IN Racing
Talisker breaks through for maiden win
Stakes performer Talisker broke through for his maiden win at Riccarton’s synthetic meeting on Thursday when victorious in the Christchurch Casino SI Racing Awards 15 September Maiden (1200m).
LOVERACING.NZ News Desk | August 31, 2023
Photo: Race Images South

Stakes performer Talisker broke through for his maiden win at Riccarton’s synthetic meeting on Thursday when victorious in the Christchurch Casino SI Racing Awards 15 September Maiden (1200m).

The three-year-old gelding had placed in two of his four previous starts as a juvenile, including runner-up behind stablemate Trobriand in the Gr.2 Eclipse Stakes (1200m) at Te Rapa on Boxing Day.

He had two trials leading into his fresh-up run and trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson were pleased with what they saw from their gelding.

He was pushed forward early by apprentice jockey Niranjan Parmar to take up a front-running role. The pair kept a solid tempo up front and proved too strong for their rivals, with Talisker running out a 2-1/2 length victor over Ponzi Pony.

“It was a good effort because he did a bit of work to get across (lead) and I thought he was hugely impressive, after doing so much work, the way he strode away to win,” Walker said.

“We’ve got a very high opinion of the stallion Embellish, and this bloke will only get better as he gets over more distance.”

Mark Walker Sam Bergerson Talisker Te Akau