5 Win Saturday - Tokyo Tycoon & Te Akau Trifecta

Debutante Tokyo Tycoon (2 g Satono Aladdin - All About The Coin, by Starcraft) led home a Te Akau trifecta in the $15,000 Maiden 2YO 1100 metres on Saturday at Te Rapa.

After winning comfortably off a wide trip when trialling on 3 November at Matamata, Tokyo Tycoon held sway in betting over stable-mates She Turns Heads (Headwater) and Talisker (Embellish) and they finished in that order.

It was the second time in recent weeks that the stable had produced the trifecta in a two-year-old race, after Sky On Fire (Exceed and Excel) defeated Rubicon Crossing (Rubick) and Rhetorical (Snitzel) in the Welcome Stakes (Listed, 1000m) at Riccarton.

Steadied fourth outer by reigning Champion Jockey Michael McNab, Tokyo Tycoon was sent after pacemaker She Turns Heads after running a touch wide rounding the home turn and lengthened appreciably to secure victory in a half-length, half-length, finish.

“He's a little ripper and took it all in like an Open Handicapper,” McNab said. “He never lost focus and stuck to the task and chased and chased. When he got past the second the horse he kept going on, too.

“Opie (Bosson) won on him at the trials and gave him a good push and he very rarely gets it wrong. Troy (Harris) rides him in work and said the same thing and they're good judges.”

In the race named SkyCity Hamilton Waikato Cup Day 10 December, Tokyo Tycoon ran 1100 metres in 1:06.5 on footing upgraded to Soft6.

“He's a nice horse going forward and I think the first four horses home have actually all got potential,” said trainer Mark Walker.

“The third horse (Talisker) was probably a little bit unlucky and got shut out over the final stages, and the filly that ran second (She Turns Heads) might be better going right-handed. She trialled really well at Waipa, on a tight right-handed track, so might be a touch better that way around.

“Tokyo Tycoon is quite a light-framed horse, so he'll probably only have one more run ahead of the Karaka Million.”

Accepting on behalf of the owners, Peter Segedin said: “It's thrilling to have a horse cross the line first. It's the first time for me and I'm still shaking because I've never experienced it.

“He's a gorgeous horse and a great privilege to be an owner. I got involved through the promotions that Te Akau does. I liked him because he had four white socks and it's a Red Indian superstition that means good luck.”

Owned by Meadowbank Masters Racing Partnership (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM) & Te Akau Satono Samurai Racing Partnership (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM), Tokyo Tycoon was purchased by David Ellis CNZM in January at the Karaka Book 1 Sale, paying $125,000, from the draft of Rich Hill Stud.

Son of sire sensation Deep Impact, Satono Aladdin won the highest rated mile in Japan: Tokyo Yasuda Kinen (Gr. 1, 1600m) running an incredible 1:31.5.

All About The Coin is by New Zealand bred stallion Starcraft (Soviet Star), a world-class galloper and five-time Group One winner that claimed titles of Champion 3YO in Australia, Champion Sprinter in New Zealand, and Champion Miler in Europe.

David Ellis CNZM and Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM were not at Te Rapa - a rarity for them as both past are Chairmen and Life Members of the Club.  They were attending the wedding of Dayna Davey, who was part of the senior team for eight years, managing the horses at Te Akau Stud, to Mathew Macdonald, a director at Te Akau Transport. However he took time out to comment on the result.

“They looked the three on paper to be there at the finish, but it's still never easy to achieve,” he said.

“Tokyo Tycoon caught our attention at the sale with the way he walked and we could see him being a two-year-old type.  Starcraft is doing an excellent job as a broodmare sire, in turn out of a mare by Champion Sire Redoute's Choice and a line that goes back to the mighty Zabeel and his family.

“He really took the eye and was good buying at the price.”

Tokyo Tycoon was strapped by Sarah West.

Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz