Te Akau notch Century with Perlino

Leading trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson registered their 100^th winner of the season when Perlino (NZ) (Super Seth) proved too good in the Momentum Consulting Rating 65 (1600m) at Riccarton on Saturday.

The Te Akau stable won their 16^th Training Premiership in the 2024/25 season, recording 131 wins while establishing a new record of $9.27 million in prize money, and the recent century was the sixth on end for Te Akau.

On a roll with 17 wins this month alone, the century has included 14 stakes wins, including Origin of Love becoming the 99^th win on the same day in the Gr.2 Wellington Guineas (1600m) at Trentham.

An easy seven and a half-length maiden winner over a mile  back in February, Perlino sustained a good effort after racing three-wide in the Listed Dunedin Guineas (1600m) and relished the drop in grade to score under Te Akau apprentice Hayley Hassman.

“She had to do it tough today, three-wide from the outside draw and she sustained a long, long, run to win,” Walker said.

“She’s gone to a new level down south in our stable at Riccarton. She was going the right way, anyway, but recorded a big win at her third start, which earned her a run in the Dunedin Guineas, and now she’s won again.

“It was a big effort to win today, given the run she got, so we will look for another black-type opportunity with her.

“Also, well done to all the staff. That was the 100^th win this season for the stable, and both stables in New Zealand can be very proud of how well they’re going.”

Owned by Te Akau Etched in Gold Racing Partnership (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM), Perlino was purchased by David Ellis CNZM for $120,000 at the Karaka 2024 Book 1 Sale, from the draft of Curraghmore Stud.

“It’s great to see another Super Seth filly in the stable going so well and it really was a big effort to win today,” Ellis said.

“She’s by a terrific young sire in Super Seth, who has recently been sold to stand at Coolmore in Australia.

“The sire was certainly one of the reasons why we bought her, plus the dam side blood is very strong, being out of a mare by Exceed and Excel and the grand-dam by Champion Broodmare Sire Encosta de Lago.”

Ellis was also thrilled that Perlino brought about the 100^th win for the stable this season.

“It’s a special milestone that we’ve managed to achieve for quite a few years in a row, now,” he said.

“I remember Mark Walker set a new benchmark for wins when he trained 108 in the 2009/10 season, eclipsing the previous seventeen-year-old record, which was a very proud moment for Te Akau and we’ve kept it going.

“Karyn and I are very proud on every level. We’re proud of the horses we’ve bought and syndicated, the horses we train for other owners and breeders that support Te Akau, and all our wonderful staff, here at the farm, and the stables in Matamata, Riccarton, and Melbourne.

“These people give everything they’ve got to the racing industry and looking after the horses, and from all of us and all our great owners I’d like to pass on congratulations.”