Te Akau firing with a Cambridge quartet

[Wandering Eyes]

Te Akau Racing were unstoppable at Cambridge Synthetic on Wednesday, with their quartet of winners including an exciting return of promising three-year-olds Legally Binding and Cantatrice.

Before the younger contingent took the spotlight, synthetic specialist Stonybreck added a sixth victory on the course in the “All The News At Trackside.co.nz” (1500m), backing up his success on August 28.

In the hands of rising apprentice Rihaan Goyaram, the son of Tavistock was slow away but travelled strongly throughout the running, and as he loomed around the corner, the win never looked in doubt as he cruised to the line by an extending 3 ¼ lengths.

Sam Bergerson, who trains Stonybreck in partnership with Mark Walker at Matamata, was complimentary of Goyaram’s efforts aboard the 58.5kg topweight.

“Obviously he’s got a fantastic record here, the (weight) claim helped because we stayed in Rating 75 grade, and up in trip really suited him today as well,” he said.

“We told Rihaan to stay out of trouble and that he should be good enough, and he was against a field small in numbers. He kept him balanced and he was strong through the line.”

In the Saddlery Warehouse 1300, Rule Of Law (NZ) (Justify) kicked off a consecutive treble for the stable and jockey Wiremu Pinn, settling outside of the leader from barrier four and showing a strong will to win in the closing stages, holding out Spielberg by a neck.

The win was a second for the son of Justify, who has been lightly raced since his debut 12 months ago.

“He looked in a bit of trouble and probably hit a flat spot, but to be fair to the horse he picked himself up and was really strong through the line,” Bergerson said.

“He’s strengthened up nicely this time round, hopefully he can go through the grades this season, and we think that up in trip will really suit him as well.”

It was the turn of Microphone filly Cantatrice in the following contest, the Sastratech 970, showing a sizzling turn-of-foot to match her early speed to romp in by four lengths, ahead of her stablemate Puzzle Master.

Having just her second race-day appearance, Cantatrice debuted on the soft track in April, but showed a clear favour for the fast surface on the synthetic under Pinn.

“She was super impressive when trialling here a couple of weeks ago and she’s trained on since,” Bergerson said.

“It looks like she’s a filly that enjoys the synthetic (track), or just needs fast ground, and the shorter 970m trip really suited her.

“There were a few boxes ticked today and after she jumped well it was a very positive win.”

Completing the four-timer was Legally Binding, showing a similar dash in the early stages to take up the pace making position in a field of five. The son of Exceedance led the field into the home turn and was never headed, holding tough from Anton by a long neck.

The victory was a reward for patience from the stable, following his debut as a juvenile in March.

“He trialled really well leading into his debut run last season at Matamata, but unfortunately pulled up amiss and we gave him a really good break,” Bergerson said.

“He trialled super here a fortnight ago, another one that has trained on well since then, and although he beat a (small) light field, the plan was to be positive and Wiremu did the job perfectly.

“He’s a pleasure to have around the stable. He’s like an old hack, just mopes around for the riders and goes about his business, and he seems to love being a racehorse.”

The victories took Walker and Bergerson to 23 wins this season, seven ahead of second-placed Kevin Myers in the early stages of the New Zealand Trainer’s Premiership. 

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