Ascend The Throne (NZ) (Savabeel) struck during his black-type debut on Wednesday winning the Gr.2 Legacy Lodge Waikato Guineas (2000m) at Te Rapa.
After producing two notable performances on the course, Ascend The Throne had lengthened stylishly to win his maiden on 10 January at Matamata, and made the step up with aplomb.
Sporting the addition of blinkers, drawn barrier one with Opie Bosson aboard, Ascend The Throne began smartly to take up a handy position, was sixth at the 1000m, tracked up camped on the leaders turning for home and kept up a defiant gallop to prevail in a close finish after reaching the lead 300m out.
“We got a beautiful run and the gaps just opened up too easily for us, really, and he got there (lead) a bit soon and had a look around,” Bosson said.
“But he’s a very good young stayer and he’s still learning. He tends to get a bit hot and has done before, too, but he’s well behaved and he’s got a good brain.”
Trainer Mark Walker was equally impressed and indicated the son of Savabeel was on track for a tilt at a three-year-old feature.
“It was a good tough win and lovely ride by Opie,” Walker, who trains in partnership with Sam Bergerson, said.
“He got him to relax in a nice position and there’s certainly still improvement to come from this horse. He’s still very lightly raced, so we think he’s right on track towards the Derby.”
The $1m Gr.1 Trackside NZ Derby (2400m) will be contested on Saturday 2 March at Ellerslie. Ascend The Throne is now an $8 chance for the coveted event, while stable-mate What You Wish For (NZ) (Embellish), who circled from last to grab third, is into $16.00.
“We thought the blinkers would help him focus just that bit more and I think we saw that,” Walker added.
“He comes off a very good farm of Tony Rider’s at Milan Park and we’re having plenty of success with horses bred and prepared by them – second in the Karaka Millions 2YO last Saturday and now a Waikato Guineas winner, plus The Perfect Pink, the 1000 Guineas winner we had for Tony.
“They breed good, tough, horses that train on and Aromatic we bought from the Milan Park draft as well.
“So, really thrilled to win the Waikato Guineas and as mentioned, there’s plenty of improvement still to come.”
Owned by Te Akau 2022 Stallion Breeding Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM), Ascend The Throne was purchased by David Ellis CNZM for $575,000 at the 2022 Karaka Book 1 Sale, from the draft of Milan Park.
“He’s from the best family in the stud book,” said Ellis, from the sales grounds at Karaka. “It’s a great South Island family of the Dennis brothers (Tony, Joe, Martin and Ray Dennis) and they have always bred their mares to the best available stallions.
“We rated him one of the best Savabeel colts in the sale when we bought him. We loved him. Out of an O’Reilly mare, which is an outstanding cross, from mares by Centaine and Grosvenor, and it’s the family of our 1000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m) winner The Perfect Pink.
“It’s a great family from the past and also a great current family with so many of the progeny performing well at stakes levels.
“We’ve just finished buying for three days at the Karaka Book 1 Sale, and bought a few with the Savabeel/O’Reilly cross, so to win the Waikato Guineas with Ascend The Throne you couldn’t get better advertising for the bloodlines.
“It’s a massive thrill to finish first and third in the Waikato Guineas, and they both looked pretty good lead-up runs to the Derby.
“We’re very grateful at Waikato Thoroughbred Racing to Joan (Egan) at Legacy Lodge for her sponsorship and we’ve had a great relationship for over 25 years with the Egan family and Greenlea Meats where we sell all our cattle from Te Akau Stud.
“Joan is a Life Member of the racing club and just a great ambassador for New Zealand racing.”
