A Stunning Saturday of Success

It was one of those days on Saturday that the Te Akau team lives and breathes for - for our horses and our owners!

Te Akau lined up nine runners in the North and South Islands and celebrated four winners - including a Group 1 and a Group 3 win, as well as a Listed third placing!

We are super proud of the whole team - and the superb rides that saw such a special day unfold!

Let's start with the most prestigious - another Group 1 - Jamie's second for the season ...

Melody Belle - purchased by David Ellis at Karaka - went Group 1 back to back, winning the Windsor Park Plate at Hastings on Saturday.  This lovely Commands mare is now unbeaten this season - she won the Group 2 Foxbridge Plate fresh up at Te Rapa, then it was the Group 1 Tarzino Trophy at Hastings on the first day of the Spring Carnival and today, sent out favourite, she duly delivered further elite success, trouncing a very good field.  She has certainly confirmed herself as one of the best Sprinter/Milers currently racing in New Zealand.

It was great to see Shafiq Rusof win his second Group 1 in New Zealand - with 11 wins for the season, he lies second on the Jockeys' Premiership, leading the way for both Group/Listed wins and also stakes' earnings ($431,190).

This was of course the race Te Akau's pride and joy Gingernuts won last year!

Earlier on the Hastings' programme, our Champion 2YO of last season Avantage dug deep and fought like a tiger to claim the Group 3 Hawkes Bay Breeders' Gold Trail Stakes.  Also purchased by David at Karaka - she has now won six of her seven starts, her only defeat coming from a wide draw in last season's Group 1 Sistema Stakes where she finished runner up and had the stand-out sectionals of the day.

Avantage has now won the Karaka Million, the Group 1 Manawatu Sires' Stakes and now the Group 3 Hawkes bay Breeders' Gold Trail Stakes - and she has hit her road towards the Group 1 NZ 1000 Guineas at Riccarton in November in fine fashion.

In keeping with the black type success theme of Saturday - we were also very proud of our Zoustar filly Quattro Katie who, though still a maiden filly, performed so well when third in the Listed Canterbury Belle Stakes at only her third start - and earning valuable black type.  She too was purchased by David - at the Magic Millions January Sale last year.

Riccarton was also the scene for two further wins today, the first being the blue blooded Smart Missile filly Miss Scandinavia.  Purchased by David, she is a daughter of Miss Helsinki and granddaughter of the great mare Miss Finland.  She scored her maiden win in great style with Te Akau apprentice Nik Bakar aboard and isn't he riding red hot!

Nik soon made it a double when guiding top weight Remington to victory - continuing this Darci Brahma 4YO's very good form.  Purchased by David Ellis from Karaka, he has race five times for two wins and three second placings - a super strike rate.

Congratulations to our winning owners - and we salute Jamie and our hard working team for all the passion and energy they dedicate to our horses!  Jamie now leads the Trainers' Premiership for wins, Group/Listed wins and stakes' earnings:

Premierships are based on performances during each racing season (August 1st - July 31st). The jockey and trainer with the most wins at the end of the season are the Premiership winners. These statistics are updated daily.