Allpress back on the stakes-winning bus
Lisa Allpress is back in the stakes-winning groove, steering the Tony Pike-trained Back Of The Bus (NZ) (Hello Youmzain) to victory in Thursday's Listed Phils Electrical & Gipsy Caravans Ryder Stakes (1200m) at Otaki, less than three weeks after returning from an 18-month injury-enforced absence.
Back Of The Bus had already shown plenty of ability over winter, winning The Lawn Shed Winter Series – 2YO Final (1200m) at Ellerslie last month and placed in the Listed Castletown Stakes (1200m) at Otaki earlier this month, and Pike was confident of another bold effort when returning to the Kapiti Coast track on Thursday.
Jumping from barrier six in the eight-horse field, Allpress stoked up her charge early to sit outside leader Rising Moon (NZ) (Time Test). Turning for home, Back Of The Bus got her nose in front, but Allpress resisted to go for the persuader until hitting the 200m mark, and Back Of The Bus rallied again to see off the late challenge of Midnight Dart (NZ) (Derryn) to win by a head, with a further long head back to Rising Moon in third.
Allpress was full of praise for Back Of The Bus’ brave effort.
“She tried really hard,” she said. “I was thinking back to the previous races and watching jockeys go for home way to soon, so I was thinking ‘wait’. It was just a matter of when to let those brakes off. I could hear them coming behind, so I knew they were right there, and just tried to hold it together to get to the line.
“She went a really nice race last time here, she just got a little bit held up at the top of the straight and found the line huge.
“Tony spoke to me before (the race) and said to try and be outside the leader and she should be fit enough to get through it (Heavy10 track).”
Watching the race from Cambridge, Pike was delighted to end the season with a stakes victory.
“She is a really tough and brave filly,” Pike said. “She has been consistent all season and has done a really good job, winning the series final at Ellerslie, third in the Castletown and now a stakes win in the Ryder.
“I couldn’t have asked for much more this prep, she has done a good job for a cheap purchase.”
Pike bought Back Of The Bus out of Wentwood Grange’s 2025 New Zealand Bloodstock Online Yearling Sale draft for $25,000, and she has proven to be an astute purchase.
“We had a look through the online sale and picked out two or three horses,” Pike said. “We bought one, and she was actually passed in, and we had a couple of owners that were looking for some small shares in a cheaper filly and we purchased her a few days after the sale.
“We went over and had a look at her and she was very well put together, hence the name my wife named her – she had an arse like the back of a bus.
“We bought her for $25,000 and we have got a couple of new owners in her and an existing owner, and they have had a great run. I am sure they will be over the moon with the preparation that she has had.”
Pike is pleased to have earned a black-type win with his filly so early in her career, which will cement her future career as a broodmare.
“She is out of a family I know reasonably well. She is out of a half-sister to Witz End (NZ) (Savabeel), a good old Trelawney family, so with a couple of wins and a stakes win under her belt now she has got a good enough pedigree to carry forward to stud when that time comes,” he said.
A brief freshen-up now awaits Back Of The Bus before a likely return for some early three-year-old stakes targets in the spring.
“It was the intention to be the last run of her prep, she has been up a fair while,” Pike said. “We will just have a look at what is coming up around the three-year-old races and how she pulls up.
“She probably prefers just a bit of easing in the ground, so we could possibly give her a short freshen-up and then possibly look at the early spring three-year-old fillies races before they start stretching up over a trip.”
Meanwhile, Pike will head to Ruakaka with just the one runner on Saturday, but it could be enough to bring home a winner’s cheque, with his representative Ashoka (NZ) (Hello Youmzain) in a purple patch of form.
The rising four-year-old gelding has finished runner-up in four of his last five runs, and Pike is hopeful he can go one better this weekend when he contests the Harcourts Just Rentals (1300m).
“He is really due a win, he has run really well without a lot of luck in his last few runs,” Pike said. “He gave them too far a start last start over 1200m at Ruakaka but closed the race off really strongly late, so if he can get an ounce of luck from that draw (14), he should be hard to beat.” - Joshua Smith
Te Akau score seventh straight trainers’ premiership
Te Akau Racing continued their reign as New Zealand’s leading stable when winning their seventh consecutive National Trainers’ Premiership this season.
Trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson recorded 135 wins in New Zealand this term, including 19 stakes wins, three of those at Group One level, including Quintessa in the Proisir Plate (1400m), Lara Antipova in the Gr.1 Sistema Stakes (1200m), and Seize The Day in the Gr.1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m).
Bergerson was rapt to retain the mantle as New Zealand’s leading stable, securing his third title at the helm alongside Walker.
“It is fantastic to take out another premiership,” he said.
“Mark is spending a lot more time in Australia this past season (at Te Akau’s Cranbourne stable) so I have had to take up a lot more responsibility, and I can’t thank the team here at home enough, especially Reece (Trumper), he has been a massive help as the assistant (trainer).
“It has been a tough season, it has been a lot of work, but it has been really rewarding, and it’s great to take out the premiership.”
The stable has had plenty of highlights this season, but one day stands out above the rest for Bergerson.
“The day that really stands out for me is the Manawatu Sire’s Produce Day where Seize The Day got it done (in the Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes) and then we had Belle Cheval win the Vinery (Gr.1, 2000m).
“For the team here in New Zealand to turn her around from a NZB Kiwi ($4 million, 1500m) three weeks earlier up to 2000m to take on the Aussies and win was really rewarding.”
The Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes victory was a true family affair, with Bergerson’s father, Roydon, training runner-up Sweetest Thing.
“It was cool to do it with Dad, he was just as stoked for me winning it as for him running second,” Bergerson said.
Sweetest Thing was subsequently purchased by Australian Bruce Wilson, under his Glentree Racing banner, and the filly has joined Te Akau Racing’s Riccarton barn where she is being set for the Gr.1 Barneswood Farm New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) in November.
“She was purchased by an Australian interest, Glentree Thoroughbreds, and we are grateful to them for keeping her in New Zealand until November for the 1000 Guineas, and then she will head over to Melbourne,” Bergerson said.
“Dad has been awesome, he has filled me in on her quirks, and hopefully she can have a really good spring. She has already settled in down south and all going well she will kick off in the Canterbury Belle (Listed, 1200m).”
Seize The Day has crossed the Tasman and joined Te Akau’s Cranbourne stable, where Bergerson is hopeful he can stamp his stallion credentials.
“Seize The Day is going to be a really nice three-year-old colt and the goal with those colt partnerships is to try and make stallions of him,” he said. “We have given him a really good opportunity now to make his mark as a three-year-old over in the Cranbourne team.”
Te Akau’s Riccarton barn has played an integral part in Te Akau’s premiership win, with the southern arm contributing 50 wins, which also cemented their place as the leading South Island stable.
“I can’t speak highly enough of the team down there, especially Hunter (Durrant, assistant trainer), who runs the ship,” Bergerson said.
“He is a very accomplished young horseman and he rides a lot of work. He is so meticulous, a really hard worker and a lot of the success should be credited to him.
“It (Riccarton barn) is a fantastic tool we are able to utilise in our stable. You take a filly like Origin Of Love who up here was really struggling. We were trialling her and she was just finding it all a bit too much. We sent her down there to a bit of a quieter environment and she really found her form and got to a 1000 Guineas and managed to win a Wellington Guineas (Gr.2, 1600m).”
Bergerson already has his attention on next season, and while several of the stable’s leading lights have headed across the Tasman to their Cranbourne barn for a Melbourne Spring preparation, he said there is still plenty of young talent to keep the Matamata barn excited heading in the new term.
“It is hard when you are losing Lara Antipova, Seize The Day and Belle Cheval, they are certainly hard to replace but we have got a really exciting young team here,” Bergerson said.
“Of them, I think System Of Play is a colt we are really looking forward to, he is one for one.
“I think he is the 2000 Guineas (Gr.1, 1600m) favourite (alongside Excite) at the moment. There is still a heap of water to go under the bridge, but he couldn’t have been more impressive in his only raceday start and he seems to be coming up really well.”
Bergerson is also excited to have Damask Rose back in New Zealand, while he is also upbeat about the season ahead with the likes of Drops Of God, La Dorada, Kinnaird and He Who Dares.
While the stable has had plenty of success on the track on both sides of the Tasman, one of their biggest highlights was off the track when Te Akau Racing principal Sir David Ellis was appointed a Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the King’s Birthday Honours last month for services to the thoroughbred industry and philanthropy.
“What he has done for the New Zealand racing industry has been pretty incredible,” Bergerson said. “He has been leading buyer at Karaka and the investment he constantly puts into racing here is massive.
“He is as keen as ever to see young people like myself, Reece and Hunter do well. He is as passionate as ever and although he is getting older, he is certainly not losing his enthusiasm for the game. He is really inspiring.
“I can’t thank him enough for the opportunities I have been given. I know he was extremely proud to get that honour, and it’s a real highlight for everyone here.”
Saturday looms as the opening day of the new season, and Bergerson is hoping the stable can get it off to a winning start at Riccarton.
Their Riccarton barn will line-up two horses at the opening day of the Grand National Festival of Racing, including Balance Of Power in the Group 1 Raceday Party – 12 September Rating 75 (1800m), and Vivacious in the Zilco Rating 75 (1400m)
“Balance Of Power is up in trip,” Bergerson said. “He has been running there or thereabouts without really lighting up the finish. Hopefully they don’t get too much rain, but we think he can handle the going. Hayley (Hassman, stable apprentice) is aboard, and arguably there is no one riding better at the moment, and a kilo off should help.
“If the track were to stick around that Heavy8 range, back on the turf, hopefully Vivacious can bounce back to a bit of form. Her first-up run on a Soft7 she beat Iron Hawk, who is quite a talented horse. If it got out to the 10 range it would be a little bit doubtful, but she is a talented mare on her day. - Joshua Smith
Ritchie and Murray excited by depth of spring team
As the new racing season is just days away, trainers Shaune Ritchie and Colm Murray are optimistic they have the depth to make an impact across all levels, with proven performers Tuxedo (NZ) (Tivaci) and Tajana (NZ) (Darci Brahma) heading the stable.
With New Zealand's feature racing now concentrated into the January-to-March period, Ritchie said the timing has given many horses the opportunity to enjoy a proper autumn break before building towards the spring.
"With the major racing calendar finishing in March now, they get a good opportunity to have a good break at the later part of autumn," he said.
"Then they come in through the winter and just sneak through and start to speed up so they can be ready for these early spring races.
"Ruakaka has been a great track for us and we will continue to use that this year as well."
Multiple Group Three winner and Group One placed Tajana will return as a four-year-old with the aim to further embellish her black-type record for owners The Oaks Stud.
"Tajana is rising four, so she won't require more than one trial before she's presented," Ritchie said.
"She's already rated 73, so she'll go to a Benchmark 75 race first-up. We see her as a fillies and mares grade horse and we'll aim her towards a race like the Breeders' Stakes (Gr.1, 1600m).
"We will space her races and keep her fresh going into that 1400 to 1600-metre distance."
Tajana will have an exhibition gallop alongside stablemate Tuxedo on Northern Breeders' Stakes Day at Ruakaka before her return to racing.
Tuxedo is ready for another campaign at the highest level after producing a string of competitive performances in elite company last season, highlighted by victory in the $1 million Gr.3 Aotearoa Classic (1600m).
"He'll present at Te Rapa in a few weeks for a barrier trial," Ritchie said. "He's one we will be targeting for the big Group races.
"He was always in a tough spot in the handicaps last season, which sort of forced us into running him at weight-for-age level, but he was competitive. He was still running fifth and sixth, getting a bad rub of the green, with a couple of wide draws.
"His racing through the autumn was excellent, which culminated in a great run in the New Zealand Stakes. We drew wide, went back to last and he ran on well for third against top horses like Legarto and Waitak and he was very close that day.
"He also won the Aotearoa Classic, which was a million-dollar race.
"His best performance has probably been at the mile fresh. Having said that, he is a little bit stronger now, so I'm sure the 2000m won't be an issue for him this season."
While the stable's established performers provide confidence, Ritchie is equally enthusiastic about the emerging talent waiting in the wings.
"I thought we purchased well at the sales two years ago, which will be our rising three-year-olds," he said.
"Of the ones that have raced so far, Russian Prime (Russian Revolution) is one to look out for. He went fantastic first-up.
"We've got a lovely St Mark's Basilica colt out of Savaria, who hasn't been to the races yet, named Top Marks (NZ) (St Mark's Basilica). He's a magnificent type of horse. He looks to be a Derby-style horse.
"We've got some beautiful horses coming through. When you're getting up at 3.30 in the morning, you want to look at something classy in the stable anyway, especially when it's minus three degrees." - NZ Racing Desk
New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing
NZ Racing Desk
NZ Racing Desk
Joshua Smith
