Te Akau Treble - Star Shines Bright

Making it three wins on the day for trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson, Star In The Sky (4 m Savabeel – Pikari Star, by Choisir) romped home in the $17,000 Rating 65 & Jumpers 2200 metres on 27 June at Riccarton. 

The stable won earlier on the card with Time Is King (Darci Brahma), while Baronet (Contributer) won at Te Aroha.

A winner over 1400 metres in February at New Plymouth, Star In The Sky had run home solidly in the Pearl Series Rating 65 1600 metres on 13 June at Riccarton and having won her Maiden over 1700 metres, she appeared suited stepping up again in distance. 

Working forward into a midfield position on the inner, Star In The Sky was off in good time to range ominously rounding the home turn and once let stride by jockey Ashvin Goindasamy, she raced away to win somewhat effortlessly.  

In the Racecourse Hotel & Motor Lodge sponsored event, Star In The Sky ran 2200 metres in 2:16.0 on the poly track, winning by three and half lengths, and drifting considerably in betting to pay $5.50 & $1.60 on the NZ TAB tote.

“She’s been a slower maturing mare, but now that we’ve managed to stretch her out over ground I think the owners will be rewarded further,” Walker said. 

“Her style of racing is suited to getting over a middle distance and the way she won today should be a real confidence booster for her. 

“It was a lovely ride of Ashvin’s to secure an economical trip on the inner before getting her into the clear in plenty of time, and it was great for him to get a double today for the stable. 

“Ashvin has been a hard worker for our stable in the south. We really value his input as part of the team and he’s a very well-liked young man.”

Star In The Sky became the 61st winner this season from the Te Akau stable at Riccarton, managed by Hunter Durrant and Ashley Handley, while providing a great avenue to campaign horses nationwide for premiership leading trainers Walker and Bergerson.  

Owned by the Te Akau Star Strike Racing Partnership (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM), Star In The Sky was purchased as a yearling by David Ellis CNZM for $145,000, from the draft of Yulong Investments, at the 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. 

Star In The Sky is by eight-time Champion Sire Savabeel (Zabeel), from a deep family of quality horses. 

Grand-dam Etoile Fille (No Excuse Needed), is half-sister to Ambitious (Last Tycoon), the grand-dam of Te Akau Group One winner Savy Yong Blonk (Savabeel), who finished second in the 1000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m) and left seven individual winners of 22 races, and half-sister to Make A Wish, both being out of Starcent (Centaine). 

Make A Wish left I Wish I Win (Savabeel), entrusted by Waikato Stud to be trained by Te Akau, who made an immediate impact winning on debut before finishing second to stable-mate On the Bubbles (Brazen Beau) in Sires’ Produce Stakes (Gr. 1, 1400m). 

I Wish I Win has since become a household name in Australasian racing, winning the A$10 million Golden Eagle and finishing runner-up in the A$20 million Everest, while also winning the T J Smith Stakes (Gr. 1, 1200m) and Kingsford Smith Cup (Gr. 1, 1300m), and over A$13 million in prize money.

“It’s a very talented family that we knew well, especially through having Savy Yong Blonk in the stable, who kept improving as a staying mare before eventually winning the Livamol Classic (Gr. 1, 2040m),” Ellis said.

“And then, of course, I Wish I Win, who has developed into one of the best horses in Australasia.

“We thought she (Star In The Sky) was very good buying at the price, given the service fee, with so much happening in the pedigree and family.

“By winning races, and with what’s happening around her, she’s becoming an increasingly valuable mare.”

Star In The Sky was strapped by Hollie Smith. 

Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz