G1 winning NZ mare retired

Sunday was an emotional day at Te Akau Racing’s Matamata stables as co-trainer Sam Bergerson bid farewell to Skew Wiff, marking the end of her racing career.

The Waikato Stud-bred and raced mare provided Bergerson with his first Group 1 triumph as a trainer when she secured victory in the 2023 Tarzino Trophy (1400m). That moment remains one of the highlights of his career.

“She holds a really special place in my heart being my first G1 winner,” Bergerson said. “She had a few quirky traits which made her a bit different from everyone else. She wasn’t overly big, but she was just so gutsy and was really special.”

Out of stakes performer Starvoia, Skew Wiff claimed four career victories, including a win on the grand stage of the G3 Hong Kong Jockey Club Stakes (1400m) at Flemington on Melbourne Cup Day.

She also placed at Group level six times, with standout performances in the G1 Arrowfield Stud Plate (2040m), G1 New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m), and the G1 Levin Classic (1600m). Her career earnings exceeded $750,000.

Although she finished fourth in the G1 Telegraph (1200m) at Trentham last month, her final two runs, including Saturday’s Listed Lisa Chittick Champagne Stakes (1400m), were below expectations.

“We would have loved to have won that race for Mark (Chittick, Waikato Stud principal) and the team, but she never came up and we thought her last two runs were a bit disappointing,” Bergerson said.

“She just didn’t come up this time around. We couldn’t fault her at home heading towards Saturday at Matamata. She had lost that zest for racing.

“She has got nothing left to prove, so we are happy to see her go off sound and well.

“It was sad putting her on the float on Sunday, but I am excited for her next chapter of life, and I am sure she is going to be a fantastic broodmare if she leaves the qualities and traits she has herself.”