A Fine Bordeaux

Backed as nearly unbeatable ($1.30), Bordeaux Le Rouge (2 g Burgundy - De La Vere, by O'Reilly) gained victory, but not as intended in the $20,000 Executive Travel Maiden 2YO 1100 metres on 30 November at Ellerslie.

Having fought hard for second on debut in the 2YO 1000 metres on 9 November at Te Rapa, Bordeaux Le Rouge again began well to position second on the outer and Stipendiary Stewards found that the leader, Taroni (Showcasing), was sufficiently wayward (laying out) to change the result.

“You never really like win in the (inquiry) room and prefer to win on your merits, but the horse did a good job,” said trainer Jamie Richards. “Looking at the head on footing, it appeared every time he attempted to challenge the leader, she would come out another half horse width and it certainly made it more difficult to balance up and go past. 

Ridden by Samantha Collett, Bordeaux Le Rouge ran the 1100 metres in 1:05.4 on Good3 footing.

Crucially, the $12,000 winning cheque was a welcomed result for owners in the Te Akau Fine Red Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM) heading towards the Karaka Million (Restricted Listed, 1200m) on 25 January at Ellerslie, with slots determined by prize money. Bordeaux Le Rouge advanced to fifth in the Order of Entry, headed currently by another Burgundy gelding La Romanee.

“He was beaten by a smart one on debut at Te Rapa, and ran well today to secure his spot in the Karaka Million,” Richards said. “We'll probably give him a break now and he may go to the same race as (stable-mate) Cool Aza Beel (Savabeel) in the lead-up a couple of weeks beforehand. Or, we have a listed race around Christmas time at Ellerslie, but we'll see how he does in the interim.”

With $9,000 in stakes earned, Cool Aza Beel is currently 11th in the Order of Entry. The race has been kind to Te Akau in recently times, gaining a hat-trick in the Karaka Million when Probabeel provided the stable with a trifecta earlier this year - following reigning Horse of the Year Melody Belle (Commands) in the 2017 and Avantage (Fastnet Rock) in 2018. 

Standing at Cambridge Stud, and purchased by David Ellis, Burgundy was trained by Te Akau to win five stakes' races before becoming a stallion. His first three two-year-olds to the races all won and he also sired New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year Dijon Bleu. 

“Burgundy is having a really good run,” said Te Akau principal David Ellis. “We've got ten at home that we're about to start breaking in shortly and he was the fastest horse we've ever trained at Te Akau. He was a gifted athlete and probably should have been a Group One winner.”

Bordeaux Le Rouge was exceptional buying when purchased by David Ellis for $20,000 at the NZB 2019 Karaka Book 1 Sale, from the Phoenix Park draft. From a well performed family, he is a half-brother to Royal Stakes (Gr. 2, 2000m) runner-up Adis (Mastercraftsman).

“Jamie and the team have done a great job with the horse,” Ellis said. “He won both his trials before racing and in two starts has now qualified for the richest two-year-old race in New Zealand.”

Bordeaux Le Rouge was strapped by Mette Mosebo. 

“Mette does an outstanding job for us,” Ellis said. “She's a great young woman, superb with the horses and it's terrific to see the success she's having on race days.”

Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz

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