Reigning premiership winners Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson will watch Ruakaka closely on Saturday despite sending only one runner to the Northland course.
The Te Akau Racing team will be represented by Age Of Discovery in the Accurate Books (1100m) at Rating 75 level.
Age Of Discovery was a $625,000 yearling purchase by David Ellis at Karaka 2023, and he looked like living right up to that price tag with super-impressive wins in the first two starts of his career at Riccarton last September. He was at one stage the $8 second favourite behind Savaglee in fixed-odds betting for the Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m).
However, the classy son of Savabeel was ruled out of that November classic because of a setback and ended up making only one other appearance in his three-year-old season.
Now Walker and Bergerson are keen to see what Age Of Discovery can do as a four-year-old. He has had two trials to prepare for Saturday’s raceday return, running second at Avondale on July 22 before scoring a victory over Tuxedo and Moonlight Magic at Taupo on August 4.
“He was a pretty exciting prospect as a three-year-old last spring,” Bergerson said. “He went down south early in the season for the better ground down there, and he settled in well and seemed to be right on track for the Guineas before going amiss.
“We brought him back and tried to get him going again in the autumn, but it just never really worked out.
“He’s coming back up again now after being gelded. He’s impressed us in a couple of trials and it’s time to find out if he can bring his best form to raceday again.
“He’s showing us all the right signs this time in. His trackwork was really good on Tuesday morning and we’ve been happy with those trials – especially the one he won at Taupo. Opie (Bosson) is going up there to ride him and knows the horse well. We’re looking forward to seeing what he can do.”
Walker and Bergerson will also feature in Saturday’s other meeting at New Plymouth, where Vickezzlastcall will contest the United Steel (1800m) for horses that were maidens at midnight on May 25.
A half-sister to Te Akau’s Group Two winner Aromatic, Vickezzlastcall scored her maiden victory at Tauranga on July 6 before a last-start ninth at Te Rapa three weeks later.
“She’s just taken a bit of time,” Bergerson said. “She was a bit immature early on. We’re grateful to the Milan Park team for their patience.
“Her maiden win was really good. She was a bit disappointing at Te Rapa after that, but 1800m should suit her on Saturday and hopefully she’ll handle the track. We’re hopeful that she can bounce back.”
Te Akau busiest day of the weekend is at Taupo on Sunday, where their five runners include To Bravery Born in the Poverty Bay Turf Club 3YO (1100m) and In Haste in the Taupo Pak ‘N’ Save 3YO (1100m).
To Bravery Born won his first two starts at Wanganui and Ellerslie, then finished fourth in the Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m), third in the Gr.3 Matamata Slipper (1200m) and 10th in the Gr.1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m).
“He won the very first two-year-old race of the season and was one of our top seeds for the Karaka Millions, where he ran really well,” Bergerson said. “He performed against all the big guns as a two-year-old. It’s exciting to see him back at three now and hopefully he can take that next step.
“This looks like a nice starting point in terms of getting him back to Wanganui for the Wanganui Guineas (1200m) in a couple of weeks’ time. That’s where he kicked off his career as a two-year-old last season. We know he can get through wet ground.”
In Haste, who races in the colours of part-owners the TAB Racing Club, finished second and first in her only two appearances as a two-year-old.
“She’s shown us plenty of ability,” Bergerson said. “She’s a really sharp, speedy filly.
“She was on track for the Matamata Breeders’ Stakes (Gr.2, 1200m), where we thought she’d be a good chance, but just had a bit of a setback leading into the race. She went out for a really good break and has come back with two nice trials.
“This has obviously come up a strong field, so it’ll give us a good line on her. We’re happy with her progress, although she’ll come on with this run. She still looks a bit wintry and woolly.”
Te Akau also has five entries for Sunday’s Group and Listed trials at Taupo, including last season’s Gr.1 Thorndon Mile (1600m), Otaki-Maori WFA Classic (1600m) and Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes (2000m) placegetter Qali Al Farrasha.
“We’re very happy with her,” Bergerson said. “She had a nice first trial at Taupo and will go back there on Sunday for a bit more of a hitout.
“We were thrilled with her four-year-old season, where she ran such great races without quite picking up that Group One win.
“She’s building well and we’re excited for her new campaign. She’s showing positive signs. Hopefully she can trial well and then head towards the Proisir Plate (Gr.1, 1400m) at Ellerslie.”