12 Hours: 5 Wins - Bolli Back to Back

In a remarkable 12 hours, Te Akau Racing recorded five wins - two in Victoria and three in New Zealand, including two stakes' race victories ... 

Displaying versatility, Bolli Belle (3 f Shamus Award – Fille Champagne, by Sebring) won the $40,000 Price Racing Special Conditions Maiden 1400 metres on Saturday at Matamata.

Bolli Belle recorded a stylish debut victory on Soft5 footing in the NZB Mega Maiden Series 1340 metres on 19 January at Wanganui, where in addition to the winning stake ($10,360), the owners won an extra $20,000 as part of the NZB Mega Maiden Series.

Although unseasonal rain downgraded track conditions to Heavy9, Bolli Belle had trial-placed on heavy ground and coped well. 

Ridden again by Te Akau apprentice Hayley Hassman (a2), whose two-kilos reduced the weight to 54kg, Bolli Belle recovered after a being tardily away to position behind the leaders in fourth, moved to second on straightening, and gamely chased to claim leader Our Lurrina (Wootton Bassett).

“She tried really hard, has stepped up again and put them away in quite tough conditions,” Hassman said. 

“The leader kept kicking away, but once I changed my stick over, she really fought hard.”

On Heavy9 footing, Bolli Belle ran 1400 metres in 1:28.5, last 600m in 38.6, and paid $3.70 & $1.50 on the NZ TAB tote.

Well-performed when trialling as a two-year-old, Bolli Belle was kept aside by trainers Mark Walker & Sam Bergerson to commence racing as a three-year-old, and now won both her starts. 

“It was a really good effort to win in the conditions and she showed a lot of heart,” Walker said.

“It was a lovely ride of Hayley’s to have her in behind the leaders, kept her nice and balanced, and she went to the line strongly.

“It showed she can get through wet ground and she’s beaten a good field, today, so we’ll have a look for suitable black type assignments for her that are coming up. She gives the impression of getting over more distance, as well.”

Owned by the Te Akau Victory Veuve Racing Partnership (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM), Bolli Belle was purchased by David Ellis CNZM for $75,000 at the 2024 Karaka Book 1 Sale, from the draft of Westbury Stud. The ownership comprises more than 50% of first time ever owners.

On behalf of the owners, Ellis said: “Thank you very much to Jason and Kelly (Price) for sponsoring the race and it’s great the local stables get in behind the Club.

“I know it’s so frustrating when you’re running a racing club and you’re in the middle of summer and get (wet) weather like this. 

“I’d like to congratulate the owners, who are now two from two with the filly, and to Sam (Bergerson) and Reece (Trumper) for the preparation they’ve given her.

“It’s a thrill to have such a good number of the owners here and thank you very much for supporting Te Akau. Over 50% of her ownership team is actually made up by people having their first ever share in a racehorse, so that's very special.

“I’d like to think we’ve got the next Bolli Belle in the paddock at home (Te Akau Stud), after buying the yearlings this year, and everyone is invited to come out and see them.”

Bolli Belle is by Australian Champion Three-Year-Old Shamus Award (Snitzel), the first three-year-old to win the Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) and Group 1 Australian Guineas (1600m) double, and sire of Te Akau trained dual Group 1 winner Quintessa.

Bolli Belle was the second progeny by Shamus Award to win within 24-hours for Te Akau, after Mark Walker trained Cinturato to win stylishly fresh-up on Friday at Te Akau Australia's home track of Cranbourne (Melbourne). 

Son of multiple Champion Sire Snitzel (Redoute’s Choice), Shamus Award has been very successful at stud, siring 331 winners that recently clocked over 1000 wins, and 31 individual stakes' winners (including 12 Group 1 wins).

At the time of purchasing Bolli Belle, Ellis said: “Shamus Award is doing a great job at stud and this is a really nice type of filly. She carries herself beautifully, has terrific balance and just glides when she walks. 

“She is very much in the mould of Shamus Award, and it’s hard to beat the line-up of sires in her dam line: Sebring, Anabaa, Last Tycoon (the sire of O’Reilly), and Champion Australian speed sire Vain.

“We really did pick her up at a good value price and we’re thrilled to be taking her home.”

Her dam Fille Champagne, by Group 1 Golden Slipper (1200m) winner Sebring (More Than Ready), won three races to 1400 metres in Australia, and has already left dual sprint winner Champagne Torque (Capitalist). 

“Sebring has been a high-quality sire influence in Australia, and is having a very bright future as a broodmare sire,” Ellis added. 

Bolli Belle was strapped by Megan Ross. 

Photo credit - Kenton Wright - www.raceimages.co.nz