Te Akau Taupo Treble - To Bravery Born - Brave Indeed

One of the leading two-year-olds, To Bravery Born (3 g Snitzel – Milunka, by All Too Hard) resumed with victory in the $40,000 Poverty Bay Turf Club 3YO 1100 metres on 17 August at Taupo.

Winner of the first two-year-old race last season, on 31 August at Wanganui, To Bravery Born was put aside by trainers Mark Walker & Sam Bergerson, before drawing out to win handsomely over 1200 metres in January at Ellerslie. He then finished fourth in the Karaka Millions 2YO (Restricted Listed, 1200m), won by stable-mate La Dorada (Super Seth), and was third to stable-mates Return To Conquer (Snitzel) and He Who Dares (Snitzel) in the Group 3 Matamata Slipper (1200m) in a Snitzel trifecta.

In preparation to commence his three-year-old season, To Bravery Born chased two leaders turning for home and quickened well for second when trialling on the course in early August, and warranted favouritism first-up.

Ridden by Opie Bosson ONZM, who was aboard in the trial and won earlier on the programme aboard stable-mate Carsolio, To Bravery Born situated off the pace in a small field, was clear to challenge entering the home straight, and although not appreciative of the wet ground, he kept finding in order to beat pacemaker Faultless (Tivaci) by a nose.

On rain-affected footing that downgraded from Soft7 to Heavy9, To Bravery Born ran 1100 metres in 1:11.0, last 600m in 38.6 (approx.), and paid $1.40 to win on the NZ TAB tote. 

“The winning of the race was when Opie (Bosson) made his move going up the rise nearing the home turn and got him out into the slightly better ground,” said Mark Walker, training partner with Sam Bergerson.

“Opie is always hard to beat in a tight finish, and once again he was able to get the nose in front where it mattered. 

“It was great to see the horse extend his unbeaten fresh-up record to three, and safely through the race he’ll potentially head to the Wanganui Guineas, on the same course where he won on debut.”

From a dam line that Te Akau has had plenty of success with, To Bravery Born was purchased by David Ellis CNZM for $200,000 at the Karaka 2024 Book 1 Sale, from the draft of Curraghmore Stud, and is owned by Te Akau Secret Identity Racing Partnership (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis).

He is by the four-time Champion Sire in Australia, Snitzel (Redoute’s Choice), who was also the Leading Sire of Two-Year-Olds four times. His dam, dual winner Milunka, is by proven sire All Too Hard (Casino Prince), a half-brother to unbeaten Black Caviar (Bel Esprit) and sire of Queensland Horse of the Year and seven-time Group One winner Alligator Blood.

The illustrious dam side of the family is very well known by Te Akau, through the outstanding deeds of grand-dam Distinctive Lass (Orientate).

“Mark (Walker) and I were amazed when we were able to buy him for $200,000, given he’s a son of Snitzel, with a terrific pedigree, and having won three of his six starts he’s proving a good investment for his owners and they are having a lot of fun racing him,” Ellis said.

“He has a lot of similarities to other family members we have bought and trained, and it’s just an incredible family of horses that love racing and winning.”

From the same draft (Curraghmore Stud), Ellis purchased Group 1 NZ 1000 Guineas' winner Kahma Lass (Darci Brahma), a subsequent stakes' winner at Caulfield. Also stakes' placed winner of three Wairau Cove (Darci Brahma), and big winner Distinctive Darci (Darci Brahma). 

A smart four-length trial winner on debut at Te Aroha, Distinctive Darci transferred to Te Akau's Singapore stable, where he won 11 races including a Group Two, and banked over NZ$1 million in prize money. 

To Bravery Born's dam Milunka is a half-sister to Kuro (Denman), winner of five stakes' races in a total of eight career wins, and Southern Lad (Ocean Park) who also won seven in Australia while overall, Distinctive Lass has produced eight individual winners of 36 races. 

In addition, Ellis purchased five-time Group One winner and Champion Sire Darci Brahma (Danehill) as a yearling at Karaka, and the mating with Distinctive Lass has worked extraordinarily well. 

Fourth dam, Special (Habituate), won 10 races including three Group One's, all at Flemington: the Newmarket Handicap (1200m), the Lightning Stakes (1000m) and the Gadsden Stakes (1200m). At stud, Special produced 14 foals, 10 raced and nine were winners.

A total of 13 stakes' winners and eight stakes-placed performers are descendants from Sal II (Sallust), the dam of Special.

To Bravery Born carries a cross of Danehill through his sire-lines, and Snippets on the sire line of Snitzel and the dam line of All Too Hard. 

To Bravery Born was strapped by Assistant Trainer Reece Trumper. 

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