Awareness Awesome on Debut

Awareness (3 f Redoute's Choice - Aware, by Tale of the Cat) made the perfect start to her racing career by winning the $10,000 Lindauer Maiden 3YO 1000 metres on 17 December at Ruakaka.

Having kept up a solid gallop for second after working on pace, in the fastest (52.0) of the 935-metre heats, when trialling on 26 November at Cambridge, Awareness was perfectly placed by trainer Jamie Richards to prove competitive first-up and home she rolled.

Ridden by Te Akau apprentice Chelsea Burdan, claiming to 52.5kgs, she was a touch awkward through the early stages when attempting to settle outside the leader, but knuckled down in the straight before gaining ascendency near the line.  

On Dead4 footing, Awareness ran the 1000 metres in a slick 56.6 and paid $4.70 & $1.60 on the NZ TAB tote. 

“She'd always shown a bit, although she's been quite immature and as she's not great in the feed bin, she's needed time to strengthen,” Richards said. “But, having taken her along quietly she is starting to get there now.”

A filly with lovely conformation and an action to match, she was purchased by David Ellis for $300,000 at the 2018 Sydney Easter Yearling Sale, from the draft of Newhaven Park Stud, owned by the Te Akau Very Aware Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM) and Luke Kemeys for Boys Get Paid. 

“She was quite a nice filly when we bought her and we thought she could be a readymade two-year-old, but she's just taken time to put it altogether. She'd improved off her good trial at Cambridge, and we went to the races confident that she was ready to run well. 

“I thought she was aided by a lovely ride from Chelsea. The inside horse tried to kick up and make things tricky for us, but she used her brains to sit off a bit and the filly found a good kick in the straight. 

“It was a nice win and I'm sure if we continue to place her carefully the owners can enjoy more fun with her. She's got a lovely pedigree and any wins she can add to her page will certainly enhance her value.”

Awareness became the 12^thwinner this month for Richards, at a strike rate of 2.8 and he leads the premiership with 50 wins.

“A fantastic milestone for Jamie and all the staff to have won 50 races this early in the season,” said Te Akau principal David Ellis. “The horses are really starting to fire at the right time of year and it's exciting for the owners.

“It was another good ride by Chelsea and she's going from strength to strength. She had to have her wits about her, especially through the early stages, but I thought she managed the situation very well.

“Awareness is the second winner this week that Luke Kemeys and Boys Get Paid are in on, after Combat Queen won on Wednesday at Hastings, and there are other really good owners in the filly. 

“We had to give her a bit of time after she trialled well in February as two-year-old, but it was a good decision not to rush her and she's rewarded everyone with a debut win.”

By the undisputed king of Australian sires, Redoute's Choice, a son of the most successful sire of all time in Danehill (Danzig), her dam sire, Tale of the Cat (Storm Cat), was a Champion 2YO Sire in the U.S.A, Champion Freshman sire in New Zealand, and sire of 2000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m) winner Tell A Tale, who was purchased as a yearling by David Ellis for $125,000 at the Magic Millions Sale on the Gold Coast, and trained by Mark Walker.

A beautifully athletic filly, Awareness is the first foal from a mare that won three times over 1200 metres, and boasts the speed influence of stallion Lunchtime (Silly Season) on both dam sides in her pedigree.

“She's from a brilliant family, so she's got really good residual value and her brother sold for over a million at the Gold Coast Yearling Sale this year,” Ellis said. “We bought her off John Kelly at Newhaven Park Stud, one of the best stud farms in the world and where our 2000 Guineas' winner Xtravagant is standing.”

For Boys Get Paid founder Luke Kemeys, two wins in a week has been outstanding and he took time out from a business podcast to soak up the victory.

“It's great for the guys and gals and some of them went to Ruakaka,” Kemeys said. “They got in for the free beer and the winner's rug for race one. That's what it's all about to get these people involved. 

“I sat down with Karyn and David in August 2018 and said I'd love to find a way for more people to experience what racing a horse is like. We had around 10,000 members (now 15,600) in our Facebook group at that stage, although very few had raced a horse.

“We've got five percent in each so that people can feel like they're an owner, as such, and see how it all works - the updates, spelling, training, racing etc.

“We built a way for everyone to follow their journey and now they've both won in the space of a week, unreal, and especially just before Christmas.

“I was writing about Combat Queen for my blog in RACEFORM this week and now I'll be able to finish the article off with the win by Awareness.

“The feedback we've had from our members has been incredible and I can't believe how many young corporate people from Spark Sport, right through to people at different racing stables that are involved. 

“For many, it's their first look into racing, but also their first with a race day winner. It's been quite rewarding. A lot of these people could go on and buy bigger shares in racehorses and it might be the catalyst of our next big owner, who knows?

“Everyone has loved it and a couple of the boys have ended up buying shares in a horse with Te Akau because they've been blown away by how good the communication has been. Pre-race, post race, stories, all the updates, and multiple touch points that Te Akau offers.

“We've got two exciting prospects to look forward to and it would be incredible if one, or both, could make it through to a stakes' race.”

Awareness was strapped by Ashley Handley.

Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz

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