In a dazzling display of speed and determination, Trobriand, adorned in the iconic tangerine and blue hues of Te Akau Racing, clinched victory in the Guineas Trial (1400m) at Riccarton.
Trained by the dynamic duo of Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson, the impressive progeny of Kermadec marked his South Island debut with a win after commencing his three-year-old campaign with a commendable third place behind the formidable Crocetti at Ruakaka last month.
Despite facing a late drift in betting, Trobriand, guided by Te Akau apprentice Niranjan Parmar, faced a formidable challenger in Bozo, trained by Kevin Myers and starting as the public favorite at $3.20.
Bozo provided Trobriand ($3.60) with a fierce competition, challenging him throughout the race. Bozo, sitting three-wide for most of the event, made her move at the top of the straight, only to be met head-on by Trobriand, who had tracked her every move.
Maintaining a half-length lead, Trobriand secured his fourth career victory for the Te Akau Island Paradise Racing Partnership.
Sam Bergerson, one of the winning trainers, expressed his satisfaction with the horse's performance, stating, “It was good to see him bounce back after his first-up run as he was a very exciting two-year-old.”
Bergerson also highlighted Trobriand's resilience, emphasizing his tenacity during the challenging moments of the race.
Looking ahead, Bergerson confirmed the Group 1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) on November 11 as the primary target for Trobriand.
He revealed plans for one more run in the Group 3 War Decree Stakes (1600m) on October 28 to fine-tune the horse for the prestigious assignment.
Bergerson said, “The 2000 Guineas is his target, so we will see how he pulls up from this and then confirm his next start with that goal in mind.”
Online bookmakers currently position Trobriand as the third favorite in the 2000 Guineas Fixed Odds market, trailing behind Crocetti ($2.40) and stablemate Tokyo Tycoon ($2.40). Lantern Way ($8.00) has seen a surge in odds after securing victory in the Group 2 Hawke's Bay Guineas (1400m) at Hastings on Saturday.