Te Akau Treble - Fierce Flight Flies

Showing his liking for the course, Fierce Flight (5 g Flying Artie – First Bloom, by Dylan Thomas) won the $50,000 Majestic Horse Floats Rating 83 2200 metres on Saturday at Trentham.

Second in the New Zealand St Leger (Listed, 2600m) last season at his only course attempt, before winning the Hawkes Bay Cup (Listed, 2200m), Fierce Flight had recently been in good form during New Zealand Cup Week at Riccarton, producing a good fourth in the Open Handicap 2000 metres on 15 November and running home well for fifth when backing up in the Rating 82 2600 metres on NZ Cup Day (18 Nov.).

Ridden by Johnathan Parkes, who has experienced success aboard Te Akau runners Gingernuts (Iffraaj), On The Bubbles (Brazen Beau), I Wish I Win (Savabeel), and Need I Say More (No Nay Never), among others, Fierce Flight was given an economical trip on the inner and finished strongly near the rail.

While wide apart, Fierce Flight got the decision by a short head over Langkawi (Helmet), running 2200 metres in 2:21.1 on footing downgraded to Soft7, and paid $7.20 & $2.60 on the NZ TAB tote.

“It was a really good win and great to see him back in wining form, so we’ll back him up next week in the Manawatu Cup” said co-trainer Mark Walker.

“He’s staying down in the Manawatu. We keep mixing his training regime to make sure he stays focussed and he seems to be really thriving.”

The $120,000 Manawatu Cup (Gr. 3, 2300m) is contested next Saturday (23 Dec.) at Trentham. 

Purchased by David Ellis CNZM for $45,000 at the 2020 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale, from the draft of Kilgravin Lodge, Fierce Flight is owned by Te Akau Out of Bounds Racing Partnership (Mgr: Karyn-Fenton Ellis).

“He rose quickly through the grades to win the Hawkes Bay Cup (Listed, 2200m) last season and been a terrific horse for his owners,” Ellis said. 

“He is a horse that has continued to develop, shows great heart in his racing, and under 60-kilos really had to dig deep today for Johnathan (Parkes) to get him home.

“He didn’t cost a lot, but he’s proving a good cups' type horse and winning some nice prize money along the way ($163,605 to date).”

Walker and Bergerson also achieved a notable result later on the card with My Lips Are Sealed (Ace High), who was beaten a nose in the Eulogy Stakes (Gr. 3, 1600m) with Joe Kamaruddin aboard. 

“It would have been nice to add the Eulogy, but it was a great effort by the filly nonetheless, and it’s been a good day for the stable, winning with a really exciting two-year-old colt (Move To Strike), celebrating Opie Bosson’s 2000th win, and seeing Campionessa win the Cal Isuzu Stakes (Gr. 2, 1600m) in such great fashion,” Ellis added. 

“We also had Prise De Fer finish second in the Waikato Cup (Gr. 3, 2400m), Romancing The Moon was third in the J Swap Sprint (Gr. 3, 1400m), and Quintessa and Tokyo Tycoon were second and third, respectively, in the three-year-old race.”

Summing up his day, at Te Rapa, Bosson said: “I’d like to say a big thanks to the team at Te Akau. A lot of good people work there, they work very hard, and as I say all the time I’ve got the easy job and they put in all the hard yards.”

Fierce Flight was strapped by Kendyll Lee. 

Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz