A Unique Saturday Beckons

Te Akau Racing, and the New Zealand racing industry, has a rather unique prospect upcoming on Saturday with three pre-post favourites in Group One races both here and in Australia.

On home soil, reigning Horse of the Year Melody Belle will attempt to make history in the Livamol Classic (Gr. 1, 2040m) at Hastings, thereby becoming the only horse to win the Triple Crown at their Spring Carnival.

Following a slashing run in the Darley Tea Rose Stakes (Gr. 2, 1400m), Karaka Million (Restricted Listed, 1200m) winner Probabeel appears set to appreciate stepping in distance for the Darley Flight Stakes (Gr. 1, 1600m) - fourth leg of the Princess Series - at Royal Randwick.

On the same course, Te Akau Shark contests the Epsom
Handicap (Gr. 1, 1600m) after finishing second there a month ago in the Tramway
Stakes (Gr. 2, 1400m).

All three have earned their
favouritism status through a mix of past and current form, with Melody Belle at
microscopic odds to record her ninth Group One success.

Adding to the occasion, European
staying horse Te Akau Caliburn will step out in the Bart Cummings (Gr. 3, 2500m)
at Flemington, and he too will be fancied having finished solidly for fifth
when fresh-up over 2500 metres there on 14 September.

Given the enormity occasion it is
no surprise that Te Akau principal David Ellis, who purchased all four horses, is
looking forward to it.

“This is what we strive for,”
Ellis said. “Not only for our owners, but for ourselves, all the staff, and the
racing public of New Zealand who get behind these major events and support us.

“While it's exciting to be in
this situation and we'd desperately love to win, we also realize how difficult
each task is going to be. Even Melody Belle, who has been so impressive winning
the first two legs of the Triple Crown, has to raise the bar again when running
over the Cox Plate distance at Hastings.

“We've been so proud of Probabeel in her first two starts at Randwick. I thought her fresh-up run over 1200 metres in the Furious Stakes was terrific, but when she charged home to only be beaten a nose last time in the Tea Rose it was pretty hard to swallow.

“We know what a wonderful talent Te Akau Shark is - you've just got to relive his six-length win in Coupland's Bakeries Mile to remind yourself how good he can be - and I think with the right trip in the Epsom he can be right in it.

“And Te Akau Caliburn, well, we were thrilled with his first-up run over 2500 metres especially after being in quarantine and having last raced in July in the U.K.”

For Ellis, the leading buyer for
the past 14 years at the New Zealand Bloodstock sales at Karaka, these horses
vindicate his eye for a horse.

“I bought Melody Belle and
Probabeel at the Karaka Yearling Sales, Te Akau Shark at the Ready to Run Sale,
which are just around the corner again (20 - 21 November), and Te Akau Caliburn
from Andrew Balding's stable at Newmarket.

“We've got a great team of people
here at Te Akau Stud that break in the yearlings, look after the spellers, and
Jamie (Richards) and his staff are working so hard to give these horses every
opportunity they can. We've had a great start to the season and everyone is
looking forward to Saturday.”

Te Akau trainer Jamie Richards,
in particular, has been putting in the hard yards travelling to oversee the
horses work and race and he too is excited about the weekend forthcoming.

“Probabeel and Te Akau Shark are
both going well and their form is good,” Richards said. “Ashley Handley has
been over there looking after them for us and she's done a great job, and the
staff at home sent them over in great order.”

“They're going to work Tuesday
morning at Randwick, with their race day riders coming into gallop them, so
we'll know a bit more after that.

“Te Akau Caliburn is going well and I'm happy with him. I guess there is a slight question mark on the really firm tracks, but we're hoping he has enough rating points to get a start. Otherwise, we might have to go to plan B which could be the Herbert Power, Saturday week.

“Melody Belle is going really well and I'm happy with her. She looks good and she'll go into the race in tip-top order. She'll also gallop on Tuesday and we'll prepare her to race.”

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