Break Serves Smart 3YO Well

NZ Racing News reports:

Well-related three-year-old Te Akau Shark will shortly be reporting for duty at Matamata.

The son of Rip Van Winkle made an impressive start to his career before trainers Stephen Autridge and Jamie Richards were forced to turn the chestnut out.

“He had a few issues that were immaturity-related mostly,” Richards said. “He's spelled really well and he'll be back in work on June 1.”

Te Akau Shark was an easy debut winner at Te Rapa last spring and he followed up with a runaway victory on his home track at Matamata.

Those efforts prompted Te Akau to send him south for the Gr. 1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas at Riccarton, where he finished fourth and less than two lengths from his winning stablemate Embellish.

“He's a big horse and the break will do him good,” Richards said. “We're looking forward to the spring with him.”

Te Akau Shark was a $230,000 Karaka Ready to Run purchase by David Ellis and is a son of the Gr. 2 Waikato Cup winner Bak Da Chief.

Meanwhile, impressive first-up Waipukurau winner Grand Ariana may take on black-type company on Saturday in the Listed Auckland Futurity Stakes at Pukekohe Park.

The New Zealand-bred daughter of Snitzel came from well back in the running to score on debut over 1200 metres.

She is raced by Fortuna Syndications, as is Meteoric Lass who also won first time out at Waipukurau. The Stratum three-year-old has since been turned out and will be back for the spring.