Trans-Tasman Treble - A New Discovery

It was a fantastic trans Tasman Saturday for the team with two wins in New Zealand and a stakes' victory at Flemington in Melbourne.  The first win came from classy colt and debutant, Age of Discovery ...

Dual trial winner Age Of Discovery (3 c Savabeel – Bayrock, by Fastnet Rock) made a winning debut in the $25,000 Maiden 1200 metres on Saturday at Riccarton.

Age Of Discovery had won both his trials this preparation, most recently on 6 August at Te Rapa, where beginning well to contest pace, he quickened to lead and kept getting away to win easily.

Drawn barrier five in the race named Watch Trackside.co.nz, with stable rider Opie Bosson aboard, Age Of Discovery suffered buffeting in the early stages before working forward into a handy position behind the leader and it was with him, Full Moon Fever (U S Navy Flag), that he engaged in a home straight tussle before finally gaining an upper hand. 

While attempting to quicken, it appeared Age Of Discovery struggled for traction on the Soft7 ground and would likely benefit by better footing. 

“The horse on the inside (Full Moon Fever) gave him a bit of a fight, but my guy is pretty new and he was a little bit lost out there,” Bosson said. “There is a lot of improvement in him.”

Age Of Discovery ran 1200 metres in 1:11.7 on rain-affected Soft7 footing, and justified his favouritism when winning by a neck to pay $1.50 & $1.10 on the NZ TAB tote. 

Regarding the track, Bosson said: “They’re getting their toe into a bit, little bit of kick back there, but the way the weather is today it’s not going to get any better, so we’ll have to deal with what we’ve got.”

Bosson added that Age Of Discovery gave him the feel of a suitable horse for the 2000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m), for which he is nominated in November at Riccarton.

“He got stronger and stronger as he’s got into this prep, and it’s been quite awhile since he’s had his last trial. So, as I said, there’s a lot of improvement in him.”

On course, co-trainer Sam Bergerson said: “It was his first start, going up against some hardened older horses that have probably got a bit more ring craft than him, at this stage, but he’s a lovely colt and he’s only going to improve from that.

“He’s going to go from strength to strength down here and we think he’s going to be better on better ground, so hopefully onwards and upwards.”

Mark Walker, overseeing the Te Akau racing team at Flemington, said: “It was good to see him win on debut.

“He comes off a really good farm at Windsor Park Stud, and he’s just starting to mature now. He’s stronger in this prep, has a really good brain on him, and Opie (Bosson) got him into a winning position.

“Obviously it was good to see him out in public for the first time and he really put his head down and had to fight all the way to the line.

“He’s got plenty of improvement to come and we think he’s right on target for the 2000 Guineas, so hopefully there’s exciting times ahead with Age Of Discovery.”

Owned by Te Akau 2023 Karaka Stallion Breeding Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM), Age Of Discovery was purchased by David Ellis CNZM for $625,000 at the Karaka 2023 Book 1 Sale, from the draft of Windsor Park Stud.

A magnificent colt with a stallion pedigree, progeny from the mare, Bayrock, had realised over $4 million in sales history.

By eight-time Champion Sire Savabeel (Zabeel), a Cox Plate (Gr. 1, 2040m) winning three-year-old, his dam, Bayrock, is a sister to the explosive dual Group One winner and exciting young stallion Merchant Navy.

At the time of purchase, Ellis said: “He’s a ripper of a colt, by our Champion Sire Savabeel, out of a mare by Champion Sire Fastnet Rock, and reared on one of the best farms in the world at Windsor Park. 

“It’s exciting to secure colts of this quality to train at Te Akau, with the hope of making a stallion, like we have with other Savabeel sons that we’ve trained in Cool Aza Beel, Embellish, and freshman sire Noverre.

“He’s got a beautiful pedigree, a full brother to a stakes winner in Australia, Hindaam, and there’s a lot to like about this colt. 

“I believe in this family big time. He won’t be for sale for long, that’s for sure, and he’ll go very quickly.”

The colt was bred and prepared at Windsor Park Stud, drawing comment from stud master Rodney Schick: “He’s a beautiful mover and many good judges have said he cannot be faulted.

“He has a beautiful (pedigree) page, one of the nicest colts we’ve brought to the sales, Savabeel’s done such a great job, and I’m sure he’ll do it on the racetrack.

“Back when had the High Chaparral’s here (Windsor Park) we sold some really good colts by him, but this bloke is real quality and has a sought after pedigree.”

Age Of Discovery was strapped by Hunter Durrant. 

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