Te Akau Racing, the country’s leading stable, has captured some of the biggest prizes in New Zealand racing this year, and trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson are keen to add their home cup, the Listed Team Wealleans Matamata Cup (1600m), to their trophy cabinet on Friday.
“You would love to win your hometown Cup,” Bergerson said.
The stable will have a two-pronged attack in Friday’s feature, including recent New Zealand stable addition Midnight Blue and in-form mare My Lips are Sealed(NZ) (Ace High).
Midnight Blue has had just the one run since his arrival to Te Akau’s Matamata base, a fourth placing in the Gr.3 Great Northern Challenge Stakes (1600m), and his trainers are expecting an improved showing second-up.
“Midnight Blue has travelled over from Australia in fantastic order,” Bergerson said. “I thought his run at Ellerslie, his first time out in New Zealand, was very good. On the corner he looked the winner, he just wobbled a bit late.
“As an eight-year-old, it was his first race or trial right-handed. So back left-handed at Matamata, on his home track, we are confident he will give a really good sight.
“He has got a positive racing pattern, so he will be in the first three or four hopefully and from that barrier (10) we will look to be positive. He seems in really good form and is enjoying the New Zealand lifestyle. He is out in a paddock every day and he seems to be really thriving around the stable.”
Te Akau principal David Ellis purchased the son of So You Think as a tried horse from Inglis Digital in November last year for A$92,500, having already won five races, including the Gr.2 Perth Cup (2400m) and Listed Ascot Gold Cup Stakes (1800m). He has gone on to add a further two victories to his record since joining Te Akau, including the Listed Seymour Cup (1600m), and has accrued more than $226,000 in prizemoney in that time.
Te Akau will also be represented in their local cup by My Lips Are Sealed, who has been in good form this preparation, winning two and placing in two of her five starts before being freshened, and she pleased with her 1100m trial at Pukekohe earlier this month.
“My Lips Are Sealed had a really good spring,” Bergerson said. “We tried to get her to the Wanganui Cup (Listed, 2040m), but she had a bit of a foot niggle, so we had to back off and gave her a quiet trial in-between times. A mile on her home track with a very nice, light weight (53kg) with a soft draw (2) (is ideal), and she is in good form.
“They are two nice eachway chances. You need a bit of luck in those bigger races, but we are really happy with our two,” Bergerson said.
Midnight Blue is a $5.50 second favourite for the Matamata Cup, with the Andrew Forsman-trained Mary Shan at the top of the market at $2.20, while My Lips Are Sealed is rated a $10 winning chance by TAB bookmakers.
