Boom - Beauty Bordeaux

Te Akau's winning weekend continues as we celebrate our fourth win in less than 48 hours ...

On his toes prior to the start, Bordeaux (4 g High Chaparral - Our Echezeaux, by Zabeel) got home to score, courtesy of a daring front running ride by Michael McNab, in the Bostock New Zealand Maiden Mile on 8 November at Hastings.

After jumping with purpose from barrier ten, Bordeaux worked forward to assume control at the 1100m. He travelled on a nice rein before seeing off a rival early in the home straight and put a winning two-length buffer into his opposition passing the 200m.

It was a well executed and calculated ride by McNab, who recently rode four winners on a day for Te Akau at Riccarton.

The win was terrific reward for both the horse and his owners: The 2013 Breeding Syndicate, managed by David Ellis. He was gelded after debuting last November, and returned to racing in April with a couple of performances that despite the finishing position each contained merit.

He appeared far more focussed on racing when, with McNab aboard, he came out of midfield with a bold gallop for second in a recent trial over 1400 metres at Te Aroha, and with blinkers applied he resumed on a winning note.

“He's a lovely looking horse, that seems to have turned the corner, and we're thrilled to see him put it together on the race track for his very patient owners,” said co-trainer Jamie Richards.

“Hopefully we can see him step up again from here and work through the grades. We have changed his gear around, and training regime, to keep him focussed and it seems to be working.”

His dam Our Echezeaux (Zabeel), herself an impressive fresh up winner over 1400 metres in October 2003 at Rotorua, has already left impressive winners Dolmabache and Pure Elegance, both by Redoute's Choice (Danehill), from the family of Grand Echezeaux (Zabeel), Darci Brahma (Danehill), Burgundy (Redoute's Choice), Romanee Conti (Sir Tristram), and Ethereal (Rhythm) - and while Bordeaux has emulated the ability of his dam to act in a fresh state, he certainly gives the impression of excelling over more ground.

Bred by Sir Peter Vela and the late Philip Vela, Bordeaux was purchased from the Pencarrow Stud draft at the New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Yearling Sale by David Ellis for $620,000.

At the time of buying the colt in 2013, Ellis said: “I thought on pedigree he is the best horse in the sale. We have had a lot of luck with this family. Darci Brahma (Danehill) won five Group ones amongst nine stakes wins, Burgundy (Redoute's Choice) has already won four stakes' races, we won the Welcome Stakes (Listed, 1000m) with Bespoke (Pins), and Uberalles (Giant's Causeway) we trained to run third in the NZ Derby (Gr. 1, 2400m) and we have had terrific success with everything we have trained from the family”.

The win added to an exciting weekend for the Te Akau stable after Xtravagant (Pentire) stamped himself as the best three-year-old in the land with an extraordinary win in the 2000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m) at Riccarton and trainers Stephen Autridge and Jamie Richards increased their lead in the Trainers' Premiership.

Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz