Untapped filly set to make her presence felt at Ashburton
Matt Markham - Raceform • October 10th, 2025 10:29 AM • 4 min read
She might be the least known of the Te Akau trio tackling Saturday’s Gr. 3 Barneswood Farm Stakes at Ashburton, but Origin Of Love is a long way off being merely a third-stringer.
History has proven, time and time again, that this particular Mid Canterbury meeting usually unearths one to follow through to the Cup Week features at Riccarton, and don’t be surprised if the filly by Snitzel is one whose name gets jotted down in the weekend wash-up.
Purchased for A$440,000 by David Ellis at the 2024 Gold Coast Yearling Sale from the draft of Arrowfield Stud, Origin Of Love has been a work in progress for both branches of the Te Akau training setup but is one who has really stepped it up in recent times.
“We’ve been waiting for the penny to drop with her and it looks like it finally might have,” co-trainer Sam Bergerson told RaceForm.
“She’s a really nice filly and always has been, but I just feel like she’s really thrived in the South Island setup because it’s not quite as full-on as it can be up here at times.
“She’s a strong filly who can get a bit full of herself sometimes, but she’s a lot better down there and is going from strength to strength.”
Third on debut at Timaru behind the very progressive Alottago, Origin Of Love delivered in style three weeks later at Riccarton when winning over 1400 metres.
“It was a smart performance and a very good, positive ride from Jasmine Fawcett to get her home too. It’s what we’ve kind of expected from her, so it was good to see.”
There’s no chance to rest on laurels at this time of the year with some big assignments looming, and it’s straight from the frying pan into the fire this week for Origin Of Love as she steps up to take on the best of her age group in the $100,000 feature at Ashburton on Saturday.
“She is a filly we’ve always felt will get better with both time and experience, and it looks like she’s on that path now. It’s a great chance to race for black type, and while she’s giving away a bit of experience to some of her rivals in what is a very good field, she is a filly who could really step up and let them know she’s there.”
Bergerson, who trains alongside Mark Walker, didn’t baulk at the suggestion Origin Of Love might be the horse who bursts onto the scene at the right time this season, as has so often been the case in years gone by.
“Certainly on what she’s shown us at times, she could be that. Obviously she’ll have to keep improving with the racing, but we think she will.”
This year’s Barneswood Farm Stakes is dominated by the fillies, with only the four colts and geldings in the line-up – Alottago, Four The Moment, Pontoon and El Vaquero.
Origin Of Love will be joined by stablemates Cool Aza Rene and Belle Du Monde in the race, with both coming off midfield finishes in the Canterbury Belle Stakes behind Miss Starlight, who will also be there on Saturday.
“On face value they were both disappointing in the Canterbury Belle, we expected good runs from them and things didn’t pan out that way.
“Belle Du Monde was a real head-scratcher, she copped a bit of a check at the top of the straight but didn’t really do anything after that which left us a little concerned.
“We can’t find fault in her work and we know that she’s a very talented filly when at her best, so she gets another chance this week to show it.”
Cool Aza Rene was more a victim of circumstances in the Canterbury Belle, and with a little more luck, the expectation is she can really show up on a good track on Saturday.
“She wouldn’t have beaten the winner, but she was held up for just enough that she lost a bit of momentum and never really got a go at them.
“Hopefully she can settle a bit closer to the speed this week and put her best work in, because she’s a capable filly as well.”
Vinnie Colgan is heading south to take the ride on Belle Du Monde while Bruno Queiroz will ride Cool Aza Rene and Fawcett has retained the ride on Origin Of Love.
Unbeaten filly Miss Starlight heads Saturday’s feature as she shoots for four wins on end for owner, breeder and co-trainer Karen Parsons.
While the fillies head the Te Akau charge for Saturday's meeting, the stable has a role to play in the day’s other features as well.
An in-form and rejuvenated Cognito is back in action chasing a third successive victory in the Ashburton Cup.
“We are stoked with the way he is going at the moment, he’s just loving life down in the South Island barn with Hunter (Durrant) and the team and all reports are great.”
A brilliant three-year-old, Cognito has long been troubled by back pains by kissing spine surgery seems to have really worked on the now six-year-old and he’s showing real versatility.
“He’s on top of his game, the only question this week would be the jump up in weight, but he’s full of confidence at the moment.”
Bergerson confirmed that if Cognito was to run well again this week, the Sothys Spring Classic on October 25 was on the radar for the son of So You Think and then, potentially, the $250,000 Gr. 3 TAB Mile on the middle day of Cup Week.
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