ANGELS WINGS soars to her 3rd career victory at Riccarton 27th January 2024
Angels Wings (4 m Heroic Valour – Gowana, by More Than Ready) continued her trend of milestone moments for Te Akau Racing when winning the $40,000 Rating 65 1100 metres on Saturday at Riccarton. When winning in July last year, Angels Wings became the 200th winner in a record-breaking season for Mark Walker and on this occasion notched the 100th domestic win for the Te Akau co-trainers Walker and Sam Bergerson. A winner twice previously to 1300 metres, Angels Wings finished fifth off a wide run in the Rating 65 1200 metres on 28 December at Timaru, and appeared ideally drawn (5) to race well.
Ridden by stable apprentice Joe Kamaruddin, Angels Wings took a short time to settle behind the leaders, quickened through to lead at the 200m and kept finding to stave off stable-mate Superbly Written (Written Tycoon) who did very well following an interrupted passage at the rear. In the race sponsored by Berkley Stud at Karaka 2024, Angels Wings ran 1100 metres in 1:01.8 on Good4 footing and drifted in betting to pay $10.20 & $3.10 on the NZ TAB tote.
Click HERE to see the race reult and replay
“She has got ability and we sent her to the South Island with the thinking that would be a more suitable environment for her to win races and reach her potential,” John Galvin said. “It’s a Saturday race and good prize money for the owners and I thought it was a clever decision by Mark (Walker) and Sam (Bergerson) to keep her fresh and run at 1100 metres on this occasion. She didn’t get all favours in the run last time at Timaru, so they gave her a month between races, and the win will set her up nicely to go a bit further up in grade. We bought her as a replacement for Melody Belle, after we sold her on the Gold Coast, and many from that syndicate are in Angels Wings. I don’t think she’ll ever reach the heights of Melody Belle, but she’s a good, honest race mare in her own right.”
Angel’s Wings – 3rd Career Win Riccarton 27th January 2024
Notably, when winning last May, Angels Wings provided the first win for her sire, Heroic Valour (Fastnet Rock), in New Zealand, whom David Ellis purchased as a yearling at Karaka, and known for his consistency at top level he was rewarded with victory in the Diamond Stakes (Gr. 1, 1200m) at Ellerslie.
Te Akau Principal David Ellis was particularly pleased with the result “It’s a fantastic result for John Galvin and his owners, especially on a day when he has one of the favourites (Bellatrix Star) in the Karaka Millions 2YO, so we wish them all the best. What a great achievement by Mark (Walker) and Sam (Bergerson) to reach 100 wins in such quick time again this season and it’s hugely rewarding for everyone involved: staff, owners, and for Karyn and me too,” he said. “It’s especially thrilling for Sam. He’s such a great young man that is putting his heart and soul into training. He’s a terrific leader, has a great affinity with the staff, a talented person in every respect, and a credit to his family who has such a strong background in racing. It’s also a special milestone for our racing manager Reece Trumper, Hunter Durrant, who runs our stable at Riccarton, and Nicole Shailer, our assistant trainer at Matamata. Everyone that works for Te Akau gives 110% and without that type of commitment you just can’t get these sorts of results”
Angel Wings was purchased by David Ellis and Andrew Williams Bloodstock for A$100,000 on behalf of Fortuna Racing, from the draft of KBL Thoroughbreds, at the 2021 Gold Coast National Yearling Sale. She was purchased just a few days after the Fortuna Racing dual Horse of The Year and now Thoroughbred Hall of Famer, Melody Belle, was sold for A$2.6m and many of the Melody Belle owners are also owners in Angels Wings
Angels Wings is owned by Fortuna Angels Wings Syndicate (Mgr: John Galvin), an ownership group comprising 41 individuals
Angels Wings was strapped by Naomi Warrander