Te Akau Racing continued their juvenile dominance at their home meeting at Matamata on Wednesday when taking out the quinella in the Entain/NZB Insurance Pearl Series (1200m) courtesy of Honour Roll and The Queen’s Sword.
Honour Roll was having his second start after placing on debut at Tauherenikau in February, while The Queen’s Sword was making her debut after winning her 800m trial at Avondale last month.
Honour Roll rocketed out of the gates and was sent straight to the front by jockey Michael McNab, while The Queen’s Sword was taken back to settle near the rear of the field under Masa Hashizume.
Honour Roll kicked clear of his rivals at the turn and had a one length advantage at the top of the straight, which he continued to grow, eventually running out a 3-3/4 length victor over The Queen’s Sword, who took the shortest way home along the rail to make up serious ground late.
Sam Bergerson, who trains the pair in partnership with Mark Walker, was pleased with both of their efforts, particularly Honour Roll’s fresh-up performance, and he is now eyeing spring three-year-old targets with the promising youngster.
“We gave him a break after his first run thinking that the black-type races in July could be suitable, but now that he’s won impressively on a decent track it could mean we look more towards his three-year-old season,” Bergerson said.
Bergerson said The Queen’s Sword would derive plenty of benefit out of Wednesday’s run.
“She would have learned a lot and we think she’s going to be a really nice three-year-old filly,” he said. “Masa (Hashizume) gave her a great ride from the draw (10) and she attacked the line late. Obviously, the winner skipped away, but she’s a nice filly to look forward to next season.”
Walker was also pleased with the result and said Honour Roll, who had shown plenty of ability early on, has benefited from being gelded.
“It was really good to see him win the way he did today,” Walker said. “He showed quite a bit early on but became too coltish and since he’s been gelded, he’s come back a different horse.
“It was a good, positive ride of Michael’s and he seemed to appreciate the Soft7 conditions. He was strong at the end of 1200m.
“I actually recommended the mare (Honor) to Mark Chittick (Waikato Stud), after I trained her in Singapore. She won over 1000m and had a lot of speed.
“She’s by Rip Van Winkle and looks like she’s turning out to be a useful broodmare. We’ve got the first foal (Get Honor) in the stables at Cranbourne, and she won her first start, so it’s good to see the mare has now had two to race for two wins.”
Honour Roll was purchased by Te Akau Racing principal David Ellis out of Waikato Stud’s 2025 New Zealand Bloodstock Book 1 Yearling Sale draft for $190,000.
“He was a good value purchase and it looks like he could be a stakes quality horse with a good future,” Walker said.
The stable enjoyed further success at the meeting, securing a treble on the eight-race card, with Luvabeel taking out the Entain/NZB Insurance Pearl Series (1600m) and Sabatini winning the Shout Out To All Our MMRC Members (1100m). – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk
