Te Akau TV - It's The Last Group 1 Of The NZ Racing Season!
28 March, 2025
It's the last Group 1 of the NZ Racing season and we've got a fantastic line up for you!
This week on Te Akau TV, we catch up with New Zealand co-trainer Sam Bergerson as the team is ready to step into the Group racing once again on Saturday with a powerful line-up of black type contenders.
The weekend kicks off tonight with runners at Cranbourne as Signoretti and Esternay looking to make their mark at our 'home' track in Melbourne.
All eyes will be on Trentham tomorrow as Te Akau Racing looks to continue a remarkable run in the Group 1 Courtesy Ford Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes - a race we’ve won six times in the past seven years, beginning with the mighty Melody Belle in 2017, followed by the likes of Avantage, home bred Maven Belle, On The Bubbles and last year's polished performance by Move To Strike. It is a race that holds a special place in our heart!
In this year's Group 1 event we’re very proud to have a stellar team lining up at the top level.
La Dorada heads our charge as the current favourite. The Super Seth filly was brilliant when winning both the $1 Million Karaka Millions 2YO and Group 2 Matamata Breeders’ Stakes - the first filly to ever score this double - before being scratched on race morning from the Group 1 Sistema Stakes due to a minor temperature. With that behind her, she’s bounced back beautifully and has had two exhibition gallops to keep her on track and will be one of our quartet to watch on the day.
Joining her is the exciting I Am Invincible colt Hostility, a record-breaking $1.65 Million Ready to Run purchase - he ran a brave second on debut and while this is a step up in class, he has undoubted talent and will be an exciting 3YO in the season ahead. Another with strong form credentials is Born To Be Royal, who placed behind La Dorada in the Matamata Breeders’ and has been kept fresh with this race in mind. Completing our quartet is two-time winner To Bravery Born, who was third in the Group 2 Matamata Slipper and fourth in the Karaka Millions 2YO. He too has been kept fresh for this assignment.
Te Akau will also be represented across each of the other three stakes' races on Saturday’s Trentham card.
In the Group 2 Higgins Concrete Manawatu Classic, we see classy filly Shockabella who has drawn the ace. while it's a stable duo contesting the Group 2 City Of Palmerston North Awapuni Gold Cup. What You Wish For was bold when winning the Listed Kaimai Stakes two starts back. Joining him is seasoned campaigner Midnight Blue, who has been knocking on the door in recent Cups' races. He is thriving in his New Zealand surroundings, and a clear run in transit should see him competitive again, particularly with the weight relief under the set weights and penalties scale.
Talisker rounds out our Trentham black type runners lining up in the Listed Flying Handicap, the last race of the day. He drops to a visor blinker and looks a genuine lightweight contender on his day.
Apart from Trentham, the team will also race at Te Aroha, where our team looks to keep the domestic momentum rolling.
Across the Tasman, our ultra-consistent filly Sans Doute heads to Flemington to defend her for Listed Bob Hoysted Handicap crown. She’s been freshened and returns to her favourite straight track in search of more Australian black type.
Tauranga with a sole runner will round out the weekend's racing.
Looking ahead to next week, we’ll be back in action at Ellerslie and Wanganui, and we’re pleased to be able to see our team trial over two days at Ellerslie. There is a ton of talent waiting in the wings!
Thank you as always for your ongoing support - we’ll see you on course or cheering from afar!
GO THE TANGERINE!