Te Akau Racing are hoping they can whet their appetite for Group racing at Trentham on Saturday with a couple of entrees at New Plymouth and Riccarton earlier in the week.
New Zealand’s leading stable will take three runners to New Plymouth’s Thursday meeting where former top juvenile Fellini and Stella Splendida will be looking to return to winning form in the Bunnings New Plymouth LTD 1200.
Fellini, a placegetter in last year’s Karaka Million 2YO (1200m), is fresh-up and readied for his mid-week assignment with three trials, while Stella Splendida is second-up following an unplaced effort over 1000m at Tauherenikau last month.
“They are both talented enough on their day and meet a very winnable race, it is down to five runners now,” Bergerson said.
“It will be good to see them run well and get a bit of confidence and we can make some more serious plans from there.”
More Than Ready filly Mitre Peak is set to make her debut in the Taranaki Associated Cleaners 3YO (1100m) and Bergerson is looking forward to getting a line on the Fortuna Syndicate-raced filly.
“She showed us a little bit early on but has just taken a little bit of time, and she will probably benefit from the run,” Bergerson said.
“She has drawn a nice enough alley (5). There aren’t very many 1000 or 1100m maidens, so it looks like a nice race to kick her off in.
“We can then make a plan following tomorrow’s run.”
Looking ahead to Riccarton on Friday, in-form mare Elegant Lady will lead the stable’s southern charge in the Probuild Scaffolding Rating 75 (2100m).
The daughter of Highly Recommended strung together three runner-up results before winning over 2000m at Riccarton last month, and Bergerson is hoping for a repeat performance this week.
“Elegant Lady looks really well placed,” he said. “She is coming off a last start win and has gone the right way since.”
Bergerson is also excited about the prospects of Sorcha in the RJ Begg Oral Surgery Rating 75 (1400m).
“I really like Sorcha, she strung together two impressive runs on the synthetic back a couple of months ago, and I thought her run on Cup Day was really good,” he said.
“It is a massive drop in class and she is another one Hunter (Durrant, Riccarton stable foreman) is really pleased with.”
Te Akau will have five representatives at Riccarton, with leading northern hoop Warren Kennedy engaged to ride four of the quintet. “Warren is riding in fantastic form,” Bergerson said. “He is going to go down to ride the team, which is a massive positive and a massive help. We are forming a really good relationship with him and he has been a massive part of our success, so I am thrilled to have him on.”
