A Te Akau Flemington Focus

The inaugural winner of the $3.5 million NZB Kiwi (Restricted Listed, 1500m) Damask Rose (Savabeel) heads four entries for Te Akau Racing's Cranbourne stable on Saturday at Flemington (Melbourne).

Purchased by David Ellis CNZM for $200,000, from the draft of Milan Park, at the 2023 Karaka Book 1 Sale, and owned by the Te Akau Coming Up Roses Racing Partnership (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM), Damask Rose included victory in the $1.5 million TAB Karaka Millions 3YO, and has earned over $2.5 million in prize money to date.

6:15 p.m. (NZ) - 4:15 p.m. (Vic) R8 5 Damask Rose (4 m Savabeel – Sombreuil) – Craig Williams; will contest the A$200,000 Group 3 De Bortoli Wines Matron Stakes 1600m.

On the same day Te Akau has four entries in the $4 million NZB Kiwi (Restricted Listed, 1500m) at Ellerslie, including its Slot representative He Who Dares (3 c Snitzel – Rondinella, by Ocean Park), ridden by Opie Bosson ONZM.

At the Slot Auction, held in February 2024 at Karaka, Te Akau principal David Ellis CNZM outlaid $675,000 to secure entry for three years to the richest ever horse race held in New Zealand, where 14 horses run for $3.5 million in the inaugural event, a figure that increases to $4 million this year, and $4.5m in 2027.

Additionally at Flemington, trainer Mark Walker and the team have:

5:40 p.m. (NZ) - 3:40 p.m. (Vic) R7 6 Watch Me Rock (5 g Awesome Rock – What Choux Want) – William Pike; in the A$2 million Group 1 Sharp EIT The All-Star Mile 1600m.

6:55 p.m. (NZ) - 4:55 p.m. (Vic) R9 11 Geegees Mistruth (4 m Wordsmith – Miss Mana) – Lachlan Neindorf; in the A$2million Group 1 Yulong Newmarket Handicap 1200m.

7:35 p.m. (NZ) - 5:35 p.m. R10 9 Jenni’s Meadow (4 m Brutal – Meadow) – Patrick Moloney; in the A$150,000 TAB Australian Cup Prelude (2000m). 

Good luck to our owners Mark, Ben and the whole Cranbourne team!