The Tangerine Army Is All Go

The Tangerine Army has a big week ahead, with Pick Up Artist, No Curfew and Out Of The Blue giving their owners three horses to follow across five days.

All three were selected and purchased by Sir David Ellis at Karaka and are trained by Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson, with a debut at Te Rapa, a maiden assignment at Te Aroha and a return to Riccarton for New Zealand Cup Week on the programme.

With shares offered from one per cent, the Tangerine Army was established to give younger people and first-time owners an accessible introduction to racehorse ownership. Building on earlier syndicates that enjoyed success with Group 1 winner On The Bubbles and multiple stakes winner Wild Night, the initiative brings together people keen to share the excitement of racing and the friendships that come with it.

“It has been great to see younger people and first-time owners become involved, follow their horses through the stable and share the excitement of raceday together,” said Julia-Rose Hayes.

“I have made some wonderful friendships through racing, and I wanted more people to have the opportunity to experience that. For me, that is what the game is about.”

The week begins with Pick Up Artist (2 g Trapeze Artist – Pickup The Pieces), purchased by Sir David for $145,000 from Woburn Farm at the 2026 Karaka Book 2 Sale. The son of four-time Group 1 winner Trapeze Artist is out of a three-time winning daughter of Bel Esprit.

Known as Chippies around the stable, he prepared for his debut with an encouraging second over 800 metres at the Avondale trials on 29 October. Ridden by Opie Bosson, he finished a long neck behind the winner in his first public appearance. Matthew Cameron takes the ride from barrier three in the $40,000 two-year-old race over 1100 metres at Te Rapa on Saturday 7 November, with the opening race scheduled for 12:53 p.m.

No Curfew (3 g Vanbrugh – Supreme) brings a particularly special family connection. He is the full brother to Wild Night, winner of the Group 2 Sarten Memorial and Listed Uncle Remus Stakes, and third behind Sharp ‘N’ Smart and stablemate Campionessa in the Group 1 Herbie Dyke Stakes.

Sir David purchased No Curfew for $100,000 from Windsor Park Stud at the 2025 Karaka Book 1 Sale, and he races for the Te Akau Wild Times Racing Partnership.

“We love this Windsor Park Stud family, and Wild Night has given us some wonderful memories,” Julia-Rose said. “When we saw No Curfew at Karaka, we felt we had to secure him. Having his full brother coming through makes following his progress particularly special, and we hope he can give his owners plenty to enjoy.”

The gelding, known as Van, has made a promising start to his career. He finished second on debut over 1200 metres at Matamata on 16 September, before stepping up to 1400 metres on the same course on 3 October and finishing third, just 0.7 lengths from the winner. He is nominated for the $18,500 Maiden 1400 metres at Te Aroha on Tuesday 10 November.

Completing the trio is Out Of The Blue (3 g Tivaci – Cornflower Blue), the original Tangerine Army horse. Purchased by Sir David for $60,000 from Waikato Stud at the 2025 Karaka Book 1 Sale, he is out of a mare well known to Te Akau. Cornflower Blue won the Group 3 Barneswood Farm Stakes and finished third in the Group 1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas during her racing career with the stable.

Berg, as he is known at home, gave his owners an immediate introduction to the winner’s circle, winning his first two starts over 800 metres at Riccarton last spring. He subsequently finished third in the Listed Wellesley Stakes and second in the Group 3 Matamata Slipper. His Karaka Millions 2YO appearance also produced the fastest final 600 metres of the race when he recovered from a slow start to finish seventh.

Following two early-season outings on heavy ground, he finished third in an open 1000-metre trial at Avondale on 29 October. He has now travelled to Christchurch and is nominated for the $100,000 three-year-old race over 1200 metres at Riccarton on Wednesday 11 November.

Alongside the racing, the opportunity to bring owners together remains central to the syndicates’ appeal.

“Having three horses stepping out in one week gives everyone plenty to look forward to,” Julia-Rose said. “The excitement starts well before raceday, with the updates, the conversations and the plans to get together. We want younger people to feel welcome, become involved and enjoy everything that comes with owning a horse.”

There is also plenty to look forward to over summer, with plans to bring the syndicates together for a twilight celebration at the TAB Karaka Millions at Ellerslie on Saturday 23 January 2027.

“We are looking forward to getting everyone together again at Karaka Millions and celebrating the horses and the friendships that have come through them,” Julia-Rose said.

“We have enjoyed some wonderful moments on and off the track, and I hope we can continue to build on that. Bringing more young people into racing, and giving them a group to enjoy it with, is something I would love to see grow.”

Best of luck to all the owners of Pick Up Artist, No Curfew and Out Of The Blue for the week ahead!