Impressive Windsor Park Stud-bred colt Age Of Discovery (3 c Savabeel – Bayrock, by Fastnet Rock) secured Gr.1 2000 Guineas favouritism and created a milestone 2000th career win for trainer Mark Walker with an impressive victory in the $40,000 Rangiora New World Guineas Trial 3YO 1400 metres on Saturday at Riccarton.

Having gained the upper hand for victory in the Maiden 1200 metres on the course a fortnight earlier, Age Of Discovery was expected to have improved with the winning experience and warranted favouritism from barrier five.

Ridden patiently by Wiremu Pinn to track between runners in sixth inside the 800m, Age Of Discovery was presented to the outside on straightening and put paid to his rivals before easing up over the concluding stages.

Quite simplistic in the manner of victory, it showed a colt that had taken benefit from his fresh-up win while also instilling plenty of confidence for his future. 

On Good4 footing, Age Of Discovery ran 1400 metres in 1:24.7, last 600m in 33.5 (approx.) and was pretty short in betting to return $1.30 on the NZ TAB tote. 

On course, Mark Walker, who trains with Sam Bergerson, said: “Dave (Ellis) bought him out of Windsor Park’s draft and we’ve always thought quite a bit of him. 

“First prep, you’re always a bit mindful that they have to get through the early races, but you’d think he’d love a mile here. 

“Wiremu (Pinn) rode him confidently and he’s riding really well. We’ve taken him under our wing and if we can keep him on the straight and narrow he’s as good as any rider going around.”

Nominated for the 2000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m) during Cup Week in November at Riccarton, won seven times by Te Akau and most recently by Noverre (Savabeel) in 2021, Age Of Discovery may now be prepared for the $100,000 War Decree Stakes (Gr. 3, 1600m) on Saturday 26 October at Riccarton. 

“Our theory is that the more practice he has here at Riccarton the better, so we’ll probably come back here for the War Decree at the end of October,” Walker said.

“He’s a really exciting colt and we’ve got him on the right track towards the 2000 Guineas. It was pleasing, just the way he did it today, to see him relax beautifully and really attacked the line. 

“We’re very happy with him and to get the 2000th win with a nice three-year-old colt was fantastic. 

“We’ve had so many great owners over the years that have been incredibly supportive.

“Obviously with Dave (Ellis) buying the best yearlings every year, and having Karyn (Fenton-Ellis) syndicating them, it’s certainly not lost on me the quality of horses we get to work with and train at Te Akau.

“We’ve also had great support over the years from breeders and a lot of individual owners that have sent horses our way to train.

“I’m very thankful to have had the opportunities that I’ve had over the years. I’m still quite young (52), plenty of life left in me and I’m looking forward to training the next thousand.”

Walker has won 11 Champion Trainer titles, trained 36 Group One winners, recorded his 1000th domestic win in 2022, the same year in which he recorded the fastest 100 wins and NZ record 203 wins in a season.

To date, he has trained 1279 wins in New Zealand, 684 in Singapore, and 37 in Australia following victory overnight by Bellatrix Star (Star Witness) in the Scarborough Stakes (Gr. 3, 1200m) at Moonee Valley. 

Owned by the Te Akau the 2023 Karaka Stallion Breeding Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM), Age Of Discovery was purchased by David Ellis CNZM for $625,000 at the Karaka 2023 Book 1 Sale, from the draft of Windsor Park Stud.

A magnificent colt with a stallion pedigree, progeny from the mare Bayrock had realised over $4 million in sales' history.

By eight-time Champion Sire Savabeel (Zabeel), a Cox Plate (Gr. 1, 2040m) winning three-year-old, his dam, Bayrock, is a sister to the explosive dual Group One winner and exciting young stallion Merchant Navy.

“What a lovely 2000 Guineas' trial by a ripper of a colt, by our Champion Sire Savabeel, and what a fantastic job our team is doing at Riccarton,” Ellis said.

“He’s got a beautiful pedigree, is a full brother to a stakes' winner in Australia, Hindaam, and there’s a lot to like about this colt. I believe in this family big time.

“All the horses are racing so well and Hunter (Durrant) is very good at leading young people. Mark Walker has been down there for a few days and took all the team out for dinner on Friday night, and he’s thrilled with the way things are going.

“We’ve got a fantastic group of owners in this colt and the way he went today I think they’re got a pretty exciting horse on their hands. 

“We’ve won the 2000 Guineas with two Savabeel colts that are now at stud, Embellish and Noverre, and Age Of Discovery will get his chance to continue the trend.

“And what an incredible achievement by Mark Walker to train 2000 wins worldwide. He’s so dedicated to his role and just a real inspiration to all young people such is his amazing work ethic.

“He came to me at Te Akau straight out of secondary school and he’s been a great friend and business partner – very much one of the family. 

“To think he’s already trained 2000 winners is just a fantastic effort and we’re really looking to the future together.”

Age Of Discovery was strapped by Hunter Durrant.