Tavistock 4YO bright staying prospect

The best is yet to be seen of War Of Succession, who produced a gallant performance to win over a distance short of his best at Ellerslie.

The lightly raced son of the late Tavistock had been unplaced when resuming for trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson before he triumphed over 1600 metres at northern headquarters.

“His run at Wanganui was better than it looked and he’s going to improve when he steps up over more ground,” Bergerson said.

Our homebred was quickly into stride to settle close to the pace away from the rail and finished off resolutely in the run home for his second win from seven appearances.

“We got into a nice spot, and he travelled really well and kicked strongly, the further he goes the better he’ll be,” rider Vinnie Colgan said.

We offered War Of Succession at New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale where Te Akau chief David Ellis went to $500,000 to secure him.

His dam is the Zabeel mare Ziffel, who is in foal to Sword Of State and is a half-sister to the G2 Silver Slipper Stakes winner Amelia’s Dream with their dam the Listed Doomben Slipper winner Shalt Not.

It is also the family of the G1 BMW Stakes winner Grand Zulu and our own About Time, successful in the G2 Sir Patrick Hogan Stakes, and multiple Group 1 placegetter Young Werther.