Heavy9, with rain in the day, In Haste ran 1100 metres in 1:11.4, last 600m in 38.4 (approx.), and paid $3.70 & $1.50 on the NZ TAB tote. 

“It was a really good resuming win by In Haste, after she trialled up nicely at Taupo, and another good ride of Opie’s” Walker said.

“He got out to the better ground, got a break on the field and put that winning margin on them. She’ll improve out of today’s run and we look forward to taking on Group company next time out.”

The assignment in mind for In Haste is the $150,000 Group 3 Gold Trail Stakes (1200m) on Saturday 6 September at Ellerslie. 

“It’s really good for Newgate Farm and the TAB Racing Club, so we can all be very happy with her win,” Walker added.

In Haste was bred by S F Bloodstock L L C and is shared by them in ownership by Newgate Operations Pty Ltd, SF Bloodstock LLC Ltd & the TAB Racing Club, whose dark blue & red colours she races in, sporting the Newgate cap. 

“To line up three horses and get three wins is a great result, and shows that Mark (Walker) and Sam (Bergerson) have the got the horses in great order for their first races this season,” said Te Akau principal David Ellis CNZM.

“It’s a credit to all the team at the stables and stud, and to the horses themselves, because the conditions became pretty testing with the rain today.  They had to show a lot of ticker to win.

“It was a really good win by In Haste and nice to get another one in the TAB Racing Club colours. She tries hard, obviously has well above-average ability, and it would be great to get some valuable black type with her next start.”

In Haste is by four-time Champion Sire in Australia, Snitzel (Redoute’s Choice), who serves so well the trilogy of Danehill – Redoute’s Choice – Snitzel, which is unrivalled in great Australian thoroughbreds.

Snitzel was the Leading Sire of Two-Year-Olds four times and is also the leading Australian Sire of earnings worldwide.  He is also the sire of Group One winner and Champion Two-Year-Old Sword Of State, purchased as a yearling by Te Akau principal David Ellis CNZM - now standing at Cambridge Stud.

The filly's dam Prompt is by Champion Sire Exceed and Excel (Danehill), and she has done a great job as a broodmare, leaving four individual winners of 12 races, including Group One winner and three-time Group Two winner Prompt Response (Beneteau). 

Her grand-dam Amnesia (Desert Sun) was a very good race mare, winning five races from 1100m – 1480m, and was multiple times group-placed - while her dam sire Exceed and Excel (Danehill) retired from stud duties in 2024 as one of the greatest stallions to ever stand in Australia.

A revered international shuttle stallion for Darley, Exceed and Excel is one of only seven stallions to sire in excess of 200 stakes' winners. 

A sire of sires and a leading broodmare sire, Exceed and Excel has always been regarded as a highly reliable source of speed.

In Haste was strapped by Assistant Trainer Reece Trumper.

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