Captured By Love remains unbeaten
All roads now lead to the Sistema Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) for Captured By Love (2 f Written Tycoon – Moldova by Snitzel) after the talented juvenile maintained her unbeaten status in yesterday’s Matamata Breeders’ Stakes (Gr 2, 1200m).
Local powerhouse stable Te Akau Racing have been victorious in the last two editions of the Breeders’ with Zourion (Zoustar) (2023) and Maven Belle (Burgundy) (2022) and headed to Matamata with a top chance of scoring a three-peat.
Captured By Love had formed an impeccable record early in her career, with a comfortable victory on debut preceding a three-length demolition in the Wakefield Challenge Stakes (Gr 2, 1100m) in December, before overcoming unfavourable conditions to win the Taranaki 2YO Classic (Gr 2, 1200m) on February 3.
Ken and Bev Kelso’s Alabama Lass (Alabama Express), courtesy of a storming nine-length debut win a fortnight ago, started the $2.30 TAB favourite, with Captured By Love just adrift in the market at $2.90.
However, experience won the day, with Captured By Love beating that rival by a length and three-quarters.
“She’s got a lot of star qualities about her and it really was another terrific win by her today,” Mark Walker, who trains in partnership with Sam Bergerson, said. “She’s certainly a very exciting filly and what she’s doing as a two-year-old could be a bonus to what she does at three, as she looks the type to keep getting better with age.
“She not only has natural talent, but also a tremendous will to win and all roads lead to the Group 1 now.”
A $525,000 purchase by Te Akau principal David Ellis from the Milburn Creek draft at last year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Captured By Love has earned back over $250,000 in just four starts for the Te Akau 2023 Magic Fillies’ Breeding Syndicate.
“What a thrill for us to win this race again, it’s very exciting and I’m especially happy to provide Sam Bergerson with his first win in the Matamata Breeders’ Stakes,” Ellis said. “It keeps our colours to the forefront on the jockey statue in the birdcage and it’s a race that we just love to compete in and try to win.”