Time for Serious Business

Continuing her impeccable form, It’s Business Time (5 m Turn Me Loose – Risque Business, by Volksraad) made it six wins from her last seven starts in the $50,000 Coupland’s Bakeries Mile Trial (1400m) on Saturday at Riccarton. 

In the Windsor Park Stud colours, It’s Business Time resumed with a three-length victory in the Rating 75 1200 metres on 2 September at Riccarton, emulated when distancing her rivals in the corresponding event on 30 September, and immediately made the transition to an Open Handicap.

Allowed to find her feet midfield in the early rush for positions, It’s Business Time tracked clear under jockey Sam Weatherley inside the 300m and justified hot favouritism ($1.60) with a strong finish to beat second favourite Watch Out (Highly Recommended). 

She will now take a picket fence form line to the $250,000 Coupland’s Bakeries Mile (Gr. 2, 1600m) on the middle day (Wednesday 15 November) of Cup Week at Riccarton, which Te Akau won in 2021 with Markus Aurelius (Ghibellines) and 2018 with Te Akau Shark (Rip Van Winkle). 

On footing upgraded to Good3, It’s Business Time ran 1400 metres in 1:22.3.

“It was good effort after getting shuffled back inside the 600m and she hit the line so strongly,” said co-trainer Mark Walker, after he and Sam Bergerson notched their 50^th win this season.

From a talented Windsor Park Stud family, It’s Business Time was passed in at the yearling sales and stud master Rodney Schick elected to race her with some friends.

She is raced by V I Curtin, M Delahunty, N D Hewson, C W McArthur, J Ormsby, S P Parham, J Peacocke, C R Scott, J & P Steele, J & R Taylor, and Windsor Park Stud. 

“We’ve had a great association with the Schick family at Windsor Park Stud, and it’s a thrill to be training this very promising mare for Rodney (Schick) and his friends,” said Te Akau principal David Ellis CNZM. 

“It’s incredible to think that after a record-breaking last season (203 wins) that the stable is slightly ahead again with 50 wins before the end of October.

“We’ve got such great team across the board at our stables in Matamata, Riccarton, Cranbourne (Victoria), and Singapore, and it’s a credit to Mark and Sam, our racing manager Reece Trumper, assistant trainer Nicole Shailer, and Hunter Durrant (managing South Island stable), that we can provide our owners with top quality people to look after the horses racing here in New Zealand.”

The third dam of It’s Business Time, Satirical (Kaapstad), left Champion Filly Star Satire (Volksraad), who was miraculously saved for breeding after breaking a leg, and she in turn left brilliant Australian filly Satin Shoes (Flying Spur) and Zarzuela (Zabeel). 

The latter, Zarzuela, was trained by Mark Walker to win the Great Northern Guineas (Gr. 2, 2100m), Waikato Guineas (Gr. 3, 2000m), and Championship Stakes (Gr. 2, 2100m), before finishing third in the NZ Oaks (Gr. 1, 2400m).

It’s Business Time was strapped by Kendyll Lee. 

Photo credit - Ajay Berry - www.raceimages.co.nz