4 Win Friday - Supreme Khan Super

Scoring back-to-back wins, Supreme Khan (5 g Mongolian Khan - Angelica Hall, by Guillotine) notched win four on the programme for trainer Mark Walker when striding clear in the $14,000 Noble & Lee Rating 75 1600 metres at Matamata.

Supreme Khan presented in terrific order before winning the Rating 75 1560 metres on 30 November at Rotorua, and remained in the same grade. Apprentice jockey Yuto Kumagai claimed three kilos to 59kg, which certainly helped and the combination proved too strong for stable-mate and race favourite Pin Me Up (Pins).

Utilising barrier four to sit outside the leader, Supreme Khan pressed on to lead once straightened for the run home and he put an unassailable gap into them before winning easily by one and three-quarter lengths.

“He's in really good form and it was a lovely ride by Yuto,” said trainer Mark Walker, who leads the premiership with 81 wins this season and maintains a huge buffer over second.

“He appreciates some juice in the track, so the footing suited him nicely and we'll probably give him a break now and prepare for the autumn.

“He's been a slow maturing horse, but is from a top family that keeps on improving.”

Let slide in betting, Supreme Khan paid $13.40 & $3.40 on the NZ TAB tote - the second double figure win divvy for the stable - after running 1600 metres in 1:37.2, last 600m in 36.7, on Soft7 footing.

A talented performer that won his first two starts as a three-year-old in the South Island, Supreme Khan has solid form overall and racking up another double resulted in his fifth victory.

Owned by Shaw's Property Holdings, Te Akau Supreme Khan Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM) & Tale to Tell Syndicate, he was purchased by David Ellis CNZM for $160,000, from the draft of Windsor Park Stud, at the 2019 Karaka Book 1 Sale.

On hand to accept the spoils on behalf of the owners, Jane Lewis, an avid golfer from Taupo, said: “Firstly, I'd like to thank the horse most of all, and Te Akau for everything that all of them do.

“He's doing a great job and for the Schick family and the other owners and we can be really proud of the horse.”

From a gifted family, Supreme Khan is from the first crop of Champion Three-Year-Old, subsequent dual Horse of the Year, and Champion Stayer Mongolian Khan (Holy Roman Emperor), who recorded Group One wins in the NZ Derby, ATC Derby, and Caulfield Cup.

Te Akau also trained his impressive dual winning dam Angelica Hall (Guillotine), who, in addition to Supreme Khan, has left dual stakes winner Angelic Miss (Savabeel) in Australia.

His grand-dam, Greta Hall (Kaapstad), who won three stakes races, is a half-sister to Epsom Handicap (Gr. 1, 1600m) and Toorak Handicap (Gr. 1, 1600m) winner Golden Sword (Kaapstad), also Madam Valeta (Palace Music) the dam of Windsor Park stallion Falkirk (Tale Of The Cat), and Mulan Princess (Kaapstad) the dam of Australian Oaks (Gr. 1, 2400m) winner Royal Descent (Danehill).

His third dam, broodmare sensation Lovenvain (Vain), ensures one of the best families for Windsor Park Stud.

On the farm at Te Akau, preparing for Christmas and upcoming race meetings, Ellis said: “It was a shame that the meeting suffered a few scratchings after the thunder storm last night, but the track bounced back to race incredibly well and everyone looked to be having a good day out.

“We had quite a few first time owners in some of the winners today, so congratulations to them and to all the winning owners.

“Christmas, New Year, and through the holidays is such a good but busy time for everyone involved in racing and we're certainly excited about the weeks ahead, with the Karaka Million and leading up to the yearling sales for us, firstly at the Gold Coast and then Karaka.

“Having won that many races already in the first five months of the season shows just what a great job Mark (Walker), our forepersons and our entire team are doing.

“They're doing their absolute best which is wonderful and Karyn and I could not be any more proud of their efforts. It's a great Christmas present to get four winners at a meeting and also to have Opie (Bosson) back from suspension, riding a couple of winners, and he looks in great shape.

“We bought three of these four winners from the Ready To Run Sale at Karaka, and Supreme Khan was out of the Windsor Park draft at the Yearling Sale, so it's a pleasing result on that front, and there are owners in these four horses that are from all parts of the world.

“We buy horses on spec and it's very rewarding to see our owners get a taste of something that only winning with a racehorse can provide. It's a pretty unique experience.”

Supreme Khan was strapped by Katija Cherie.

Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz