Bravo Beaumarchais

Fifth in a $50k race on New Year's Day at Ellerslie, Beaumarchais (3 g Savabeel - Almaviva, by Catbird) displayed both professionalism and acceleration when recording his second win on Monday at Woodville.

He also became the twelfth winner for Te Akau Racing in the past ten days, with an even measure for the stables in New Zealand and Singapore.

Handily placed by rider Michael McNab, in the New World Pahiatua Rating 65 1400 metres, Beaumarchais travelled into contention rounding the turn and despite the slow ground not being conducive to quickening capabilities he lifted under urgings to dominate his rivals near home.

Purchased as a yearling by David Ellis for $160,000 at the 2015 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Sale, from the draft of Pencarrow Stud, he is owned by the Te Akau Beaumarchais Syndicate.

“He is bred by one of New Zealand's best breeders, Sir Peter Vela, from Pencarrow Stud, and he's a horse that has a lot of improvement in him,” Ellis said. “He will be a really good four and five year old and I think he's an exciting horse that he can win black type races.

“He was ridden by Michael McNab, a young man that is working really hard. He's riding a lot of track work, is very fit, and he's riding winners regularly.

“Michael is really pleasing me with his riding, he's a beautiful horseman. I was watching him ride track work the other morning and he really is a talented and gifted young horseman.

“I was thrilled to win and we've had a lot of success with horses that carry the ‘V in a box' brand and when I look around the walls in my office there has been so many of our good horses that have come from Pencarrow Stud.”

On Tuesday Ellis is bound for Karaka, to prepare for the New Zealand Bloodstock 91st National Yearling Sales Series which begins on Monday 30 January and extends until 5 February.

“I'm really excited about the quality of horses that I've seen so far, and I think it's going to be a very positive sale” he said.

“And with the Racing Board having announced more money for stakes that's positive; it's not enough but we have to start somewhere.”

The shortest price favourite of the day ($2.00) and holding a Derby nomination, trainers Stephen Autridge & Jamie Richards have some options to consider for Beaumarchais.

“I thought it was a pretty strong win,” Richards said. “We obviously knew there was a bit of rain coming, but didn't expect the track to get out to a Slow9 and we had some real question marks about how he would go on it.

“He had travelled down well, so we gave him the benefit of the doubt, and although not entirely happy in the conditions I think his class took him through it and he's certainly an improving sort of horse.

“He has a fair amount of natural ability, has taken a little while for the penny to drop and we'd like to think he would keep improving from here on.

“It was a lovely ride from Michael (McNab). We just wanted to be patient and let him find the line and although he didn't have an explosive turn of foot on that ground he really stuck to the task and got going late.

“Michael has been rewarded with rides for the stable and certainly rides a lot of work for us.”

Richards also mentioned thanks to track work rider Daniel Miller, who rides Beaumarchais in training.

“He's a horse that can be a touch highly strung at times and Dan has done a great job in gaining his confidence and we are now seeing the benefits in his racing manners,” Richards said.

“A lot of people probably won't understand the importance of good quality track work riders, and Dan leads the way among the gifted track riders we have at Te Akau. They make the job for Dave, Steve and me so much easier with the way they continue to educate and nurture the horses in their work and the feedback they give us.”

Beaumarchais was strapped by Teina Walters.

Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz