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Te Akau’s Guineas contenders in holiday weekend spotlight
Richard Edmunds, LOVERACING.NZ News Desk • October 24th, 2025 1:30 pm
War Of Silence will contest the Gr.3 War Decree Stakes (1600m) at Riccarton on Saturday. Photo: Race Images South
Labour Weekend is set to play a role in shaping Te Akau Racing’s contingents for the Gr.1 Barneswood Farm New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) and Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton next month.
Trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson have Guineas contenders lining up in two traditional lead-up races over the long weekend, and Te Akau has previously used both events as stepping stones to classic success.
Te Akau has recorded six victories in the Gr.3 War Decree Stakes (1600m) at Riccarton, including subsequent 2000 Guineas winners Noverre (2021) and Tell A Tale (2008) and subsequent 1000 Guineas winner Risque (2015).
Walker and Bergerson will be represented by War Of Silence and Origin Of Love in the 2025 edition of the $100,000 race on Saturday.
War Of Silence is by Snitzel out of Group One winner Silent Sedition and was bought for A$700,000 by David Ellis from the 2024 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale. He won on debut over 1200m at Riccarton on September 13, then was caught right on the finish line and beaten by a half-head by Alottago in the Guineas Trial (1400m) on September 27.
“The penny’s starting to drop with him, and the more we do with him, the better he’s getting,” Bergerson said. “We’re excited to see him step up to the mile on Saturday, which we think will suit, and another look around Riccarton will be a big help as he heads towards the 2000 Guineas.
“We’ve had a bit of success going through this race into the Guineas, and he’s tracking really nicely towards that target. He just got bombed right on the line last time, but he’s taken good improvement from that experience and we’re really happy with the horse.”
Te Akau’s number one jockey Opie Bosson will take the mount on War Of Silence on Saturday, with Joe Doyle booked for stablemate Origin Of Love. The Snitzel filly picked up a win and a placing in her first two starts, then was 1.9 lengths behind winning stablemate Cool Aza Rene when fifth in the Gr.3 Barneswood Farm Stakes (1200m) at Ashburton on October 11.
“We thought she stuck on really well at Ashburton,” Bergerson said. “She wasn’t the easiest filly early on, but she’s learning what it’s all about now and is improving with racing.
“We’re looking forward to seeing her over the mile at Riccarton, which we think will suit her better than 1400m around Ashburton. It’s a good opportunity for her to race for a bit of black type and set herself up for a potential shot at one of the Guineas races as well.”
Meanwhile, Te Rapa’s meeting on Monday features the Gr.2 James and Annie Sarten Memorial (1400m), which Te Akau has previously won with Need I Say More (2020), Sword Of Osman (2018) and Maroofity (2003), while last year’s third placegetter Captured By Love went on to win the 1000 Guineas.
Walker and Bergerson have two of the three favourites in the TAB’s fixed-odds market for the 2000 Guineas entered for Te Rapa on Monday. The $4.50 second favourite He Who Dares will line up in the Sarten, while $6 third favourite Hostility holds an entry for the Listen Live on Sportnation.nz Maiden (1300m).
“He Who Dares is going really well,” Bergerson said. “He’s had just the one run this time in, because we had to take him out of the Hawke’s Bay Guineas (Gr.2, 1400m) when his bloods were just slightly off.
“He had just under a week off after that and has bounced back really well. He’s bright, full of himself and tracking along nicely. He had a gallop between races at Ellerslie last Saturday to keep him ticking over.
“We’re looking forward to the Sarten on Monday, which looks like quite an even race, and we’ll know more after that.
“Hostility’s run at Taupo last start was horrific. He was slow away, then was just building into it when he got run off the track at the turn. That wasn’t his fault, but he might have put himself in a position for it to happen with the way he behaved at the start. We’ve done a lot of remedial work with him in the barriers since then, changed a bit of gear, and he’s been really good.
“We think he’s starting to come into himself, but now he’s drawn 18 for that race on Monday, so we’re not sure if he’ll run. It would be great to get him to the 2000 Guineas as well, but he hasn’t really had the rub of the green this spring.”
Bergerson identified plenty of other strong chances among Te Akau’s weekend runners, including Cognito in Saturday’s Listed Sothys Spring Classic (2000m).
“Cognito is going really well down there in Christchurch,” Bergerson said. “We gave him a bit of a freshen up after he put two really good wins together. He had to carry 60kg in the Ashburton Cup (1600m) last time and was flushed wide around the corner, but he stuck on gamely.
“We think getting back to Riccarton suits him better, and we think he’ll appreciate the step up to 2000m as well. Opie knows him well and he drops to 57kg, although the favourite (Sir Albert) will be hard to beat again.
“Elegant Lady’s in the same race. She ran well over the same course and distance last start and took good benefit from that 2000m run. She has a bit of a niggly gate (13), but sneaks in with a light weight and might be a nice each-way chance. We’d love to see her pick up some more black type.
“We’ve got a couple of runners in the TAB Mile Trial (1400m) as well, including Stonybreck, who surprised us a little bit with his brilliant win last start. We’ve kept him nice and fresh for this race over the same course and distance. He’s trained on well and seems to be enjoying the south. Having his stablemate Perfect Scenario in the same race helps his weight a little bit and he gets in well.
“We’ll take 3kg off Perfect Scenario with Sage Duric’s claim. He’s been running really well this time in without a lot of luck. He still loves his racing and is sure to give a good account of himself again.
“An interesting runner is I’m A Dirty Rascal in the Road to Jericho (3000m). He’s very well-travelled and has been all around the world. It’s nearly 1500 days since he last won a race, but we think 3000m and Riccarton should suit. His run at Taupo last time was pretty good, he’s just so dour and one-paced. He couldn’t sprint with the rest of the field when they quickened at the 400m, but he kept grinding away and kicking back down the straight. This looks a nice race for him on paper, and hopefully it’s a step towards the New Zealand Cup (Gr.3, 3200m).
“We’ve also got a nice team in at Ellerslie. What You Wish For is well placed in the open 1600m race and looks a good each-way chance there, while Midnight Blue might take a bit of benefit from his first-up outing in the same race.
“Celestial Wonder has a great record at Ellerslie and we’re looking forward to getting her back there. Belle Cheval ran very well on debut and has been great around the stable since then, and Vickezzlastcall and Top Shelf have been making excellent progress too.” – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk
