Return To Conquer delivers Te Akau a 100th Group 1 victory
The ultra–talented Return To Conquer (Snitzel) entered Golden Slipper Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) calculations as he extended his unbeaten record to four and in the process delivered Te Akau its 100th Group 1 winner when he landed Saturday’s Sistema Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) at Ellerslie.
In the lead up to New Zealand’s newly minted ‘Champions Day’, Te Akau principal David Ellis had described the afternoon as the ‘biggest day in New Zealand racing history’ and, as has become the custom on any huge days in the country, the Tangerine colours featured heavily with Return To Conquer’s stable companion Damask Rose (Savabeel) taking out the inaugural running of the $3.5 million slot race, The NZB Kiwi (Listed, 1500m).
Ridden by visiting Australian rider Blake Shinn, Return To Conquer looked relaxed in midfield before angling into a challenging position approaching the home turn.
Shinn asked for an effort at the 250 metres and the favourite strode to the front. However, he had to endure a testing battle in the final few strides as $41 chance Landlock (Merchant Navy) stormed at him, just missing by 0.2 lengths to land the major spoils. To Cap It All (Capitalist) finished a further length away in third.
Mark Walker, who prepares the colt in partnership with Sam Bergerson, paid tribute to both Ellis and the horse as he summed up the performance shortly after the placings were confirmed.
“Since Dave established the stable that is the 100th Group 1 win,” Walker said. “Full credit to team leader [Ellis] as he has bought many many winners and with this guy he spent $1.3 million without any owners earmarked and it shows just how good he is.
“It [the race] looked to be quite smooth sailing until the last 100 metres, but watching it live can be difficult and I’m pleased for Blake to get the win.”
The colt holds a nomination for the Golden Slipper and Walker hinted the $5 million contest at Rosehill on Saturday, March 22 is on the table for the star juvenile.
“We are open to the idea [of a Golden Slipper bid] but he is still a young horse, still developing and growing so we will enjoy today and regroup,” he said.
“We never make decisions on race day. We’ll let the dust settle and see how he trots out on Monday, and work it out from there.
“He’s got a great temperament. He’s bombproof and unbeaten for a reason, he’s got that will to win.”
Shinn was quick to acknowledge the close relationship he is building with Te Akau Racing which he continued later on in the afternoon when he won The Kiwi aboard Damask Rose, having also landed January’s Karaka Million 3YO (RL, 1600m) on the three-year-old filly.
“The blinkers went on today to encourage him to put a field away as he gets there [to the front] and thinks his job is done,” Shinn said.
“He rallied hard today when the second horse came at him and he is unbeaten still and may be ready now for a reset as he has had a long prep.
“It’s great to win for Te Akau today as I’ve built up a great relationship with David Ellis and the team. I’ve come over in the last few months and put a bit of work in with them and that helped me make the decision to come here today and ride for them.
“What David has created here is a world class business and I feel fortunate and lucky to get the call up.”
Ellis had his first Group 1 winner, with a horse he bought and owned, when Cosmetique (Barcas) won the 1986 Easter Handicap (Gr 1, 1600m) at Ellerslie.
“I’m very emotional,” said Ellis, immediately afterwards in the birdcage. “I never thought I’d get emotional, but for some reason I am.
“If you told me this could happen when I first got involved in horse racing, I’d have said it was impossible. But it’s now a reality.
“I won my first race as an owner in 1978 at Paeroa, 46 years ago, and won my first race here at Ellerslie in 1979.”
Seven of Te Akau’s Group 1 wins have come in the Sistema, which was formerly known as the Diamond Stakes, and Return To Conquer joins a roll of honour which includes another son of Snitzel (Redoute’s Choice) in the shape of Cambridge Stud’s highly vaunted freshman sire Sword Of State (2021) and Cool Aza Beel (Savabeel) (2020), who stands at Newhaven Park.
Owned by Te Akau 2024 Stallion Breeding Syndicate, Return To Conquer (2 c Snitzel – Vaujany by Lonhro) was bought by Te Akau maestro David Ellis from the draft of Blue Gum Farm for $1.3 million at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale last year.
The colt is out of the unraced mare Vaujany (Lonhro), who is herself a daughter of dual Group 2 winner Portillo (Red Ransom) and she also produced Group 3 winner Ghisoni (Lonhro) – the dam of Listed scorer Renosu (Exceed And Excel).