Te Akau’s big race success with Magic Millions purchases continued last Saturday when crack juvenile colt Move to Strike scored a brilliant win in the Gr1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) at Trentham.
A son of superstar Yarraman Park Stud based sire I Am Invincible, Move to Strike finished strongly in the straight to win the time-honoured feature in grand style.
Move to Strike (Bill Pinn) wins the Gr1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes at Trentham (Pic – Magic Millions)
The colt, a A$575,000 Gold Coast Yearling Sale purchase for Te Akau’s David Ellis last year, proved a length too good for Red Sea, while fellow Gold Coast purchase Captured By Love was a half-length further afield.
The first and third placegetters are trained by Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson, who, while being on both sides of the Tasman, were delighted with the performances.
“We’ve always thought the world of him as he has always been a very lovely horse,” Bergerson said.
“He paraded lovely today, and Bill Pinn was very patient on him as we thought we would have to be neutral in midfield early on with his wider barrier draw.”
“He was very good late and although he did have that blip with his heart at Matamata, we were really happy with him since as he is a top-quality colt.”
“We had run an ECG test and given him a slow build up before trialling him after that issue. Opie Bosson rode him and gave him the tick of approval and his trackwork on Tuesday was top notch.”
“We were going in quietly confident although respectful of the other runners, but he is a very good colt and he showed that today.”
Winning rider Wiremu Pinn predicted bigger race wins from the colt into his three-year-old season.
“He travelled really well, but he doesn’t breathe that well, so I just wanted to keep him relaxed,” Pinn noted.
“He has a great turn of foot and is a superstar I think, and next time in I think he can win Group One after Group One as he has such a good attitude and an electric turn of foot.”
“I would like to thank Te Akau Racing for the opportunities they are giving me and after missing most of the major racing through being suspended I’m just relieved to get it done today,” Pinn added.
Move to Strike is one of two stakes performers produced by the Group winning Shamardal mare No Evidence Needed.
No Evidence Needed won a Group Two Let’s Elope Stakes and Group Three Southern Cross Stakes as well as running second in the Group One Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes.
The dam of six winners, No Evidence Needed is also the dam of the Group Two placed and A$480,000 earner Discharged.
Move to Strike provided the third leg of an impressive trio of wins on the day for juveniles purchased from the Baramul Stud draft at the 2023 Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Espionage, a A$1 million buy for James Harron’s Colt Partnership, cruised to victory in the Group Three Kindergarten Stakes, while Bevan Laming’s exciting two-year-old Gin a Tonic made it two from two with a strong on speed win at Eagle Farm.
- Winner: Move to Strike
- Breeding: I Am Invincible-No Evidence Needed (Shamardal)
- Race: Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes Gr1 (1400m)
- Sold for: A$575,000
- Sale: 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale
- Earnings: NZ$340,250
- Breeder: Mr G Harvey
- Vendor: Baramul Stud
- Buyer: DC Ellis
- Owners: Te Akau 2023 Stallion Breeding Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM)
- Trainer: Mark Walker & Sam Bergerson (Matamata)
