KEY POINTS:
There is no better marketing tool in thoroughbred racing syndication than winning, and Te Akau Thoroughbreds took centre stage in dominant fashion at Matamata yesterday.
The Mark Walker-trained Te Akau Rose capitalised on a well-calculated and race-winning move by Troy Harris when saving ground and staying against the
rail in the home stretch to score success in the $125,000 Matamata Breeders Stakes.
While rivals fanned out dramatically in the home stretch in search of better footing - Harris and Te Akau Rose sprinted along the inner-and scored narrowly from the fast finishing St Germaine and Corsage (third).
Te Akau Rose's victory completed a clean sweep of the 2-year-old features for Walker as King's Ransom was an impressive winner earlier in the day of the $65,000 Fairview Ford Slipper.
Te Akau Thoroughbred principal David Ellis was holding an on-course function for clients and friends and a clean sweep of the 2-year-old features would have completed a dream day for New Zealand's leading horse syndicator.
No doubt Ellis would have had no problems yesterday motivating current and potential clients joining the Mark Walker juggernaut.
Te Akau Rose was backing up after a gallant second placing behind the impressive Seven Schillings at New Plymouth last Saturday and was presented in faultless physical condition by Walker.
"She was ready to for this race and the rain about didn't really bother me," said Walker after the race.
"We'll wait and see how she pulls up but the Diamond Stakes at Ellerslie is the next likely race for her.
"King's Ransom will most probably race next in the Sires Produce Stakes at Awapuni as he races well left-handed."
THERE WAS no more appropriate winner of the $65,000 (Listed) Fairview Ford Slipper than the locally-trained King's Ransom.
The striking son of King's Chapel blotted his form line with an indifferent last-start performance in the Karaka Million when unplaced behind the impressive winner The Heckler.
However Walker, the leading age-group trainer in New Zealand, had the gelding well-forward in condition for a top performance in the 1200m feature.
King's Ransom travelled forward close to the leaders and lengthened stride in testing conditions in the home stretch to reel in St Fevre.
Jockey Michael Walker had to work hard on the favourite to hold off the powerful finishing burst of Joey Massino with Kaaptan making ground late for third.
With two wins and two minor placings from five starts, King's Ransom, has been the quiet achiever among the 2-year-olds this season in a crop where there is no dominant player.
A return to left-handed racing may have helped King's Ransom record a better performance as he appeared more balanced yesterday despite the wet track conditions.
TEMPERAMENTAL FILLY Celeris was on her best behaviour and maintained her unbeaten race record.
The well-bred daughter of Fusaichi Pegasus was a sensational late scratching in her last start when she refused to enter the starting gates at Ellerslie but was in a different mood yesterday.
Craig Grylls had no hesitation in punching the favourite straight to the front and out of trouble in the heavy track conditions and she showed plenty of fight when it mattered in the home stretch scoring narrowly over Sherborne and Waitoki Lad (third).
Cambridge trainers Roger James and Paul Mirabelli have a high opinion of the filly who was not at her best on the wet track but showed her class.