The winning roll of the Te Akau Racing team continued unabated when former European galloper I’m A Dirty Rascal (Galileo) produced an eye-catching Gr.3 Martin Collins New Zealand Cup (3200m) trial when taking out the NZB Airfreight Road To Jericho (3000m) at Riccarton.
Te Akau Racing trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson had large teams racing at both New Zealand venues with I’m A Dirty Rascal’s win their fifth combined victory on the day.
Having just his sixth run in New Zealand since joining the stable last year following eight in the United Kingdom and Ireland and another 14 in Australia, I’m A Dirty Rascal showed the further the distance the better he will be as he relished the 3000m trip on Saturday.
Rider Opie Bosson had his mount ideally placed in midfield on the rail as tearaway pacemaker Malfy Rosa set up a solid clip out in front.
Off the rail with 700m to run, I’m A Dirty Rascal was bolting on the home bend and once he hit the front at the 200m he always looked the winner despite a brave fight from Cambridge visitor Tempest Moon (NZ) (Turn Me Loose) who stuck doggedly to be beaten by just a neck with Star Ballot (NZ) (Tarzino) finishing gamely for third.
“It’s really good to see him back in the winner’s circle,” Walker said. “It had been 1573 days since his only win, but he still remembered how to get the job done, so congratulations to the horse.
“We bought him with the idea of having a Cups horse and he was actually really unlucky in the Auckland Cup (Gr.2, 3200m), earlier this year, when he was coming into it.
“It was really good to get that confidence-building win today, and his next start will be the New Zealand Cup, where we expect him to run out the trip very strongly.”
Purchased by David Ellis CNZM for $95,000 at the 2024 Inglis Digital Online November sale, I’m A Dirty Rascal won over 2500 metres in Ireland, where he also finished second in the Down Royal Ulster Derby (2551m) and fourth in the Gr.1 Irish St Leger (2816m). He also finished fourth in the Listed Christmas Cup (2400m) at Rosehill prior to his sale to New Zealand.
TAB Bookmakers reacted swiftly as they installed I’m A Dirty Rascal as the $6 Fixed Odds favourite for the New Zealand Cup which will be run at Riccarton on 15 November.
The victory, just the second of his 28-start career, has taken his prizemoney earnings over the $223,000 mark.
Te Akau Racing added another win to their tally when Origin Of Love (Snitzel) claimed the Gr.3 War Decree Stakes (1600m) at Riccarton just one race after the win of I’m A Dirty Rascal.