Te Akau: Burgundy Brilliant

Date: 31 Mar 2013

Te Akau: Burgundy Brilliant

 

Fifth black tyype race today for Burgundy - courage and heart.

Although appearing vulnerable when taken on in front, Burgundy (4 h Redoute's Choice - Grand Echezeaux, by Zabeel) proved too good in the Fairdale/ Goodwood Studs Flying Handicap (Listed, 1400m) on Easter Saturday at Awapuni.

First out of the blocks, as per the norm, Burgundy was given no peace in front, but when push came to shove in the straight he was superior in defeating I Do (No Excuse Needed) and Special Draw (Falkirk).

Te Akau trainer Jason Bridgman had felt prior to the race that 1400 metres could be his ‘pet trip' and he had the horse fit and well for the assignment.

“He jumped so well, there was no one there [in front], and I thought it was a good ride by Matthew (Cameron) in that he let the horse settle into his own tempo. He was taken on the whole way and it was a really gutsy effort. He shows terrific fighting qualities and he has a real will to win.

Third in the Telegraph Handicap (Gr. 1, 1200m) at his previous start, Burgundy has included a Group Three win in the Windsor Park Breeders' Stakes (1200m) and four listed race wins in his tally of seven from only twelve starts.

Recording his fifth stakes victory, the entire bred by Pencarrow Stud and purchased as a yearling for $1.3 million by Te Akau principal David Ellis, Burgundy had indicated while training that he was in the right fettle to resume from a 70-day break.

Following his season opening win in the Levin Stakes (Listed, 1200m) on Nov. 30 at Otaki, Ellis had said of the owners in the Te Akau 2010 Breeding Syndicate: “Burgundy is owned by the greatest group of people that we have ever had at Te Akau racing stables and I'd like to thank them for their patience, and the excitement of racing a colt like this is hard to believe”.

With wins on the day by Burgundy, and a race later by Better than Ever (French Deputy), Ellis was in triumphant form.

“These wins have capped off a phenomenal twenty-four hours of racing for Te Akau,” said Ellis. “We've won five races - three in Singapore, and two stakes races in New Zealand - and it's just so hard to achieve these sorts of results.

“Mark Walker has now gone eight clear in the premiership for us in Singapore, and that's just unbelievable for someone who has only been there two years.

“Today we have again seen Burgundy as his best. He gave a Group One winner [Choice Bro] three and a half kilos and to see him pin his ears back and show all the courage and tenacity to fight off challengers was just a marvellous achievement. It just showed what bravery this horse has got.

“Jason (Bridgman) had done a great job freshening-up the horse to go 1400 metres first up and that in itself was a phenomenal achievement. And, to do it on the same day that his three-quarter brother Darci Brahma sired the winner [Recite] of the Group One Sires' Produce highlights what fantastic breeders Peter and Philip Vela (Pencarrow Stud) are. Results like this must be such a buzz for them.

“I also bought Darci Brahma as a yearling and after winning five Group One races and $1.3 million he has gone on to sire an Oaks' winner, Sires' Produce, a Group One weight-for-age performer and he's doing it at all levels. Don't forget it was only three weeks ago that the filly Recite won the Matamata Breeders' Stakes. It's just an unbelievable family.

The dam of Burgundy and Darci Brahma, Grand Echezeaux, was an Australasian Oaks (Gr. 1, 2000m) winner of $540,700 in a career of four wins from fourteen starts and a three-quarter sister to Hong Kong International Cup winner Romanee Conti (Sir Tristram), who in turn is the dam of Queensland Oaks, Melbourne and Caulfield Cup winner Ethereal (Rhythm).

Bridgman said he would have discussions with David Ellis and Mark Walker regarding plans for Burgundy once the horse had returned home to the stables at Matamata.

BURGUNDYAWAPUNI

Back

Sign up to our newsletter