The Colonel Salutes

Relishing the poly-track at his first encounter, Colonel Warden (3 g Russian Revolution – Moralto, by High Chaparral) donkey-licked rivals in the $17,000 Rating 60 1400 metres on 8 June at Awapuni.

Stakes' placed on debut, when producing a very good effort for third to stable-mate Discretion Rules (Alabama Express) in the Listed Champagne Stakes over 1200m, Colonel Warden justified favouritism with a valiant performance to clear Maidens in December at Rotorua.

Last time out, he met a check and finished back on Heavy10 footing in the Rating 65 1215 metres on 10 May at Rotorua, and the stage looked set for him to rate a top three chance if appreciative of the synthetic surface.

Appreciative he certainly was, in the end winning by three and a half lengths.

Drawing barrier eight of nine, Colonel Warden was ridden positively by Ace Lawson-Carroll (a1) to situate handily, albeit three-wide, but managed to secure cover inside the 800m, and after presenting around the home bend he whistled clear with a smart piece of acceleration.

The win secured the third over the weekend for trainers Mark Walker & Sam Bergerson, following a double at Ellerslie, which took the stable to a record setting figure over $9 million in prize money for the season.

“It was a smart victory, a good, positive, ride by Ace, and it’s always terrific when we can win another for his owner Ronald Lau,” Walker said.

“Ronald has been a huge supporter of Te Akau over many years and it’s great to reward him with such a comfortable win.

“With what’s coming up in the calendar, it’s good to know he can handle the synthetic surface and the way he won should give him plenty of confidence.”

In the race sponsored by Paul Hoffman & Justin Pape, Bayleys Real Estate, Colonel Warden ran 1400 metres in 1:22.8 and paid $2.70 & $1.50 on the NZ TAB tote. 

Colonel Warden was purchased for A$170,000 by David Ellis CNZM at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, from the draft of Coolmore Stud, and previously became the seventh of what is now all eight winners that he bought at the sale - every yearling bought that year at that sale has saluted the judge.

In addition, Ellis purchased Group One winners Move To Strike (I Am Invincible) and Captured By Love (Written), along with stakes' winner and multiple stakes' placed Dream Of The Moon (All Too Hard), dual winners The Victress (Zousain) and Legally Binding (Exceedance), winner and stakes' placed Unbridled Joy (Snitzel), and recent winner Paravane (Merchant Navy). 

It reflects a remarkable strike rate, especially with the level of Group and Stakes' performers.

Colonel Warden's sire Russian Revolution was a dual Group One winning sprinter of the Oakleigh Plate (1100m) and The Galaxy (1100m). The son of Champion Sire Snitzel (Redoute’s Choice) commenced stud duties in 2018 at Newgate Farm.

Leading First & Second Season Sire in Australia, the progeny of Russian Revolution is just shy of 500 wins, including 23 stakes' wins, and his yearlings have sold to A$1.1 million. 

Colonel Warden is the first live foal from Moralto, a dual winner over 1600 metres, by High Chaparral (Sadler’s Wells). He is proving a revelation in every sense and made an incredible impact when first shuttling to Windsor Park Stud in New Zealand, and did the same in Australia.

High Chaparral was a world-class racehorse, who in turn became a high-class sire, sire of sires, and broodmare sire. 

Grand-dam Morwell, by quality sire Royal Academy, is a half-sister to stakes performers Jolly’s Folly (Bluebird), Justarella Boy (Rory’s Jester), and La Bird (Bluebird), and left seven individual winners of 19 races. 

Colonel Warden carries a cross to immortal sire Northern Dancer and blue-hen mare Special.

Colonel Warden was strapped by Rhiannon Smith. 

Photo credit - Peter Rubery - www.raceimages.co.nz