Very Brave Indeed

13 January, 2025

Very Brave Indeed


To Bravery Born (2 c Snitzel – Milunka, by All Too Hard) gained entry into the Karaka Million 2YO with a strong victory in the $45,000 Trackside.co.nz 2YO 1200 metres on 12 January at Ellerslie.

Displaying a good turn of foot to win by two lengths in his sole start over 800 metres in August 2024 at Wanganui, the first two-year-old race of the season, To Bravery Born went into the assignment without a recent trial but had an exhibition gallop with year older stable-mate and Group One winner Move To Strike on 2 January at Tauranga.

Rating a top three chance, To Bravery Born was easy from gate six to trail the field of seven, picked up the bit when six lengths back approaching the 600m, quickly ascended on the outside of runners to lead at the 200m and drew out to win handsomely for jockey Craig Grylls.

Stable-mate Dare To Proisir (Proisir), ridden by Vinnie Colgan, also ran a top race when coming from back in the field with a strong finish to miss second by a whisker. 

On footing that upgraded after the race to Good4, To Bravery Born ran 1200 metres in 1:12.2, last 600m in 34.8 (approx.) and drifted in betting to pay $5.30 & $2.60 on the NZ TAB tote. 

For trainer Mark Walker & Sam Bergerson, To Bravery Born increasing his prize money to $40,000 (approx.) gives the stable a second runner, alongside filly La Dorada (Super Seth) with $64,625 in the Order of Entry for the $1 million TAB Karaka Million 2YO (Restricted Listed, 1200m) on Saturday 25 January at Ellerslie.

Te Akau has an unrivalled record in the race, winning seven times in succession, started by Champion Two-Year-Old, subsequent 14-time Group One winner, and dual Horse of the Year Melody Belle (Commands) in 2017, most recently by Champion Two-Year-Old Tokyo Tycoon (Satono Aladdin) in 2023, along with Champion Two-Year-Olds Avantage (Fastnet Rock) and Cool Aza Beel (Savabeel) and Horse of the Year Probabeel. 

“It was a really good effort to win the way he did today,” Walker said.

“He relaxed beautifully in the running and great to see him get around the course at Ellerslie so well.

“He was bred by Greg Tomlinson (Nearco Stud), who remained in the ownership, and Greg’s a very good breeder from a select band of broodmares.

“We’ve had a lot of luck buying horses from his breeding operation at Nearco Stud. Distinctive Darci springs to mind and with Dave (Ellis) they owned and bred from Mexican Rose which led to Nucleonic and in turn Nucleozor and Qali Al Farrasha.

“Dave bought To Bravery Born for $200,000 which is great value for a Snitzel colt and he’s now got his ticket in the Karaka Million.

“He’s certainly going the right way to be able to win like he did, coming from last, and we feel there’s improvement to come from him, also.”

From a dam line with which Te Akau has had plenty of success, To Bravery Born was purchased by David Ellis CNZM for $200,000 at the Karaka 2024 Book 1 Sale, from the draft of Curraghmore Stud, and owned by Te Akau Secret Identity Racing Partnership (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM).

By the four-time Champion Sire in Australia, Snitzel (Redoute’s Choice), who was also the Leading Sire of Two-Year-Olds four times, the dam of To Bravery Born, dual winner Milunka, is by proven sire All Too Hard (Casino Prince), a half-brother to unbeaten Black Caviar (Bel Esprit) and sire of Queensland Horse of the Year and seven-time Group One winner Alligator Blood.

The illustrious dam side of the family is very well known by Te Akau, through the outstanding deeds of his grand-dam Distinctive Lass (Orientate).

At the time of purchase, Ellis said: “We love buying from this family, we've had had plenty of success with it, and to buy a Snitzel colt with this sort of pedigree for that price is quite incredible.

“There are a lot of similarities to other family members we have bought and trained, and it’s just an incredible family of horses that love racing and winning.”

From the same draft (Curraghmore Stud), Ellis purchased Group 1 NZ 1000 Guineas' winner Kahma Lass (Darci Brahma), a subsequent stakes' winner at Caulfield; Wairau Cove (Darci Brahma) the stakes' placed winner of three, and big winner Distinctive Darci (Darci Brahma). 

A smart four-length trial winner on debut at Te Aroha, Distinctive Darci transferred to Te Akau's Singapore stable, winning 11 races, including a Group 2, winning over NZ$1 million in prize money. 

His dam Milunka is also a half-sister to Kuro (Denman), winner of five stakes' races in a total of eight wins, and Southern Lad (Ocean Park) who also won seven in Australia while overall, Distinctive Lass has produced eight individual winners of 36 races. 

In addition, Ellis purchased five-time Group One winner and Champion Sire Darci Brahma (Danehill) as a yearling at Karaka, and the mating with Distinctive Lass has worked extraordinarily well. 

Fourth dam, Special (Habituate), won 10 races including three Group 1's, all at Flemington: Group 1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m), Group 1 Lightning Stakes (1000m) and the Group 1 Gadsden Stakes (1200m). At stud, Special produced 14 foals of which 10 raced, and nine were winners.

A total of 13 stakes' winners and eight stakes'-placed performers are descendants from Sal II (Sallust), the dam of Special.

To Bravery Born carries a cross of Danehill through his sire-lines, and Snippets on the sire line of Snitzel and dam line of All Too Hard. 

To Bravery Born was strapped by Kohen Collett. 


Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz


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