Winner: Troublemaker Behaves Herself

Belying her name, Trouble Maker (3 f Redwood – Always In Trouble, by Lope de Vega) produced a stylish victory in the $17,000 PGG Wrightson Maiden 2YO & Up 1600 metres on 14 June at Matamata.

“She’s been pretty hard work at home, to be honest, but we put the visor blinkers on, rode her differently, and it’s a pleasant surprise to see her win so well,” said assistant trainer Reece Trumper.

“The owners have been very patient. She was ready to go as a two-year-old, but we left her alone, and although things hadn’t gone to plan in her first three starts, the changes we made with her gear and the way we’ve ridden her today has paid off.

“Congratulations to all the owners, we’ve got loyal Te Akau owners Paddy and Jane Magill here with us today, and although they were a bit shocked by the turnaround, they’re also delighted with the win.

“The Soft7 track conditions certainly seemed ideal for her and she’s a filly that should stretch out in distance, too.”

Ridden by Craig Grylls, who made it back-to-back wins for the stable after taking out the previous race aboard Dare To Proisir (Proisir), Trouble Maker was snagged back from barrier 11 to settle tenth, but progressed ominously into proceedings rounding the home turn and kept on drawing clear of her rivals after reaching the lead a furlong out.

“She put them away pretty nicely,” Grylls said. “I think riding her a bit colder could be the way forward with her. 

"The blinkers definitely helped, kept her more focused and straight, and the patience that the Te Akau team has shown has paid off.”

Scoring by two and a half lengths, Trouble Maker ran 1600 metres in 1:40.3, last 600m in 37.4 (approx.), and paid $9.10 & $3.20 on the NZ TAB tote.

“She’d been gaining experience and it was a really good win today,” said Mark Walker, training partner with Sam Bergerson. 

“She was well named because she’s been giving us quite a bit of trouble in track work and just with her general temperament, so well done to all the staff and our worldclass that have preserved with her.

“She’s been highly strung, but with racing and a bit more maturity she’s improving and I think the addition of blinkers has really helped her as well. 

“The manner in which she won so dominantly suggests she’ll take plenty out of it and we can look forward to her continuing to develop and progress through the grades. 

“I’d like to thank the owners for their patience with this filly, who definitely has ability, and it’s been a very satisfying win.” 

Owned by the Te Akau Double The Trouble Racing Partnership (Mgr: Lady Karyn Ellis MNZM), Trouble Maker was purchased by Sir David Ellis for $75,000 at the 2024 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale, from the draft of Westbury Stud.

Trouble Maker is by Group One winner and solid stallion influence Redwood (High Chaparral), standing at Westbury Stud, the sire of triple Group One winner Sharp ‘N’ Smart: Spring Champion Stakes (Gr. 1, 2000m), NZ Derby (Gr. 1, 2400m), and Herbie Dyke Stakes (Gr. 1, 2400m), and New Zealand Horse of the Year as a three-year-old.

Dam Always In Trouble is by dual Hemisphere sire sensation Lope de Vega (Shamardal). 

Pegged as the type to get over ground, Ellis said: “She is a staying type filly with a terrific international pedigree of stakes winners further down the page. 

“The third dam Corridora Slew is a three-quarter brother to an incredible racehorse and US Horse of the Year Cigar.

“The dam sire Lope de Vega is by Shamardal, a sensational sire influence, especially on the dam side, and he sired the dam of Imperatriz, who won 10 Group One races for us.”

Trouble Maker was strapped by Sarah West. 

Photo credit - Kenton Wright - www.raceimages.co.nz