Bak Da Master Makes It 100 for Te Akau

The wait for Jamie Richards to rack up 100 winners ended when Bak Da Master (5 g Mastercraftsman - Bak Da Princess, by Danske) won on Saturday at Awapuni.

Left stranded on 99 wins before the Covid-19 lockdown in New Zealand, Bak Da Master was his first runner since and delivered with a well timed run under Michael Roustoby in the $15,000 Jumpers High-weight 1550 metres.

Purchased by David Ellis CNZM for $90,000 at the 2016 NZB Premier Yearling Sale, from the draft of Leanach Lodge, for the Te Akau Master Syndicate, Bak Da Master had stayed on well for second when trialling on 9 June at Te Rapa, and since finished second in a hurdle trial at Cambridge. 

“It was tremendous for Jamie (Richards) to get his 100^thwin this season in New Zealand, after 98 last year in his first season training solo for Te Akau, and also a special thrill for Michael Roustoby, who rode the horse,” Ellis said.

“Michael has been doing some fantastic work for us, for about nine months now, and he's an absolute champion to have in the team. He's a top person and he's going to ride a lot of winners in high-weights and jumps in the next few months. He's a very good horseman, and it's a thrill for me to see him get our 100^thwin. 

“I also thought it was a great training effort by Jamie. You've really got to know what you're doing when you take a horse to the races after a nine month layoff and he wins first-up.

“And, interestingly, it was a great win for owner John Elstob and his fiancé Denise Bassett. They have a share in Al Haram, who won our first race for the season and they are also involved in our 100^th. So, I'm so thrilled for them both.”

From the family of stable star Te Akau Shark (Rip Van Winkle), the half-brother to Group One Easter Handicap winner Pondarosa Miss (High Chaparral) and Group One placed multiple stakes' winner Ecuador (High Chaparral), Bak Da Master is from an unraced Danske (Danehill) mare - half-sister to Waikato Cup (Gr. 2, 2400m) winner Bak Da Chief (Chief Bearhart) - doing a great job at stud with winning progeny of 25 races. 

“It was a good win and I'd been really happy with how he'd been coming up,” Richards said. “He'd been progressing well at home and enjoys a bit of jumping and some variety in his work. 

“I think the most important thing with this horse is that it's the first preparation that we've seen him as a fully mature horse and he's finally starting to carry condition and look good. He's been a consistent performer and continued to strengthen and improve with maturity.

“Michael (Roustoby) gave him a lovely ride and he does a lot of work for us behind the scenes. He's always spot on with his times and a very reliable person. He's an important part of the team. So, it was great for him to ride our 100^thwinner. 

“We'll probably pick out another flat race for Bak Da Master and get him over the hurdles from there.”

Bak Da Master was strapped by Craig Thornton.

Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz

Back