A barnstorming finish has delivered Te Akau Racing with a stunning late Christmas present as underrated galloper What You Wish For came from last on the home bend to take out the Harcourts Taupo Cup (2000m) in front of a bumper holiday crowd.
The Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson-prepared five-year-old had provided mixed results in the first four starts of his current campaign, with his most recent run seeing him finish midfield in the Gr.3 Manawatu Cup (2300m) at Trentham on 20 December.
Walker and Bergerson gave him a couple of days to freshen up after the long float trip to their Matamata base and the son of Embellish looked a picture of health during his pre-start parade.
With a number of runners keen on being near the pace in the feature event on the day, rider Wiremu Pinn was content to settle back near last on What You Wish For and was spotting pacemaker Knights Realm more than 10 lengths as the pressure was applied at the 800m.
Pinn didn’t panic as he took his mount to the outside on the home bend and just as Knights Realm looked to have stolen the major spoils, What You Wish For stormed past him in the final 100m to claim a one length victory with ease.
Bergerson was delighted to see his charge back in winning form with his last victory coming in the Listed Kaimai Stakes (2000m) back in February.
“It was a really good effort today, although we were happy with him heading into Trentham, but he just fails to get past 2000m,” Bergerson said.
“We gave him a light week, changed it up a little and kept him nice and fresh.
“It was a good, patient ride by Billy (Pinn), but geez he sprinted well.
“He just loves Taupo and he won like this first up last season, so we thought we would try our luck and come back again.
“He has always been a talented galloper but just hasn’t had the rub of the green at times and is a good horse on his day.
“We may freshen him up again and go to the Taranaki Cup (Gr.3, 1800m) or even defend his Kaimai Stakes (Listed, 2000m) title.”
What You Wish For was offered by breeders Cambridge Stud in Book 1 of Karaka 2022, where David Ellis bought him for $60,000. He has now won five of his 24 starts and $284,465 in stakes.
The Taupo Cup was also the final race in the Northern Cups Bonus Series, with Agera holding on to score a two-point victory over Just Charlie to take home the $50,000 winner takes all bonus.