The familiar tangerine and blue colours of Te Akau Racing were back to doing what they do best when To Bravery Born took out the traditional opening two-year-old race of the season at Wanganui on Saturday.
Despite there being only four runners to face the starter, the Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson-prepared son of Snitzel showed he has what it takes to feature later in the season with a professional performance in downing race favourite Toretto by a comfortable two-length margin in the Dave Hoskins Carriers Maiden 2YO (800m).
Rider Opie Bosson never panicked when his mount was slightly tardy at the start and then hampered by Toretto and Bordeaux Belle as he looked to find a handy position.
Angled three-wide around the home bend To Bravery Born quickly established his dominance and had things well under control as he eased down close to the finish line to provide a pretty picture for owners, the Te Akau Secret Identity Racing Partnership.
Co-trainer Mark Walker had plenty of praise for the performance.
“I remember when Dave (Ellis) bought him as a yearling, we looked at each other and couldn’t believe that he only made $200,000, and were quite perplexed at the time as to why, but it was late in the day and there was torrential rain,” Walker said.
“For a Snitzel colt he was great value, and it was exciting to see him win the way he did on his debut outing.
“He broke in well, has always been a very forward type, and the way he relaxed and went to the line today, really uncontested, suggests he has a nice future.”
Bosson was suitably impressed by his mount given he didn’t have things go all his own way during the race.
“He travelled fairly, although the horses inside me ran us out really wide at the start, but he got into a nice rhythm,” Bosson said.
“Once I stoked him up before the turn he stretched out nicely and did it pretty easily in the end.
“He’s got the ability there and a few gears left so the further he goes the better.”
Te Akau Racing have built a strong record in the race with Gr.2 Eclipse Stakes (1200m) winner Bellatrix Star securing victory last year, while Rubicon Crossing won in 2022 before being twice stakes placed and in 2019 Cool Aza Beel scored prior to also taking out the Karaka Million 2YO (1200m) for the stable, along with the Gr.1 Sistema Stakes (1200m) of that year.
Bred by Nearco Studs’ Greg Tomlison, who has retained an interest in the colt, To Bravery Born was a $200,000 purchase by Te Akau boss David Ellis out of the Curraghmore draft during the Book 1 session of the National Yearling Sale at Karaka earlier this year.
He is out of the All Too Hard mare Milunka, a half-sister to Gr.1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) winner Kahma Lass as well as multiple stakes winners in Kuro, Distinctive Darci and Southern Lad.