Weather worries for Te Akau’s Group One quartet
Te Akau’s Matamata-based trainer Sam Bergerson is happy to have four runners engaged in the last two Group One features of the season, but what doesn’t please him is a worsening weather forecast ahead of Trentham on Saturday.
Having topped the century last weekend for the third time in their three-season partnership, Bergerson and senior partner Mark Walker have Quintessa (NZ)(Shamus Award), Qali Al Farrasha (NZ) (Almanzor) and Captured By Love (Written Tycoon) engaged in Saturday’s Gr.1 Listen Live On Sport Nation NZ Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m), while Seize The Day (I Am Invincible) is their sole starter as they seek a third consecutive win in the Gr.1 Courtesy Ford Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m).
While Bergerson is satisfied that all four horses are in the right form, developing weather will be the final decider on their weekend assignments.
“It wasn’t looking too bad earlier in the week, but every time I’ve checked over the past couple of days the forecast has just got worse,” Bergerson said after Trentham fields were released late on Wednesday morning.
“It’s shaping like a repeat of what we were up against in the spring and the frustrating thing is we’ve got no control over it.”
Bergerson and Walker claimed three Group One races last season with Captured By Love in the New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m), the Sistema Stakes (1200m) with Return To Conquer (Snitzel) and the Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes with La Dorada (NZ) (Super Seth).
Their 2023-24 tally was four with Skew Wiff (NZ) (Savabeel) in the Tarzino Trophy (1400m), the Zabeel Classic (2000m) with Campionessa (NZ) (Contributer), the Levin Classic (1600m) with Quintessa and the Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes with Move To Strike (I Am Invincible).
Their current season tally stands at two, compliments of Quintessa in the Proisir Plate (1400m) and Lara Antipova (Russian Revolution) in the Sistema Stakes (1200m). That unbeaten filly was scheduled to race at Flemington this weekend, however a temperature spike detected last Saturday meant an early end to her season.
“We’re so looking forward to giving Seize The Day his chance in a Group One over 1400m,” Bergerson said. “This is the race we set him for, he’s got a beautiful big stride that’s made for a roomy track like Trentham, but not a wet Trentham.
“He trialed up well enough on heavy tracks in the spring, but raceday in this grade is different and that other colt, Ronaldo (NZ) (Ribchester), has won his two races on soft and heavy tracks.
“It’s probably less of a worry with our three mares in the Breeders’ Stakes, they’re older and more seasoned, but it’s still far from ideal, we’d much rather be running on good ground.
“With all of our Group One runners class will take them a long way, but it’s very frustrating as Saturday was meant to be their grand final for the season.
“We’ll just have to keep an eye on things and see what the weather brings before we make a final decision.”
The TAB’s opening final field markets for Trentham have Seize The Day a narrow Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes favourite at $3.40 over Ronaldo at $3.50.
In an open market for the NZ Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes, Quintessa shared favouritism at $7 with Cambridge mare Provence and the Chris Waller-trainer Chica Mojito (NZ) (Zacinto), while Afternoon Siesta (Shamus Award) and She’s A Dealer (NZ) (Ace High) were next at $8 and Captured By Love at $8.50.
