05 March 2026
Haunui proudly flying Kiwi flag
The second running of the $4 million NZB Kiwi (1500m) at Ellerslie on Saturday is already a major triumph for Karaka nursery Haunui Farm.
The stud has a remarkable five graduates chasing the richest prize in Australasia for three-year-olds with Romanoff (NZ) (Belardo), He Who Dares (NZ) (Snitzel), L’Aigle Noir (NZ) (Ribchester), War Princess (NZ) (U S Navy Flag) and Lollapalooza (NZ) (El Roca) in contention for the Southern Hemisphere’s richest three-year-old race.
“The amazing thing is that it’s a different style of race, someone has to pick your horse and it’s not just up to the handicapper,” Haunui’s Mark Chitty said.
“I think all five justifiably deserve to be in the race, they have all showed nice form from a Group One winner to a Rating 67 in L’Aigle Noir, who was a bit unlucky in the Uncle Remus (Gr.3, 1400m).
“To run a farm, you’re doing it 365 days of the year in all types of weather and circumstances, so we are very proud.
“We’ve got some wonderful clients who have bred some of these horses as well as ourselves, that are in the race.”
The top-rated Haunui graduate is the Pam Gerard-trained Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) winner Romanoff.
The son of Belardo was bred by Marie Leicester and sold through Haunui’s draft at New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale for $75,000 to Ballymore Stables, Paul Moroney Bloodstock and Catheryne Bruggeman.
Te Akau’s multiple stakes-placed Snitzel colt He Who Dares was bred by Haunui with Frantic Bloodstock and knocked down at Karaka to David Ellis for $825,000.
U S Navy Flag’s Gr.3 Eulogy Stakes (1600m) winner War Princess was sold to trainer Peter Didham and Exempt Bloodstock for $77,500 by Haunui on behalf of breeders Don and Dame Wendy Pye.
The couple also bred El Roca’s daughter Lollapalooza, winner of the Gr.3 Gold Trail Stakes (1200m), who was secured at Karaka for $30,000 and signed for by co-trainer Graham Richardson and Social Racing.
The Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott-trained L’Aigle Noir is a daughter of Haunui’s resident sire Ribchester and represents one of the feelgood stories of The NZB Kiwi.
“He was bred by Anne Marie de Spa and Charles Hall from Christchurch and Anne Marie has the Sothys Australasian franchise and they sponsored the 2000 Guineas (Gr.1, 1600m) for close to a decade,” Chitty said.
“The mare (Silhouette Noire) had a chequered breeding career and unfortunately lost a foal and got quite ill after that.
“She came to us and we couldn’t get her right, so I involved Dr Lee Morris from EquiBreed, and being a veterinarian myself, said we needed to scope the mare’s uterus.
“We did that and found something on the lining and she lasered that area and the resulting progeny of all that was L’Aigle Noir.
“With veterinary intervention and the work of Lee and myself we’ve got this horse, and Anne Marie and Charles asked me to come into the ownership, and we’ve got a full brother back on the ground. It’s a pretty cool story.”
L’Aigle Noir broke his maiden before finishing third in the Gr.3 Bonecrusher Stakes (1400m) and a last-start fourth in the Uncle Remus after an interrupted run.
“He’s an emerging horse and wasn’t out early and the Wexford team have taken him along quietly,” Chitty said.
“You can’t deny Well Written has been sensational in her performances and she might just be way too good for them.
“It is a horse race though, and we’ve seen before and we’ll see it again that not all $1.20 favourites win races, so we’ll take our chance and see what happens.”
Haunui graduate slot holders: Romanoff, Canterbury Jockey Club; He Who Dares, Te Akau Racing; L’Aigle Noir, Waikato Thoroughbred Racing; War Princess, Milan Park and Lollapalooza, Barneswood Brady Nakhle. - Paul Vettise
Te Akau not short of Champions’ Day ammunition
Te Akau’s black type troops will be out in force on Saturday with leading hopes chasing down elite level honours and a quartet of contenders in the hunt for the richest purse on offer at Ellerslie.
Unbeaten filly Lara Antipova (Russian Revolution) will start a short-priced favourite in the Gr.1 Sistema Stakes (1200m), although trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson also expect a bold showing from stablemate Out Of The Blue (NZ) (Tivaci).
An uncharacteristic last-start failure aside, Towering Vision’s (NZ) (Circus Maximus) form entitles him to respect in the Gr.1 HKJC World Pool NZ Derby (2400m) while To Bravery Born (NZ) (Snitzel), La Dorada (NZ) (Super Seth), He Who Dares (NZ) (Snitzel) and Belle Cheval (NZ) (Savabeel) represent the stable in the $4 million NZB Kiwi (1500m).
Russian Revolution’s daughter Lara Antipova has been untested to win all three of her starts and is blessed with an ideal gate (four) in what looms as her sternest test to date.
“She has gone right-handed and left-handed, on good tracks and a heavy track,” Bergerson said.
“She keeps raising the bar and wasn’t overly suited by the conditions last time at Matamata where class got her through.
“She is an incredibly sharp filly who can switch up gears at the drop of a hat. She saves it all for race day, so we are really excited about her and she’s a really strong winning chance.”
Out Of The Blue has won two of his five starts and struggled with the track conditions when a last-start runner-up in the Gr.3 Matamata Slipper (1200m).
“We thought he would get through the ground and he travelled into it nicely and Craig (Grylls) said when he let his head go, he went up and down on the spot,” Bergerson said.
“He’s the most experienced horse in the field and that will hold him in good stead.”
Towering Vision was tracking along perfectly toward the Derby before he tailed the field home in the Gr.2 Avondale Guineas (2100m).
“We were so pleased with him heading in and confident, so we were scratching our heads,” Bergerson said.
“He was vetted on the day, and we got him home and ran all possible tests, he’s as bright as a button and we can’t fault him.
“Maybe he just had an off day, we’ve put a line through it and his previous form was very good. It’s an open Derby and he worked with the Wexford runner Yamato Satona (NZ) (Satono Aladdain) on Tuesday and the work was super so fingers crossed he can bounce back.”
Te Akau’s Kiwi contingent have all pleased but Bergerson acknowledged the task ahead to lower the hot pot’s colours.
“We’re really proud of the team and fantastic to have four in the race, they’ve all got there on their merits with different form lines,” he said.
“Well Written (Written Tycoon) is there and she’s certainly the benchmark and the one to beat. We’re going in as underdogs, but we’re excited and just hope our four get some luck and get their chances.”
While Bergerson is loath to split his runners, Belle Cheval narrowly gets the nod as top seed following consecutive Group Three victories in the Uncle Remus Stakes (1400m) and Almanzor Trophy (1200m).
“The interesting thing is the set weights and penalties, some get in better than others and La Dorada has to carry that 3kg penalty and even To Bravery Born has to carry 58.5kg,” Bergerson said.
“You’d probably say Belle Cheval is the one who really keeps stepping up and getting better and better.
“I do think He Who Dares is way over the odds, he’s drifted because of the barrier draw (13) but if he is able to get across without doing too much work then he’ll give a great sight.”
Earlier in the day, high-quality mare Quintessa (NZ) (Shamus Award) will resume in the Gr.2 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Classic (1400m).
“She’s going really well and I know people watch her trials sometimes and get a bit disheartened, but she’s been the same the whole way through and waits until the blinkers go on,” Bergerson said.
“She’s had two trials and an exhibition gallop, it’s an even field and she has to lug that Group One penalty but we’re sure she’s going to run really well."
Joshua Smith
Joshua Smith
NZ Racing Desk
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