Te Akau Principal David Ellis has been impressed with the 27-year-old since he has joined the racing arm of the operation, and he is pleased to offer the young horseman the new opportunity.

“Sam is an outstanding young man, a fine example of passion and professionalism, and comes from a family with a strong and generational background in working with horses,” Ellis said.

“Horses are the cornerstone of our business and we strive to attain the best we can for our owners. We need the best quality horses but I can’t stress enough the importance of having the right people involved as well. It doesn’t matter what business or industry you’re in, success is generally determined by how professional and talented your staff are and at Te Akau, we’re fortunate to have the very best.”

Bergerson hails from a racing family, with his father, Roydon, and grandfather, Herb, both trainers.

Trainer Jamie Richards is looking forward to working closely with Bergerson as his new assistant.

“Sam has played an important part in our team since joining Te Akau and has really made his mark in the past 12 months,” Richards said. “I look forward to welcoming him on 1 August as our assistant trainer.

“I thank Dave (Ellis) and Karyn (FentonEllis) for sharing my belief in Sam’s capability, and he’s a very well liked member of our team.”

Bergerson is excited about the opportunity to take on a leadership role with Te Akau.

“I was both surprised and excited when David and Karyn first told me. I see it as a massive opportunity, I appreciate the trust they have in me, and even to be considered for the role is a great thrill,” he said.

“I feel honoured to be assistant trainer in such a prestigious racing organisation. It’s still to sink in, it’s a bit overwhelming and a bit daunting, but I’m really looking forward to it.”