Enchantment (NZ) Heads Stable and Karaka Quinella in Welcome Stakes

Premiership-leading trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson took two talented Karaka graduates into Saturday’s 80,000 Listed Property Brokers Welcome Stakes (1000m) at Riccarton, and they came away with a quinella headed by smart filly Enchantment (NZ) (Hello Youmzain).

Haunui Farm offered Enchantment in Book 1 of Karaka 2025, where Sheamus Mills Bloodstock bought her for $60,000. She is now a stakes-winning filly whose four-start career has produced a win, three placings and $59,700 in prize-money.

Walker and Bergerson kicked off Enchantment’s career with a pair of starts in September and November, placing on both occasions behind the likes of subsequent black-type winner De Armas (NZ) (Ardrossan).

Enchantment returned to raceday action over 1000 metres at Riccarton on March 21, finishing second and beaten by a half-head in a desperately close finish. On Saturday she took a big step forward in her exciting career.

After jumping well from gate there, Enchantment was allowed to stride forward to take up the early lead by her jockey Michael McNab, and that was where she stayed. She produced a strong kick early in the home straight, then showed plenty of toughness to hold out the late challenge of her stablemate Never Too Much (NZ) (Rubick) by three-quarters of a length.

The powerful Walker-Bergerson stable has won six of the 11 black-type races for two-year-olds that have been run in New Zealand so far this season.

“It was a good, positive ride by Michael on Enchantment,” Bergerson said. “She still does a few things wrong and was wanting to lug out a bit, but she’s a sharp filly. She’s not overly big, but she’s tough and showed a really good kick today.

“We’re very grateful to Sheamus Mills and the team for trusting us with this filly. Once we knew we weren’t going to get to the Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m) with her, we started working backwards from this race. We’re stoked to get a black-type win on her CV so early in her career, and hopefully it’s onwards and upwards from here.”

Enchantment’s Welcome Stakes performance made a favourable impression on McNab.

“She was building to this, she has done well every time she has stepped out to the races,” he said. “I thought her best run was the other day, when she was a bit covered up and she chased, but I jumped so well today and a couple of the others didn’t, so I took up the lead. She was a little bit green, but once she straightened up, she picked up well and held them off well.”

Runner-up Never Too Much was a $65,000 purchase from Book 2 of Karaka 2025. He has had three starts for three placings and $22,000 in stakes.

“Going up to 1200 metres for the Champagne Stakes here at Riccarton in three weeks’ time should be ideal for him,” Bergerson said. “He’s still learning and improving, but he really attacked the line late. He’s going the right way.”

Vendor	Haunui Farm
Purchaser	Sheamus Mills Bloodstock (Victoria)
Breeding	Hello Youmzain – Belle Fascino
Sale	Lot 482, Karaka 2025 Book 1, $60,000
Breeder	Emblem Ltd
Owner	Heath Newton, Waihi Bloodstock, John Blight, Elias Mantinaos, Pat Donato, Robert Revis, G & N Scanlan, Robert Juleff, David Skilton, Kylie Paton & Meagan Nies