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Highly-rated Agera readies for winter campaign
Jess de Lautour, LOVERACING.NZ News Desk • May 19th, 2026 4:40 pm
Agera has returned to the trials ahead of a winter campaign for trainer Tony Pike. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images)
Agera will have a weighty task on his hands this winter as the Group Two winner returns as a highly-rated galloper this campaign.
The son of Complacent started the season on a rating of 70, but went on a stunning run of success through the spring, winning six of his 10 starts. Two of those came early on the Cambridge Synthetic, before his streak continued on the turf claiming the Listed Matamata Cup (1600m) and Gr.2 Tauranga Stakes (1530m).
Agera earned $267,000 for connections through that period of time, but consequently his rating reached 99 - a challenge for geldings in open handicap grade.
After enjoying a summer break, Agera was back at the trials at Te Awamutu in late April and on Tuesday at Taupo, producing two efforts that satisfied his trainer Tony Pike.
“I put a young apprentice on (at Taupo) trying to get her license, he’s a lovely horse to ride and he just settled one-out and one-back then came out on the corner and hit the line really well late,” Pike said. “He was good through the line, so it’ll set him up well for his fresh-up run in about 10 days.
“He had a great campaign last time in, his rating has gotten quite high and he’s up to almost 100, which makes placing him a little bit difficult. But, he handles rain-affected tracks and both of his barrier trials have been very good.
“He’s furnished into a racehorse now, he’s very push button and his form this season shows that. If we can place him right through the early part of the winter, hopefully he can get a few more wins on the board.”
Pike has pencilled in an Open 1400m at Te Rapa as his first-up run, a qualifying race for the The Lawn Shed Winter Series.
“His first-up run is likely to be at Te Rapa on the 30th of May, we will work from there and try to earn as much prize money for him through the winter months,” he said.
“In saying that, he’s going to be quite heavily weighted in most of these open handicaps.”
At home in Cambridge, the synthetic season will commence on Wednesday and Pike’s course specialist Delz Abeel will line up in the Waipa Earthworks 1550.
“He’s a poly track specialist, he’s won three of four races there,” Pike said.
“His last few runs haven’t been too bad, he’s in quite a high grade so back on the poly in what is probably a lesser graded race, he should be hard to beat.”
Pike will also make the most of the return to racing at Hastings on Thursday, with six runners heading south including promising three-year-old Ashoka in the Vintech Pacific Poverty Bay Turf Club 1200.
“He’s a very talented three-year-old, he’s still a bit immature but his two starts to date this prep have been great,” Pike said. “He’s definitely due a winning turn.
“He’s got an awkward gate to contend with, but with a bit of luck from there he should be very hard to beat.”
Of his remaining runners, Pike noted debutant Countach as a horse to follow, making his first start in the Power Farming 1400.
“I’ve always had a reasonable opinion of him, and I feel the race sets up well for him from the gate (5)”, he said.
