BANG BANG! Back to back Group 1's for Te Akau

What a day at Ellerslie on Saturday - the weather gods may have played havoc for part of the day, the atmosphere was electric. Much of that electricity coming from the two stunning efforts by Te Akau trained Yourdeel and Melody Belle to win back to back Group 1's for Te Akau trainer Jamie Richards and the team.

Importantly, both were ridden by Opie Bosson, Te Akau's stable rider. His win aboard Yourdeel saw Opie equal the champion rider Lance O'Sullivan's record for all-time Group 1 wins - 62. The very next race, his Group 1 won aboard Melody Belle saw Opie installed as the new record holder with 63 elite wins - what a feat!

Let's look at the first of the Te Akau's Group 1 victors on Auckland Cup Day ...

Yourdeel(2 g Dundeel - Miss Zapper, by Red Ransom) provided Te Akau with their fifth win in the $200,000 Sistema Stakes (Gr. 1, 1200m) - the third for trainer Jamie Richards - on Auckland Cup Day at Ellerslie.

One of only two Group One races for two-year-olds in New Zealand, the attractive gelding joined Sword of Osman (Savabeel) who won last year, Heroic Valour (Fastnet Rock) in 2016, Warhorse (General Nediym) in 2012, and Maroofity (Maroof) won in 2003.

Purchased by Chris Rutten at Karaka, from Sam Williams' Little Avondale draft, and shared with him in ownership by John Norwood and Rod Preston, the trio chose Richards to train the horse and certainly reaping the benefits.

Although based five hours away in Otaki, Rutten said he and the owners had plenty of updates from the Te Akau training centre at Matamata. “The communication is brilliant from Jamie and David (Ellis),” he said. “Twice a week, or more, and I don't have to think am I going to get any communication, it just comes and it's pleasant to be that well informed. It's positive, always moving forward and proactive.

By the Champion Three-Year-Old and Horse of the Year in New Zealand, Dundeel (High Chaparral), who was also Champion Middle Distance Male in Australia, Yourdeel is from the Red Ransom mare Miss Zapper, a winner of three races from 1200m to 1900m in Australia.

After winning by over five lengths on debut, Yourdeel followed with a very good effort for second to stable-mate Probabeel (Savabeel) in the 2YO 1200 metres on 13 January, before hanging tough for third, again to Probabeel, when providing a Te Akau trifecta in the $1m Karaka Million (Restricted Listed, 1200m) on 26 January, both at Ellerslie, and most recently was in a class of his own winning the Waikato Stud Slipper (Gr. 3, 1200m) by six lengths on 23 February at Matamata. 

His 12311 form line cannot be faulted and he now rates a strong chance to complete a Group One double in the $225,000 Sires' Produce Stakes on 30 March at Awapuni.

“He's stamping himself a little bit now,” Rutten said. “It's awesome and I think he's only going to get better as he gets older. Jamie has always said that, and what he's done with the horse has been spot on.

“He rang me up one day after Opie (Bosson) rode him in work and said you'll have to geld this horse. So, he was gelded straightaway and we've been able to dance on with what he's done. He wouldn't have been here to do this as a colt, which is a pity because he'd make a beautiful stallion.”

Despite over-racing after working forward outside the leader, Yourdeel again drew on a determination and toughness belying his years in order to get the job done in a very close finish.

“It was a brilliant ride by Opie,” Ellis said. “He held him up, held him up, and it was only about 100m out that he went for the horse. The horse will go home happy, won't be exhausted, and he should to be very hard to beat in the Sires' too.

“It's Jamie's third win in the race and he quinellered it last year with Sword of Osman and Avantage.

“It's a tremendous kudos to Jamie and all the staff that look after these horses. People don't realise that they're out of bed by quarter past three each morning and horses need to be looked after seven days a week. They look after them because they love horses. They love the animal and it's just so worthwhile for everyone when they win.

“Chris Rutten is the best judge and when he said he'd like Te Akau to train his three yearlings last year it was a very proud day for us. These guys, they put a lot of thought into who trains their horses and it's brilliant to get these results for them.”

Having emulated Dundeel to a degree, with his ability to handle rain-affected going, Yourdeel won the Waikato Slipper on slow ground but had to dig a little deeper when prevailing on footing downgraded with rain on the day to Heavy10. 

Winning by a short head, Yourdeel ran the 1200 metres in 1:12.6 and last 600m in 35.7. 

“To have Opie on and get to this milestone (62 Group One wining rides, to equal the record) is awesome,” Richards said. “So, a huge effort by him but also a huge effort by Dave (Ellis) to get the weight off him and get him back in the game.

“I probably didn't realise the close association that Dave, Mark (Walker), and Opie have had over the years, so it was really special.”

Richards explained that gelding was essential in the making of Yourdeel as a racehorse. “In the parade ring he was on the toe a little bit and you could imagine what he was like as a colt. So a big thanks to Chris Rutten, John Norwood, and Rod Preston. They've done a great job with the horse, and thumbs up to the team at home. They're the ones there at 3.30 a.m. giving the horses their breakfast. 

“He's a very good horse because it's probably not the right way to ride him, and he'll go to the Sires' in a couple of weeks as long as everything is honky dory at home. He'll be a really good chance. Opie can ride him for a bit of cover and we should see him explode, because he did overdo it (today) out three deep and I thought Opie was in a little bit of trouble but full credit to horse and rider, they really toughed it out. 

Opie Bosson said: “He knuckled down like a really good horse when I got into him. He would have been better with some cover, but we got caught out in the open.

“Jamie (Richards) is doing a wonderful job. It's unbelievable the season he's having and he's just going to get better and better, so it's not a bad idea to have a horse in the stable.”

Yourdeel, racing in predominantly white colours, was strapped by Kate Belsham.

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