Former high-flying three-year-old Wild Night gave the impression that he is back to his best form at Matamata on Wednesday, taking out the Matamata Function Centre Premier (1300m).
The powerful chestnut was unstoppable in periods of his three-year-old term, winning five races on the bounce including the Gr.2 James And Annie Sarten Memorial Stakes (1400m) and Listed Uncle Remus Stakes (1200m), alongside placings in the Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m) and the Gr.1 Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m).
The horse’s soundness has been difficult to manage since that phenomenal campaign, and for trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson, Wednesday’s contest would reveal where the gelding’s five-year-old season was heading.
In a compact field of five, Wild Night’s talent was not entirely underestimated by punters, placing him as a $4.20 second-favourite, while Group Three winner Master Fay was heavily backed into $1.40 favouritism.
Wild Night jumped positively away from the barriers under Warren Kennedy to settle in behind pacemaker Sagunto, while Master Fay clearly dipped early and found himself in third position. Those three would end up fighting out a competitive finish, with Master Fay looming up strongly on the turn before Wild Night and Sagunto kicked strongly to the inner and just a short head separated that pair in the finish.
Bergerson couldn’t have been happier to see the son of Vanbrugh back in the winner’s circle.
“On the corner when Master Fay went around him, we thought he was done and dusted, but it’s fantastic to see him back like that,” he said.
“He’s obviously one of the stable favourites, he’s been through a lot in his career and he’s very talented on his day.
“He’s had a really long, slow build-up, and a massive thank you to the team at home, they’ve done a fantastic job with him and he’s taken a lot of managing. But he’s very exciting.”
Wild Night was one of many horses that had travelled to the abandoned Hastings meeting last Saturday, and Bergerson indicated he will keep that in mind when considering a start in the Gr.3 Valley D’Vine Spring Sprint (1400m) on the final day of the carnival at Te Rapa.
“He’s quite well in the handicap, so he could back up in 10 days’ time in the Group Three over 1400, which would’ve been at Hawke’s Bay and now at Te Rapa,” he said.
“He’s done the travel to Hastings and back and now raced, so it could be a bit too much, but that looks to be the most suitable option in the initial stage.
“We think 1400 and a mile in time (will suit), whether he goes down to Wellington or something like that, but like I say, we’re just so stoked to have him back.”
Te Akau principal David Ellis purchased the five-year-old for $50,000 out of Windsor Park Stud’s draft at the 2021 Karaka Yearling Sales, and the victory took his career earnings just shy of $500,000, with seven wins from 14 starts.
The fourth-placegetter in the race, Campionessa, also pleased Bergerson ahead of next Saturday’s Gr.1 Livamol Classic (2040m), where she is an equal second-favourite at $7 on the TAB Futures market.
“We thought in the pre-race that the 1300 may be a bit sharp, but hopefully that will tighten her up nicely for the 2000,” he said.
“It’s not an ideal prep, but at least we’ve got 10 days to get on top of her and hopefully she’s ready to go.”