Class lives up to his name on debut

[Wandering Eyes]

Te Akau Racing’s winning form in the Central Districts continued at Waverley on Sunday, with promising three-year-old Class (NZ) (Embellish) claiming his maiden on debut in the Summit Electrical (1400m).

The son of Embellish had made six appearances at the trials since mid-February this year and that experience was evident from the jump, gliding to the lead under Lily Sutherland and setting up a solid tempo. Fellow debutant Movin Out joined the gelding at the 600m but Class gained a break turning for home, showing a slick turn-of-foot to score easing down by 3 – ¼ lengths to Only The Lonely.

Mark Walker, who trains Class in partnership with Sam Bergerson, anticipates the son of Embellish will only continue to improve as the distances rise.

“It was a lovely positive ride by Lily and he’ll only get better as we step him up over more distance,” Walker said.

“He was bred out at the farm, so he’s had plenty of time to develop and it’s always great to see the horses bred at Te Akau Stud as weanlings, then yearlings, and train on to win the way he did.

“He may become the type once we get him up in trip, and with further maturity, that he could have a nice staying future.”

Te Akau’s racing manager Reece Trumper added that Class will continue south from Waverley to the stable’s barn at Riccarton Park, with an intention to target the South Island Guineas’ races through the season.

Class is a homebred galloper, with the Te Akau Opulent Syndicate breeding him alongside Glenn and Cathie Holmes.

Te Akau principal David Ellis initially purchased the four-win dam, Opulent, as a yearling in 2013, and she has gone on to produce four individual winners including Luxuriant, Plenty O’ Style and the Australian-based Called To Account.

“It’s always especially exciting for Karyn and I, and the Te Akau owners that breed horses like this, to see them win,” Ellis said.

“Opulent is from one of the best families in the studbook and a beautiful filly with plenty of strength and great balance when we bought her as a yearling at Karaka.

“She was a smart filly that worked effortlessly and looked the part when trialling as a two-year-old, and while she may not have reached the heights we hoped for, she has become a great mother and bred talented horses.”

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