Te Akau Racing has once again been a dominant force this season, aided in no small part by their Riccarton barn, which notched up its 66th win for the season at Riccarton’s synthetic meeting on Thursday courtesy of Sorcha (NZ) Burgundy).
Tardily away from the barriers, the four-year-old mare quickly made up lost ground to settle at the rear of the field for jockey Warren Kennedy. Stablemate Fellini (NZ) (Belardo) set a strong tempo up from, while Kennedy bided his time at the back of the pack. Turning for home the pair had a wall of horses in front of them, but Kennedy was able to find room out wide where Sorcha was able to show a good turn of foot late to capture the lead and score a two-length victory.
The daughter of Burgundy had placed on the surface in her two prior outings and trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson were pleased to see her get the chocolates on Thursday.
“It was a really good win and just shows how she’s come of age this season,” Walker said.
“She’s strengthened up and just racing so consistently. It’s always extra special to win with a horse that is bred at the farm (Te Akau Stud) and she’s doing a good job.
“We think that next season, because of the ability and consistency she’s shown, that she can prove competitive at black type level in stakes races.
“She can handle both the polytrack and turf, again showing her versatility, and she won in a really strong manner today.”
Bred by Glenn and Cathie Holmes and Te Akau Stud, and owned in conjunction with Paul Martin, Sorcha is the year older sister to stablemate Cu Chulainn (NZ), who won two from four and stakes placed in the Listed Champagne Stakes (1200m) last season.
Te Akau Racing principal has been rapt with the season to date and the success that has come out of their Riccarton barn, which is overseen by Hunter Durrant and Ashley Handley.
“Hunter and Ashley have done a fantastic job for Mark and Sam with the staff and horses at the stables at Riccarton,” Ellis said.
“We’ve often found that horses we send down really thrive in the South Island. We’ve had a lot of success at Riccarton, winning the 2000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m) seven times, and the 1000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m) six times, as well as winning other stakes races, and we love supporting South Island racing.”
