Te Akau Horses on Exhibition

Champion Trainers Te Akau's  Mark Walker & Sam Bergerson gave two quality horses an exhibition gallop between races on 14 October at Tauranga - while Group 3 Cambridge Breeders’ Stakes (1200m) winner Drops Of God (4 m Hello Youmzain – Distinctive Lass, by Orientate) continued her preparation to resume with a smart exhibition gallop last Saturday at Ellerslie.

Both Day One (4 g Wootton Bassett – Eleonora, by Makfi) and System Of Play (3 c Ole Kirk – Statuesquely, by Medaglia d’Oro) resumed with victory on 19 September at Ellerslie, and the exhibition served as an ideal precursor to their next assignments. 

Working together over 1000 metres, Day One, with Craig Grylls aboard, went on the inside of System Of Play, ridden by Michael McNab, clocking 1000m in 59.2, 800m in 46.3, and last 600m in 34.2, on Soft5 footing.

The pair remained on terms throughout and both pleased in their performance.

On dismounting in the birdcage, Grylls (Day One) said: “It was a nice piece of work. We worked into it from the 1000m and hit our straps at the top of the straight. He worked very strongly to the line.

“He came through his first-up run in good order, the track is good, and he stretched out nicely. He’s progressed.”

McNab (System Of Play) said: “He’s got a great brain, but so casual, I had to click him up to work alongside. 

“I’m rapt with him. I think he’s come on since his first-up win, which feels like it’s really switched him on to his job, and it was a good, sharp, piece of work.”

Unbeaten in two starts, System Of Play is current fixed odds favourite ($4.00) in the TAB Futures market for the $700,000 Group 1 Al Basti Equiworld NZ 2000 Guineas (1600m) on Saturday 14 November at Riccarton, with his lead-up run scheduled in the $150,000 Group 2 James & Annie Sarten Memorial (1400m) on Monday 26 October at Te Rapa.

Owned by Te Akau Brickonian Racing Partnership (Mgr: Lady Karyn Ellis MNZM), System Of Play was purchased by Sir David Ellis for $480,000 at the New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale, from the draft of Ohukia Lodge.

Day One, winner of two from four, is in training for breeder and owner JML Bloodstock (Mgr: Lib Petagna), who owns Elsdon Park, Matamata, and whose bloodstock manager is Bruce Perry. 

Day One is scheduled to contes either the $55,000 Rating 75 1400 metres on Saturday 24 October at Ellerslie, or the $40,000 Rating 75 1500 metres on Monday 26 October at Te Rapa.

Group 3 winner Drops Of God (4 m Hello Youmzain – Distinctive Lass, by Orientate) continued her preparation to resume with a smart exhibition gallop on Saturday at Ellerslie.

Ridden by Craig Grylls, working near the rail on Soft5 footing, Drops Of God ran 1000m in 57.5, 800m in 44.0, and last 600m in 32.8.

A highly talented mare, with a record to match, she flowed over the ground and ran great sectionals in the process.

An impressive winner of her first two starts, Drops Of God finished third in the Group 3 Almanzor Trophy (1200m), won by subsequent Group 1 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) winning stable-mate Belle Cheval (Savabeel), and made it three wins from four starts with a brilliant front-running display in the Group 3 Cambridge Breeders’ Stakes (1200m), April at Te Rapa.

Spelled thereafter, she drew out to effortlessly win a Group and Listed trial on 16 August at Taupo, and showed her versatility when finishing strongly down the outside for second in a trial on 15 September at Ellerslie.

She is set to resume in the $65,000 Open Handicap 1200 metres on Saturday (24 Oct.) at Ellerslie. 

In the colours of Nearco Stud, Drops Of God was bred by Greg Tomlinson (Nearco Stud) and owned by him with Raptors Thoroughbreds. 

She is from an illustrious family including Te Akau purchased and trained half-sister and Group 1 NZ 1000 Guineas (1600m) winner Kahma Lass (Darci Brahma).

The family is very well known to Te Akau, through the deeds of Kahma Lass (Darci Brahma), Wairau Cove (Darci Brahma), and Distinctive Darci (Darci Brahma).

Main picture - Day One & System of Play - Kenton Wright - www.raceimages.co.nz