Te Akau principal David Ellis has extended his buying arm to Europe with the recent purchase of three-year-old stakes-winning colt Bright Stripes at the Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale in England. 

A winner of four races, Bright Stripes was victorious in the Listed Coolmore Stud Tetrach Stakes (1600m) in May at the Curragh, and was secured by Ellis for 145,000 guineas (NZ$316,000 approx.) out of Stragrane House Stables’ draft. 

Bright Stripes will continue his racing career under the care of Te Akau trainer Mark Walker out of their Cranbourne barn, and the trans-Tasman horseman is excited about his stable’s new acquisition. 

“We put a lot of time and effort into the sale and were delighted to be able to purchase him online,” Walker said. 

“We were looking for a prospect that could run from a mile (1600m) to a mile and a half (2400m) in Australia, and to target some really good races there.  

“His form is very, very good, and strong form has come from the races he’s been in and among the opposition he’s been against. 

“We asked a few form experts in the UK to assess him for us and we were actually pleased to get him for under our budgeted price.  

“He vetted extremely well, which was important to us, and we vetted him to the highest Hong Kong international standards. 

“We think he’s a really exciting prospect for the Australian stable, and the plan is now for him to be gelded in England, and then he’ll come out to Australia. 

“Gelding him straight away will give him the best chance of acclimatising to Australian conditions, where we’ll give him a light autumn preparation before concentrating on some nice spring races next season. 

“We’re thrilled to be able to purchase a stakes winner from the UK, and think he’s an exciting prospect.” 

Bright Stripes is not the first horse obtained by Ellis in Europe, after buying very successful galloper Torcedor in France. 

Ellis purchased Torcedor for 70,000 Euro (NZ$115,000) at the 2013 Deauville Yearling Sales in France, and racing in the Te Akau colours he was owned by Sir Patrick Hogan, Sir Peter Vela, Mohammed Moussa, and Laurie Laxon. 

Torcedor won five races, including the Gr.3 Coolmore Vintage Crop Stakes (2800m) and Gr.3 Longines Sagaro Stakes (3208m), while also finishing second in both the Gr.1 Goodwood Cup (3218m) and Gr.1 Irish St Leger (2816m), and second in the Gr.2 British Champions Long Distance Cup (3208m).