5 Win Tuesday - Alminette a Clean Pair of Heels

Following two earlier wins on the programme, trainer Mark Walker saddled a Te Akau trifecta led home by Alminette (3 f Burgundy - High Heels, by High Chaparral) in the $14,000 Fairview Motors Maiden 3YO 1200 metres on 3 January at Matamata.

Having tried hard on Heavy9 footing when finishing third on debut in the Maiden 1200 metres on 9 December at Tauranga, she was expected to appreciate better footing.

With Craig Grylls aboard, who won the previous race with an aggressive ride on stable-mate Off To The Nunnery (Turn Me Loose), Alminette was soon in front and never flinched in holding Sorcha (Burgundy) at bay, ridden by Joe Kamaruddin, while Redsheis (Burgundy) emulated her debut third by making good ground under jockey Jake Bayliss.

Not only was it a stable trifecta, but also a trifecta for sire Burgundy (Redoute's Choice). One of the fastest horses ever trained by Te Akau - winning five stakes' races - Burgundy was purchased as a yearling by David Ellis, having already bought his three-quarter brother Darci Brahma (Danehill), a renowned five-time Group One winner and Champion Sire.

On Soft5 footing, Alminette ran 1200 metres in 1:10.8, last 600m in 35, and paid $5.30 & $1.90 on the NZ TAB tote.

Owned by the Te Akau Running In Heels Racing Partnership (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM), Alminette was purchased by David Ellis CNZM for $52,500 at the 2021 Karaka Book 2 Sale, on account of Sunlight Trust, and is from a classy family bred by Paddy Preston of Mills Reef Winery.

The family has left precocious and classy performers, mainly fillies, with the ability to win over a wide range of distances.

Alminette became the fifth individual winner for High Heels, at distances from 1200m to 2200m, while grand-dam Wave To Lottie (Crested Wave) left Group One winner Veloce Bella (Volksraad) who became a very good producer including Group Three winner Walking Flying (Tavistock).

At the time of purchase, Ellis said: “She's very well put together and a filly with beautiful balance. She's got a lovely head, great colour, substance, and plenty of natural strength.

“She's out of a High Chaparral (Sadler's Wells) mare, a high-class sire, sire of sires, and broodmare sire, and we think that for a filly of her quality she was very good value.”

Alminette was strapped by Caitlin McPherson.

Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz