'The Elite' 2024/25 Feature Season Wrap - Captured By Love
27 June, 2025
We’re taking a look back at our unforgettable 2024/25 season with some of the most elite performers in the game - thanks to Trackside NZ's 'The Elite'. Over the coming weeks, we’ll be reliving the big wins, bold moments in the tangerine hue, and breakthrough stars that made the tangerine shine for the Walker/Bergerson training duo this season.
And where better to start than Riccarton? Let’s cast our minds back to New Zealand Cup Day 2024 - and a Group 1 triumph that reminded us why we do what we do as Captured By Love lived up to her name.
It was a day to remember in Christchurch - when Captured By Love unleashed a thrilling turn of foot to claim the $550,000 Group 1 Barneswood Farm 1000 Guineas (1600m), delivering Te Akau’s seventh win in the prestigious fillies’ mile and headlining a memorable Riccarton treble.
A star at two, Captured By Love had already won the Group 2 Wakefield Challenge Stakes, the Group 2 Matamata Breeders’ Stakes and the Group 3 Taranaki 2YO Classic, while also placing twice at Group 1 level. But this was her coming-of-age moment.
Despite an interrupted preparation - including missed lead-ups with abandonments and challenging tracks - calm heads and sharp decisions prevailed. Co-trainer Sam Bergerson opted against a searching final gallop, trusting her residual fitness and mental readiness.
That call proved critical.
Ridden by visiting Australian jockey Josh Parr, who had previously successfully teamed up with Te Akau during Cup Week 2022, Captured By Love settled mid-pack, found a dream run on the inside, and stormed past the race favourite Alabama Lass to seal a one-and-a-quarter-length win.
“She just idled up alongside her and was the stronger filly,” Parr said post-race. “I was given great confidence by Mark, Sam, Reece (Trumper) - and the whole Te Akau team has been amazing to ride for.”
Co-trainer Mark Walker praised the teamwork behind the victory: “At the top of the straight it could’ve got ugly - but Group 1 jockeys make Group 1 decisions. Big thanks to Dave (Ellis) who bought her with no owners, and to Karyn for getting the syndicate together. And full credit to Sam for backing his gut.”
Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM, accepting the trophy on behalf of the Te Akau 2023 Magic Fillies’ Breeding Syndicate, summed up what the moment meant: “She showed all the spirit and class that we knew she had. It’s such a joy to win a race like this for a loyal, passionate group of owners.”
David Ellis CNZM, who secured her at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Sale from the draft of Milburn Creek, added: “It gave me an enormous thrill - especially for the syndicate, many of whom have been with us a long time. A huge thank you to Ashlyn Lee who strapped her, our team in Matamata, and Hunter Durrant and the team at Riccarton. It was a true team effort.”
By Written Tycoon (2021 Australian Champion Sire) out of Moldova (by Snitzel), Captured By Love combines elite bloodlines with elite performance - and now boasts five wins from 10 starts and over $700,000 in earnings.
This was a Group 1 win that had it all - and as our first Group 1 for the season, one to remember - especially as te Akau also won the Group 3 NZ Cup with Mehezebeen on the same day!
Keep an eye out as we continue sharing more of our 2024/25 triumphs from 'The Elite'. The season may be over, but the highlights are just getting started.
To watch 'The Elite' New Zealand Racing season show in full, head to:
Trackside Website (NZ only) - https://trackside.co.nz/video/the-elite-202425-thoroughbred-season
YouTube (outside NZ) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NGITj26Pa6U