Midnight Blue has proven to be an astute purchase by Te Akau Racing principal David Ellis, and the eight-year-old gelding is looking to continue to prove his worth in New Zealand.
Ellis purchased the son of So You Think as a tried horse from Inglis Digital in November last year for A$92,500, having already won five races, including the Gr.2 Perth Cup (2400m) and Listed Ascot Gold Cup Stakes (1800m).
Since joining trainer Mark Walker's Cranbourne barn, Midnight Blue has added a further two victories to his record, including the Listed Seymour Cup (1600m) last month, accruing more than $220,000 in prizemoney in that time.
The trans-Tasman operation have now shifted their attention to New Zealand with the gelding, eyeing the lucrative prizemoney and bonuses on offer as part of the revamped The Rich Hill Champion Middle Distance Series.
Walker and his New Zealand co-trainer, Sam Bergerson, have been pleased with the way Midnight Blue has settled into his new environment at their Matamata stable.
"We haven't had him here in New Zealand that long, but he has come over in fantastic order," Bergerson said.
"He seems to be enjoying the New Zealand lifestyle. We train him a bit differently over here, he is out in a paddock during the day, which he really loves.
"His work has been good since coming over here, he is a very interesting runner."
Midnight Blue is set to get his first taste of New Zealand racing when he heads to Ellerslie on Saturday to contest the Gr.3 Bayleys Great Northern Challenge Stakes (1600m).
"Off that Seymour Cup form you would think he would be pretty competitive," Bergerson said.
"He is an eight-year-old, but he is bouncy, bright and full of himself here.
"We are hoping he can go a nice race and then there are some nice targets for him over summer if he does step up."
Bergerson is also excited about the prospects of juvenile filly In Haste, who will carry the silks of the TAB Racing Club, who race the daughter of Snitzel in partnership with Newgate Farm and breeder SF Bloodstock, in the Mondiale VGL 1100.
In Haste placed in her first trial over 850m at Waipa last month before returning to the track where she won her 850m heat, and Bergerson is looking forward to seeing what she can do on raceday this weekend.
"We are extremely grateful for them (TAB Racing Club), in partnership with Newgate, to train a filly of that quality," Bergerson said.
"She has been very natural and to do what she has done in her first prep and to get this far is a testament to her constitution.
"I thought her two trials were really good, but she did overdo it in that last trial, but she has got plenty of speed. We haven't had to do much with her since the trial to get ready for Saturday, but she had a nice piece of work right-handed on Wednesday morning and she has gone the right way."
Later on the card, Bergerson is hoping Altari can stamp his Derby credentials when he contests the Listed Armacup 3YO Stakes (1500m).
"We think he is a handy galloper and potentially on a path to the Derby," Bergerson said.
Runner-up over 1400m at Te Rapa first-up last month, the son of Savabeel then finished fifth at Ellerslie earlier this month, and Bergerson said they will ride him quieter from barrier five on Saturday.
"We got it wrong there last time and rode him upside down, he will be ridden a lot colder on Saturday and hopefully he gets a nice run in transit," he said.
"His work has been really good since that last start. On his day, we think he is very capable, so fingers crossed we can see him hitting the line strongly and we can map a path towards the Derby."
Te Akau's tangerine and blue silks will also be carried by High Roller in the Prezzy Card 1300.
Purchased by Ellis out of Riverrock's New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale draft last year, High Roller has been left to mentally mature and will make his eagerly awaited debut this weekend.
"He has taken a bit of time," Bergerson said. "He is a horse from the ready to runs who we always thought could gallop but mentally it has just taken a while for the penny to drop.
"We are looking forward to him finally stepping out and making his debut. We think he is a really nice horse going forward, he has always shown us a lot at home.
"His trials have been good, so we are looking forward to Saturday."
The stable will also be represented at Wanganui on Saturday by Celestial Wonder in the Listed The O'Leary's Fillies Stakes (1340m).
"Celestial Wonder's win at Te Aroha was very good," Bergerson said. "It is a step up in trip and we think she is quite a sharp, speedy filly. That race has come up quite strong. She certainly deserves a chance at black-type and hopefully we can sneak some."
