The well-travelled Bright Stripes showed he could have found a handy home in New Zealand when he won first up for team Te Akau Racing in the Fleet Image Celebrating 50 Years in Business (1400m) at Te Rapa on Saturday.
The Irish-born son of Starspangledbanner was purchased by Te Akau Racing boss David Ellis for 145,000 guineas at the 2024 Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale at Newmarket, having won as a two and three-year-old, including the Listed Tetrach Stakes (1600m), and was transferred to the Te Akau stable in Melbourne before coming to New Zealand after five unplaced runs.
Given a quiet trial at Taupo to fit him for his first-up assignment, Bright Stripes travelled nicely in fourth for apprentice Hayley Hassman and looked to be a strong winning chance when he loomed into contention at the 250m.
Hassman kicked him clear in the final stages to win with plenty in hand as he registered his third career victory with more to come.
“It was really good to get that win first-up in New Zealand, and (he was) well ridden by Hayley, she’s riding in great form,” said Mark Walker, who trains in partnership with Sam Bergerson.
“We sent him home from Melbourne and did a surgery on him for Kissing Spine at Waikato Equine Vet Clinic, so it’s great to see him bounce back from that and win so well.
“We knew he was capable, but just with his back problems we needed to get that sorted. So well done to the vets and he’s just a different horse now.”
On course, assistant trainer, Reece Trumper was also full of praise for the horse.
“We’re so glad to have a horse like this in the stable,” he said.
"Dave (Ellis) purchased one horse out of that sale. We don’t often go to the Tattersall Sale and buy them.
“But things didn’t go to plan for him in Melbourne, we got him back to New Zealand, he did some dressage at Prima Park with Rylee Sheehan, and we’ve taken him along quietly.
“He won a Listed race in Europe, so he’s a pretty good horse and it’s good to see him do that today.
“Sam (Bergerson) and I went back and had a look at his replays. They were riding him very quiet and having one last shot at them, but we thought we’d be positive today, and Hayley is riding terrifically well at the moment.”
Bright Stripes is out of the Dutch Art mare Dutch Rose, with his three career victories earning him just over $195,000 to date. - LOVERACING.NZ News Desk
