Fifth Stakes Win for Fighting Burgundy

The $1.3 million entire�Burgundy�(NZ) (Redoute�s Choice x Grand Echezeaux) took his fifth stakes win, and capped off a great day for his trainer Jason Bridgman and Te Akau Racing, with victory in the $50,000 Listed Fairdale/Goodwood Studs Flying Handicap (1400m) on Saturday.

Burgundy was resuming after just over two months away from the track and he turned in a game front-running performance under jockey Matthew Cameron, fighting off rivals I Do (No Excuse Needed) and Special Draw (Falkirk) in a determined effort to win by half a neck.

Burgundy may now head to Queensland for the Winter Carnival�

The four-year-old won the Listed Levin Stakes (1200m) fresh up in November in much the same fashion as Saturday�s race before finishing fifth and third in New Zealand�s Group 1 sprints, the Railway Stakes and Telegraph Handicap.�

Saturday�s win completed a great day for Jason Bridgman who also saw Karaka graduate Better Than Ever (French Deputy) win the Group 2 Lawnmaster Awapuni Gold Cup.

�He�s an unbelievable horse,� commented Te Akau Principle David Ellis. �We are now looking towards the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap with him and will plan out his lead in races over the next few days.�

�He capped off a great day for us and for Pencarrow Stud with Darci Brahma siring Recite who won the Group 1 Sires� Produce Stakes at the same meeting. It�s a family that is really producing results so it�s great for his breeders Peter and Philip Vela.�

Burgundy�s victory finished a successful meeting for his breeders Peter and Philip Vela who own his dam Grand Echezeaux (Zabeel), and who also produced Burgundy�s three-quarter brother Darci Brahma.

A $1.3 million yearling, Burgundy was purchased by David Ellis from Peter and Philip Vela�s Pencarrow Stud at the 2010 Karaka Premier Sale and is raced by the Te Akau 2010 Breeding Syndicate.

The son of Redoute�s Choice has now won seven of his 12 starts for $214,125 in stakes.�