Te Akau Racing’s million-dollar colt Return To Conquer delivered again in Saturday’s Gr.3 Colin Jillings 2YO Classic (1200m) at Ellerslie, improving his unblemished record to four trials and two raceday appearances.
The son of Snitzel was bought by David Ellis for A$1.3 million as a yearling at Magic Millions from the draft of Blue Gum Farm. He built up plenty of pre-debut hype with three impressive trial wins between August and October, then romped to victory by two and a half lengths as a $1.20 favourite in the Listed Counties Challenge Stakes (1100m) at Pukekohe on November 23. The third placegetter in that race, Vega For Luck, went on to finish second in last Saturday’s Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m).
Trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson held Return To Conquer back from the races for the next 10 weeks, keeping him up to the mark with a trial win against older horses over 1000m at Matamata on January 14.
Saturday’s $120,000 Colin Jillings Classic marked his eagerly anticipated return to action, and Return To Conquer lived up to his red-hot $1.20 favouritism again.
The early part of the race did not go to plan for the boom colt and his jockey Wiremu Pinn, who found themselves posted three wide without cover after the first 200m. Pinn had no choice but to press forward, sliding up alongside the front-running Cashla Bay coming up to the 800m mark.
Return To Conquer cruised past Cashla Bay and took command early in the run home. First-start fillies Tajana and Vittoria quickened well in the straight and ate into the margin, but Return To Conquer still had half a length up his sleeve as he crossed the finish line with his ears pricked.
“He’s just a very good horse,” Pinn said. “David’s one of the best judges in New Zealand, and I think he’ll get every cent back from the A$1.3 million he paid for this colt.
“The team wanted this to be a learning experience today. He jumped a length in front of them, but I tried to pull him back from there and get a bit of cover. There wasn’t anywhere I could get in, so I decided to slide back up outside the leader. I probably should have made that decision a little bit sooner.
“But he relaxed really nicely and kicked well. I think he would have found a fair bit more if someone had really challenged him.”
Raced by the Te Akau 2024 Stallion Breeding Syndicate, Return To Conquer has now had two starts for two black-type wins and has banked $132,250.
“It didn’t all go his way today,” Bergerson said. “He went back, then had to go forward again. It looked like he loafed around a little bit when he got to the front in the straight.
“He’s a lovely horse going forward. Fair play to David, going out and buying these types of colts on spec. It’s not cheap.
“But he’s a beautiful animal who has it all in front of him. He’ll take plenty of improvement from this and will strip a lot fitter next time.”
The TAB now rates Return To Conquer a $2.50 favourite for the Gr.1 Sistema Stakes (1200m) at Ellerslie on March 8. Bergerson mentioned the $550,000 feature as a potential target, with a likely lead-up run in the Gr.3 Matamata Slipper (1200m) on his home track on February 15. However, there is also a possibility he could venture across the Tasman.
“There’s options like the colts’ race at Matamata and then the Sistema, or he could even head across to Australia,” Bergerson said. “We’ll see how he pulls up from this and then have a good team talk with Mark and David and take it from there.”
The well-related colt is the first foal to race out of unraced Lonhro mare Vaujany, who died earlier last year after having just two foals.
He has a big pedigree as Vaujany was a full sister to Group II winner Ghisoni from Group II winner Portillo, who is also the grand-dam of Group III winner Larkspur Run and stakes-winner Renosu.
Saturday’s 2YO Classic was formerly run at New Plymouth, but was this year relocated to Ellerslie and named in honour of Colin Jillings. The Hall of Fame horseman, who died in 2022 at the age of 91, played a key role in David Ellis and Mark Walker’s career development.
“It’s such an honour to win the first running of an event which has been named after a true legend,” Ellis said.
“Colin was one of my very best, life-long friends. I greatly treasured his advice, loyalty, wisdom and friendship over many decades from the time he met me as a young man. In fact, he actually introduced Karyn (Fenton-Ellis) and me at the Trentham races.
“Mark also looked up to Colin, who always freely shared his training expertise and experience with him.” – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk.
