Exciting two-year-old colt Return To Conquer remained unbeaten when he headed home a Te Akau Racing trifecta in the Group 3 Matamata Slipper (1200m) on Saturday.
The raging hot favourite with horse racing betting sites was made to work for the victory by stablemate He Who Dares who set up a solid pace in front throughout for rider Craig Grylls before being joined by Return To Conquer at the 300m.
While always appearing to have his rival covered Return To Conquer had to fight hard as He Who Dares showed plenty of heart at just his second start, battling gamely to get within a long neck from the winner at the post as the third member of the Te Akau triumvirate, To Bravery Born, shaded Daylight Robbery for third.
2025 Group 3 Matamata Slipper Replay – Return To Conquer
Rider Michael McNab left no doubt about his opinion of Return To Conquer despite the narrow margin of victory.
“It was a good win and it (the race) sort of mapped the way I thought it might as I wanted to sit outside Craig, so I put myself there just like it was trackwork on a Tuesday morning,” McNab said.
“He is a star in the making as he has a great attitude and you can’t fault him as he has it all there.”
Co-trainer Mark Walker, who prepares the son of Snitzel with Sam Bergerson at Matamata, was pleased to see his star colt continue on his winning path while also providing some encouraging words for the runner-up.
“It was a good effort from the second horse as he has just had the one start for a win at Wanganui and the winner is more experienced,” Walker said.
“With the other horse running third (To Bravery Born) it was a good effort all round.
“He (Return To Conquer) was the same as he was at Ellerslie (last start) in that he seems to win but not by big margins.
“We’ve got a bit of thinking to do although it is most likely the first two will go to the Sistema (Group 1, 1200m) at Ellerslie next month and we will have a think about the third horse.”
The Group 1 Sistema Stakes is one of the feature events on a star-studded programme at Ellerslie’s Champions Day on Saturday 8 March.
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