A Season of Success & More to Come

Te Akau Racing has enjoyed another stellar season, and while the depth of highly skilled and experienced staff is paramount to the success, nothing quite tops the buying power of quality thoroughbreds and subsequent syndication by Principal David Ellis (awarded Outstanding Contribution to Racing, and the Waikato Excellence Award for Agriculture and Primary Production).

When Bart Cummings was asked what he attributed his success to, he replied: “horses”. Meaning, without superior equine athletes it becomes hard to make a name for yourself. And the efforts by Ellis over the past 35 years in acquiring the right bloodstock has contributed to success and thrills for many in the racing industry.

Premiership winners in 2015/16, third last season, and currently second, trainers Stephen Autridge & Jamie Richards have had their hands on some cracking horses this season, enough to enable a record number of stakes' wins (17), including five individual Group One winners.

While the list of stakes' winners (listed below) are a given for their prowess, a review of some undergraduates, responsible for the stable recently notching 15 wins from 25 presented at the races, are worth investigation heading into the new season on 1 August:

Three-year-old staying filly Lady Zeraph (Makfi) recorded a timely Maiden win in April at Waipa. Success came at her third start, following two commendable performances. Her dam Zatiger (Zabeel) impressed winning over 1600 metres and has already left a winner of seven races up to 2200 metres in Singapore, and a winner over 2000 metres in Australia. Lady Zeraph has a good action, should mature nicely for a spring/summer campaign and work through the grades over ground. She was purchased by Ellis for $120,000 at the 2016 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Sale, from the draft of Wellfield Stud.

There was plenty to like about the debut win by two-year-old gelding Total Excess (Delago Deluxe) in April at Hastings. Having looked good in three trials without being extended, Total Excess is a beautifully balanced young horse, athletic, and exudes quality inherited from a very good family nurtured by the Murfitt family at Riccarton Stud in Christchurch. He looks a type capable of graduating towards classic races in his maternal home, come Spring. He was purchased by Ellis for $200,000 at the 2017 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale, from the draft of Regal Farm.

Although having taken time to mature, there was enough evidence in the debut win by Meteoric Lass (Stratum) earlier this month to suggest she will be winning more races. The three-year-old filly led and had her race all sewn up at Waipukurau. Bought by Ellis for $50,000 at the 2016 Gold Coast Yearling Sale, from the draft of Kitchwin Hills, she is a sister to dual stakes' winner Meteoroid (Northern Meteor) in Australia.

Royally bred three-year-old gelding Seirios (Pierro) put it all together when winning in May at Waipa. Once clear, he shouldered into his work stylishly and scored in the manner of horse ready to win more races when returned to competition in the spring. His dam Irish Lights won the Thousand Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m) at Caulfield, and Pierro (Lonhro) only ever ran in stakes' races, winning five Group Ones. Seirios was purchased by Ellis for $480,000 at the 2016 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, from the draft of Coolmore Stud.

Another May winner, now spelling and set a return to racing in spring, Full of Grace (O'Reilly) displayed promising attributes in his victory at Ruakaka. Out of a Zabeel mare, from the family of stallions Redoute's Choice (Danehill), Niagara (Encosta De Lago), Umatilla (Miswaki), Hurricane Sky (Star Watch) and Manhattan Rain (Encosta De Lago), the bloodlines rest within for Full of Grace to make plenty of headway next season. He was bought by Ellis for $110,000 at the 2016 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Sale, from the draft of Cambridge Stud.

Spelled following a very good performance in a stakes race earlier this month at Te Rapa, Byzantine (Savabeel) is a beautiful colt, from a classy family, and he did everything asked of him to notch a win during three starts as a two-year-old. He lacks for nothing on the score of pedigree and talent, and his return at three will be eagerly awaited. He was purchased by Ellis for $200,000 at the 2017 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Yearling Sale, from the draft of Little Avondale Stud.

Ristretto (Makfi), one of 12 individual two-year-old winners for Te Akau this season, showed plenty of talent to win both her trials before a successful debut in April at New Plymouth. There is strong form around her winning performance and she appears an exciting three-year-old prospect. She was bought by Ellis for $115,000 at the 2017 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale, from the draft of Westbury Stud.

Season highlights (2017-18):

Avantage (Fastnet Rock): Sires' Produce Stakes (Gr. 1, 1400m) and Karaka Million (Restricted Listed, 1200m), Sword of Osman (Savabeel): Sistema Stakes (Gr. 1, 1200m) and Matamata Slipper (Gr. 3, 1200m), Embellish (Savabeel): 2000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m), Age of Fire (Fastnet Rock): Levin Classic (Gr. 1, 1600m), Gingernuts (Iffraaj): Windsor Park Stakes (Gr. 1, 1600m), Splurge (Savabeel): Manawatu Challenge Stakes (Gr. 2, 1400m), Royal Success (Savabeel): J Swap Stakes (Gr. 3, 1400m), Chambord (Zabeel): Levin Stakes (Listed, 1200m), Al Hasa (Exceed and Excel): Welcome Stakes (Listed, 1000m), Chance To Dance (Teofilo): OMF Stakes (Gr. 3, 2000m) and Haunui Classic (Listed, 1600m), Grazia (Savabeel): Spring Classic (Listed, 2000m), Our Abbadean (Lookin' at Lucky): Awapuni Gold Cup (Gr. 2, 2000m) and Travis Stakes (Gr. 2, 2000m), Melody Belle (Commands): Mongolian Khan Trophy (Gr. 3, 1200m).