Move To Strike (AUS)
Move To Strike (AUS)
2 c I Am Invincible – No Evidence Needed by Shamardal
O: Te Akau 2023 Stallion Breeding Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis Mnzm)
B: Baramul Stud
T: Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson
S: 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale V: Baramul Stud P: David Ellis, $525,000
W: ICIB Brokerweb 2YO, 1100m, December 16, Te Rapa
Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson took the wraps off Move To Strike (I Am Invincible) last weekend and the colt did not disappoint, racing away to an impressive success in an 1100-metre event at Te Rapa.
Beginning the contest well under Opie Bosson, the son of I Am Invincible (Invincible Spirit) settled behind the lead and, despite being pushed four wide into the straight, accelerated quickly to level up to the leader at the 200 metres before pulling away impressively to beat Montana Bay (Thunder Down Under) by four and three-quarter lengths.
Bosson, who was bringing up a milestone 2,000th career winner in the process, was glowing in his comments and the stable are considering a crack at February’s Blue Diamond Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m), with the colt not eligible for next month’s NZB Karaka Million (RL, 1200m).
“That was pretty cool really,” Bosson said. “I knew he was the horse I could get it [2,000 wins] on today and to do it for David [Ellis, Te Akau principal] and the whole Te Akau Racing team is just an extra bonus.
“Any milestone in a career is good and it is an elite club to be a part of. I think this horse is a superstar in the making.
“He just has the right attitude and you would think he has been doing this for years. He takes things in his stride and there are better things to come.”
Mark Walker echoed the jockey’s comments, saying: “The colt is such an amazing customer with such a good brain on him, we think he has a big future.”
Owned by the Te Akau 2023 Breeding Syndicate, Move To Strike was purchased by Ellis for $525,000 from Gerry Harvey’s Baramul Stud draft at Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale earlier this year.
Bred on the exact same cross as Te Akau’s champion mare Imperatriz (I Am Invincible), Move to Strike is a half-brother to Group 2-placed winner Discharged (Snitzel), being the sixth winner from seven foals to race out of Group 2 scorer No Evidence Needed (Shamardal), who was bought by Harvey for $720,000 at the Magic Millions Patinack Farm Complete Dispersal Sale in 2014.
Westbury Stud will offer a Zoustar (Northern Meteor) colt from No Evidence Needed at next month’s Magic Millions, catalogued as Lot 1008.