Awapuni’s renovated grass track was given its biggest test on its return when it held 11 heats of trials under torrential rain on Tuesday.
The track held up well and the trial meeting concluded without incident, much to the satisfaction of local trainers, including Roydon Bergerson.
“It was thumbs up from everybody, it was just great to get back there,” Bergerson said. “It poured with rain before the first heat and if a horse were to slip it would have been today, but they got around that corner really well and all of the jockeys were happy. There wasn’t as much kick-back and that track held up really well. Everyone was happy in the end.”
Bergerson recorded two trial wins, including with his former top juvenile Wolverine (NZ) (Tivaci), who took out her 1000m heat by a nose over Old Town Road.
The daughter of Tivaci won her first three races for Bergerson as a two-year-old, including the Gr.2 Wakefield Challenge Stakes (1100m) and Gr.2 Eclipse Stakes (1200m) before finishing runner-up in the Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m) and Gr.1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m).
She continued her racing career in Australia for trainer Kris Lees and Australia Bloodstock, for whom she placed on five occasions, including the Gr.2 Tea Rose Stakes (1400m), Listed Canberra Guineas (1400m), Gr.3 Carbine Club Stakes (1600m), Listed Daybreak Lover (1400m) and Listed Princess Stakes (1619m).
She was then purchased by Te Akau Racing principal David Ellis at the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale for A$850,000, but failed to fire on her New Zealand return, and returned to Bergerson’s care earlier this year.
Bergerson is pleased to have Wolverine back in his barn, and he has been satisfied with her progress, eyeing a tilt at the Gr.3 Rotorua ITM Stakes (1400m) at Arawa Park next month as her first-up assignment.
“It is nice to have her back and she has come back in good condition,” Bergerson said. “She had a decent spell, which is probably what she needed, and she has really matured up into a really good looking five-year-old mare.
“She will probably gallop between races here (Awapuni) on ANZAC Day, and may have another trial at Waipukurau, and on the 10th of May there is a weight-for-age fillies and mares race at Rotorua which will probably be her kick-off.
“She is really sound and happy at the moment, so long may it continue.”
Bergerson was also pleased with stablemate Reservoir’s (NZ) (El Roca) 1200m trial victory on Tuesday and is looking to step him up to 1400m for his raceday debut on the advice of apprentice jockey Jim Chung.
“He has just taken a of time,” Bergerson said of the three-year-old son of El Roca.
“We put the blinkers on him to help with his confidence. He was travelling in amongst them, but he was just frightened of other horses. We kicked him out of the barriers today and put the blinkers on him and he held on quite well.
“Jimmy said he probably needs a bit more ground, so we will look to run him in a 1400m race somewhere.”
Bergerson is looking forward to racing returning to his home track on ANZAC Day and said it has been a trying last couple of years having the track out of commission for renovation work.
“It has been amazing the success the Awapuni horses have had not having a course proper or grass to gallop on,” he said.
“It is really good to have nice grass to gallop on and a course proper to race on now. We did go through hell for a while but now everything is tickety-boo.
“There’s nothing like getting up and going across the road to the races. We have really missed it all for the last two summers. The closest ones (raceday tracks) were Otaki, Wanganui and Woodville. It’s good to save the owners a bit of money now too, so it will be good to get back here on ANZAC Day.”
