Winner: G1 Glory Seize The Day

Extending an incredible record in the race for Te Akau, Seize The Day (2 c I Am Invincible – Zimaretto, by Anabaa) proved a class above his rivals in the $550,000 Group 1 Courtesy Ford Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) on Saturday at Trentham.

Having won the race last year with Champion Two-Year-Old La Dorada (Super Seth), Seize The Day provided Te Akau its 10th victory in the prestigious event, including eight of the previous nine editions, and is another feather in the cap for Te Akau principal David Ellis CNZM who has either bought or bred nine of the 10 winners.

With only two Group One races each season for two-year-olds in New Zealand, Seize The Day also capped a clean sweep for the stable after Lara Antipova (Russian Revolution) dominantly won the Group 1 Sistema Stakes (1200m) on Champions Day (7 March) at Ellerslie, to record its sixth Group One double, after Maroofity (Maroof) became the first to achieve it for Te Akau in 2003. 

Seize The Day had run the fastest last 600m (34.2) for third on debut in the Maiden 2YO 1100 metres on 21 February at Ellerslie, and emulated the feat (34.6) to win the Maiden 2YO 1200 metres on 11 March at Matamata. 

Exhibiting a fine action when going through the line at Matamata, he gave the indication of a smart colt in the making, and although tacking a Group One at just his third start, and drawing wide (11), he nonetheless warranted favouritism and delivered the desired result. 

With stable rider Opie Bosson ONZM aboard, who recently recorded his 100th Group One win, Seize The Day went forward to sit outside the leader, took control at the 300m, and strode clear to score by four and a half lengths.

“I took my time to see what was going to happen, but thought I’d better get moving when three deep and decided to slide forward,” Bosson said. “He took a couple of strides to come back to me, but then he relaxed beautifully and I think it was the right idea to take the blinkers off.

“He’s a lovely big colt, has a massive stride on him, and he’s just so smooth underneath you, and makes my job easy.”

On footing that held at Soft5 throughout the meeting, Seize The Day, who opened at $41.00 in the futures market, ran 1400 metres in 1:24.0, and paid $2.80 & $1.60 on the NZ TAB tote.

“It’s a terrific race to win, especially with a colt, and a really positive ride of Opie’s to negate the wide barrier,” said Mark Walker, training partner with Sam Bergerson.

“He was a beautiful yearling when Dave (Ellis) bought him and we thought from day one in early education that he was a high-quality colt. 

“It was an emphatic win, just showing the class that he’s got and he’s only going to keep improving as he gets older.

“The staff at the Colt Barn in Matamata have done a really good job with him, and when Sam and I watched him work (Tuesday) on the course proper it made us very bullish about his chances today.

“We were concerned about the prospect of rain, but happily it didn’t come and he was able to show his best.

“He’s a colt with plenty of size and scope, the most beautiful action you’d ever see, and I think he’s got a fantastic future.”

Owned by the Te Akau 2025 Magic Colts Breeding Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM), Seize The Day was purchased by David Ellis CNZM for A$600,000 at the 2025 Gold Coast Yearling Sales, from the draft of Yarraman Park Stud.

“I’m absolutely ecstatic to see this colt win the Sires’ and win it so convincingly,” said Ellis, from the sales grounds in Sydney, ahead of the 2026 Inglis Easter Yearling Sales on 29 & 30 March. 

“He’d shown an X-factor, the stable holds him in high regard, and about three months ago our assistant trainer Reece Trumper told me he was something special.

“It’s a big thrill to have gone to the sales, buy the colt, and for him to reward the owners with a Group One win at his third start.

“He was magnificent in every way when we bought him, a beautifully put together colt with great balance and poise, very alert and eager to please, and he’s lived up to everything we were hoping for.

“When you buy horses on spec, like we do, and then syndicate them to owners, there is a lot of expectation and to see the owners on course there at Trentham, we are just delighted for them, and it's a day they’ll never forget.

“I remember when Maroofity won the Group One double for us and went on to become Champion Two-Year-Old, it was Lance O’Sullivan’s last Group One win, and now to have won eight of the last nine Sires’ is quite remarkable and a credit to all the hard-working team that we have at Te Akau.

“That win took us through the $7 million mark in prize money for the season, Mark (Walker) and Sam (Bergerson) got their 100th win for season last Saturday with Perlino (Super Seth) at Riccarton, and we’re tracking a very similar path towards the record earnings last season ($9.2 million).

“The team at the stable will be especially happy, too, because we hear a few of them backed Seize The Day at $41.00.”

Seize The Day is by triple Australian Champion Sire I Am Invincible (Invincible Spirit), also the sire of Imperatriz, whom Ellis purchased in 2020 at the Gold Coast. The winner of 10 Group One races, the most for her sire, Imperatriz was New Zealand Horse of the Year, Champion Sprinter in Australia, and World Champion Sprinter. Retired and sold in June 2024 for A$6.6 million, she became the highest priced filly or mare ever sold in the Southern Hemisphere, which increased her overall earnings to $14.5 million.

His dam Zimaretto is by Champion racehorse Anabaa (Danzig), winner of the sire making Group 1 July Cup (1200m), who sired winners of $46 million in prize money, including French Champion Three-Year-Old Goldikova, winner of 14 Group One races.

Zimaretto has proved a first-class broodmare, with Seize The Day becoming her ninth individual winner of 26 races, including three group and listed winners, and now a Group One added to her credentials.

Seize The Day has a lovely balanced cross of Danzig, the sire of Danehill, in his pedigree, on the sire-lines of both I Am Invincible and Zimaretto. 

Seize The Day was strapped by Tom Murphy. 

Photo credit - Peter Rubery - www.raceimages.co.nz