12 Hours: 5 Wins - Lara G2 Glorious

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

Unbeaten in three starts and a pure athlete, Lara Antipova (2 f Russian Revolution – Artistic Lass, by Myboycharlie) provided Te Akau with its 11th victory in the 58th $225,000 Group 2 J Swap Contractors Matamata Breeders’ Stakes (1200m) on Saturday at Matamata.

Having his first ride on the filly that won her two starts by a combined 12.5 lengths, stable rider Opie Bosson, who rode his 100th Group One winner a week earlier, sidled around to lead at the 800m on Lara Antipova, where she travelled sweetly and raced clear in the straight to win by three and a half lengths.

“She’s a very special filly,” Bosson said. “She wasn’t 100 percent in the ground (Heavy9) and stumbled turning in, but she picked up the bit again, got up underneath me, and she’s definitely a classy animal.”

Trained by Mark Walker & Sam Bergerson, Lara Antipova provided the stable with its fifth consecutive victory in the race, having won it last year with Champion Two-Year-Old La Dorada (Super Seth). The next race intended for the filly is the $550,000 Group 1 Sistema Stakes (1200m) on Saturday 7 March at Ellerslie, won last year by stable-mate and recently announced Waikato Stud stallion Return To Conquer (Snitzel), who provided Te Akau with its 100th Group One win.

Owned by the Fortuna Lara Antipova Syndicate (Mgr: John Galvin), she was purchased for A$100,000 by David Ellis CNZM and Fortuna Racing, from the draft of Vinery Stud, at the 2025 Magic Millions' Gold Coast Yearling Sale. 

“I’ve been attending race meetings for nearly 40 years at Matamata, and in that time the Swap family has been a part of the Matamata Racing Club, so thank you again for your sponsorship,” syndicate manager John Galvin said.

“One special person I’d like to acknowledge is David Ellis. David and I have been working together since 2003. This year at Karaka was our 23rd sale together and every year we’ve bought horses, either at Karaka or on the Gold Coast.

“The instructions in 2025 when we bought this filly was to buy a really nice athletic type, that could run at two, but also have the scope to develop into a nice three-year-old, by a proven stallion that was a little bit off the radar, and not spend anymore than $120,000. 

“Lara Antipova was knocked down to us for $100,000, so once again David you delivered and there’s no one better in the game.

“Also, thanks to Mark (Walker) and Sam (Bergerson). Mark trained the first winner for us in 2003, we’ve never had an argument or bad word, and Te Akau has produced so many winners for us. Thank you, also, to assistant trainer Reece Trumper, both he and Sam are fine young men that are making their way in racing and very passionate about what they do.

“And Opie (Bosson), 21 years ago at Trentham, he rode our two-year-old Kapsdan (Kaapstad) to win the Group 2 Wakefield Challenge Stakes (1200m) and he also rode six Group 1's for us on Melody Belle (Commands).”

On footing that remained Heavy9 throughout the meeting, Lara Antipova ran 1200 metres in 1:14.5, last 600m in 37.1, and although backed off the board to pay $1.20, she won easily in a classy performance, was too quick, and had her ears pricked at the line. 

“Opie (Bosson) took his time to sum it up after they jumped out, kidded to them a little bit, but once they all eased, he took over, travelled up nicely, and we thought at the top of the straight it would take a good one to run her down,” Walker said.

“We weren’t sure, without a trial coming into it, but she’s a very good filly, clean-winded, and doesn’t take a lot of work.

“We think a lot of her, the next port of call will be the Sistema (Stakes) and we could look to Australia. It’s great for John and Jessica Galvin and Fortuna Racing owners, they’ve got another nice one.”

Lara Antipova is by dual Group One winning sprinter Russian Revolution (Snitzel), Leading First and Second Season Sire in Australia, out of Artistic Lass, who won five races from 1800m – 2200m. 

She is the fourth individual winner for the mare, and her first stakes' success, including winner of five races Caring Lass (Sebring) and four-time winner Bubbly Lass (More Than Ready). 

Her grand-dam Famous Painter (Peintre Celebre) left plenty of stakes’ performers, including Group 2 and Group 3 winners Sistine Demon (Excites) and Sistine Angel (Testa Rossa), and Group 3 placed Themoonlitegambler (Good Journey) and Scully (Shooting To Win). 

The pedigree is further enhanced by third dam Rancheetah (Rancher), who recorded eight wins including a stakes’ win, and among five winners she left Group Two Gallopini (Canny Lad). 

Lara Antipova was strapped by Mahesh Kumar and assistant trainer Reece Trumper. 

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