Unbeaten Group One-winning colt Return To Conquer has been retired.
The son of Snitzel was purchased out of Blue Gum Farm’s 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale draft by Te Akau Racing principal David Ellis for $1.3 million, and he went on to remain unbeaten as a juvenile last season.
In the care of trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson, Return To Conquer won on debut in the Listed Counties Challenge Stakes (1100m) before repeating the result in the Gr.3 Colin Jillings 2YO Classic (1200m), Gr.3 Matamata Slipper (1200m) and Gr.1 Sistema Stakes (1200m), the 100th elite-level success for Te Akau Racing.
He crossed the Tasman to join Te Akau’s Cranbourne barn late last season but sustained an injury when placing in his first jumpout at his new home base and the decision has now been made to retire him to stud.
“He was a great athlete and it was the first time in my 30-year training career that I’d started a two-year-old first-up in a Listed race, and he duly won it,” Walker said.
“Every one of his four starts were in stakes races and to win them all shows the calibre of horse that he was.
“Winning the Group One was the highlight, on such a big day at Ellerslie, and to record the 100th Group One for the stable was incredibly special.
“We thought he was well up to Melbourne class, hence we took him to our stable at Cranbourne, but he unfortunately injured himself in his first jump out in the spring and we weren’t able to get him back to the races.
“He had an unbelievable temperament for a colt, huge anaerobic capacity, very clean-winded, and an absolute gentleman to deal with.
“I think he’ll make a high-class sire and he reminds me so much of Sword Of State. He has a similar brain, similar action, and we look forward to watching the progress of his stud career.”
Ellis was taken by Return To Conquer as a yearling and he was pleased he was able to vindicate his early assessment on the track.
“We thought he was the best Snitzel colt in the sale when we bought him and could not fault him in any way,” Ellis said. “There was some very spirited bidding, but we were able to secure him, and he turned out to be a terrific colt.”
While disappointed his racing career has been cut short, Ellis believes he has the attributes to make a successful transition to a career at stud.
“Unfortunately, he has been unable to race as a three-year-old, but he’s by the right sire and has the right pedigree to make a stallion, and there are quite a few interested parties in standing him, which is great.” – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk