Fierce Flight kicks off a busy weekend for Te Akau
Fierce Flight kicked off what Te Akau Racing is hoping to be a lucrative weekend for the trans-Tasman operation when winning the Te Aroha Maiden Hurdle (3100m) on Friday.
The Flying Artie gelding won six races on the flat, including the Listed Hawke’s Bay Cup (2200m), and placed in the Gr.3 Wellington Cup (3200m), Gr.3 Manawatu Cup (2300m) and Listed New Zealand St Leger (2600m), before transitioning to a jumping career two months ago.
The Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson-trained gelding showed plenty of promise in his three prior starts over hurdles, placing in his opening two efforts at Te Rapa and Te Aroha before running sixth at Hawera last month.
Punters showed their support for the seven-year-old gelding on the opening day of the Great New Zealand Carnival at Te Aroha when backing him into a dominant $2.50 favourite, and he performed accordingly, running out a 2-1/4 length victor in the hands of Jay Kozaczek.
“He came into the race like the best horse in the race,” Kozaczek said. “I rode him before and I probably made a few mistakes on him, but luckily they kept me on him and he proved today that he can win.”
The stable is hoping to take that winning momentum into the weekend where they have runners on both sides of the Tasman.
In Melbourne, Damask Rose will have her first tilt at elite-level when she contests the Gr.1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield.
The daughter of Savabeel had a standout three-year-old season, winning three of her five starts, including the inaugural $3.5 million NZB Kiwi (1500m) and $1.5 million Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m).
She returned as a four-year-old to run fifth first-up in the Gr.3 Cockram Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield last month, pleasing trainer Mark Walker.
While pleased with that effort and her progression since then, Walker said she will have her work cut out to overcome her outside draw of 17 in Saturday’s feature.
“We were really happy with her first-up run, but you are just going to need luck from the draw,” he said. “Hopefully you can get on the back of a couple of the other favourites, who have drawn out.”
Back in New Zealand, the stable is looking forward to the debut of regally-bred filly Avantaggia in the Join TAB Racing Club 1200.
The Wootton Bassett three-year-old holds strong sentimental value to the stable, being out of their former multiple Group One winner Avantage.
Te Akau Racing principal David Ellis purchased her out of Coolmore’s 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale for A$2.1 million, and she has shown a lot of promise to date, winning her last three trials.
While pleased with what she has shown to date, Walker, who trains in New Zealand in partnership with Sam Bergerson, is holding reserved expectations after she drew barrier 10.
“She has done nothing wrong so far, but we will just have to see how we go,” Walker said. “It is a bit of an awkward draw and she will be better once she gets over more ground.”
The stable will line-up nine other runners on the 10-race card and Walker is particularly upbeat about the chances of Group One winner Captured By Love who will make her first appearance of the season in the Eagle Technology 1400.
The four-year-old daughter of Written Tycoon has won both of her lead-in trials and Walker is excited to see what she can do first-up, with Group One targets in the offing later this year.
“I think Captured By Love will be our best chance at Ellerslie tomorrow,” Walker said. “She seems to be really good and I am looking forward to seeing what she can do tomorrow.
“She may head to a race like the Captain Cook (Gr.1 TAB Mufhasa Classic, 1600m), the triple crown just came up a bit soon.”–
