Burgundy Rose Blooming Wonderful

Fresh from success, Te Akau apprentice Joe Kamaruddin scored aboard Burgundy Rose (5 m Burgundy - Paraiba, by Faltaat) in the $12,000 Rating 74 1215 metres on 6 January at Rotorua.

A day earlier at Otaki, Kamaruddin won the Rating 74 1600 metres on stable-mate Exaltation (Not A Single Doubt), the half-sister to former stable-mate Melody Belle (Commands), dual Horse of the Year and New Zealand record holder of 14 Group 1 wins.

In solid form and respected after running the fastest last 600m (33.8) at the meeting for third in a Rating 74 1200 metres on 27 December at New Plymouth, Burgundy Rose presented looking a picture.

Formerly a leader, now content to take a sit, Burgundy Rose positioned fourth before descending upon straightening and despite carrying the top weight (58kg) she simply outpaced her rivals to win well.

Second on the course three starts ago, at her only attempt, Burgundy Rose has now won six races at different venues: Taupo, Wingatui, Trentham, New Plymouth, Tauranga, and Rotorua, for Te Akau Roses Are Red Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM).

In race sponsored by Sweeney Townsend Insurance Brokers, Burgundy Rose ran 1215 metres in 1:12.29 and returned $3.20 & $1.60 on NZ TAB tote, while two-kilo claimer Kamaruddin extended his tally to 60 wins.

“It was a good honest performance and she deserved another win,” said trainer Jamie Richards. “Joe did the job nicely again, sitting behind a hot speed and she quickened in well.

“She's been well prepared by Hunter (Durrant) and Laura (Macnab) at the Uni Barn. She's at a stage where she's probably met her mark in the handicaps and it will now be about trying to place her as best we can.”

Bred by Te Akau principal David Ellis CNMZ, Burgundy Rose continued great run for Burgundy (Redoute's Choice), purchased by Ellis as a yearling and winning five stakes' races, and his and Karyn Fenton-Ellis' MNZM homebred fillies.

Three-year-old Belle En Rouge (ex. Cavendish Belle, by Thorn Park) produced a terrific third to stable-mate The Perfect Pink (Savabeel) in the 1000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m) - providing Te Akau with the first four home - during Cup Week at Riccarton, before recently winning both the Eulogy Stakes (Gr. 3, 1600m) and the Eight Carat Classic (Gr. 2, 1600m), while debutante Maven Belle (2 f Burgundy - Doyenne, by Kilimanjaro) looked good winning a Maiden 2YO 1000 metres on 3 January at Te Aroha.

“I always get a thrill when the progeny of Burgundy win and it's a shame he was lost to the New Zealand breeding industry before his time,” Ellis said.

“Burgundy Rose is a terrific advertisement for him, winning six races for her owners and given the influence of a Danehill cross in her pedigree, she should make a good broodmare too.

“We've had a very successful start to the year for the stable and six wins already, including two stakes' wins on New Year's Day at Ellerslie, with Self Obsession (Shocking) in the Royal Stakes and Entriviere (Tavistock) winning the Railway (Gr. 1, 1200m).

“I can't wait for the Trentham Carnival (starting 15 Jan.) and Karaka Million night (22 Jan.), so there's a lot to look forward to.

“We're spending a lot of time looking at the yearlings in the Magic Millions Sale (11 - 17 January, Gold Coast). I'm going through the photos and videos of each horse and Mark Walker is on the sales' ground inspecting them all for me.”

Ellis purchased Princess Coup (Encosta de Lago) as a yearling at Gold Coast, who remains highest domestic stakes' earner in New Zealand ($3.1m). He also bought Group 1 winners Tell A Tale (Tale of the Cat), Costa Viva (Encosta de Lago), Champion Two-Year-Old from last season Sword of State (Snitzel), Group 2 winner and multiple Group 1 placed Integrate (Integra), and recent Eclipse Stakes (Gr. 2, 1200m) winner Imperatriz (I Am Invincible), to name a few.

Burgundy Rose was strapped by Liam Cunningham.

Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz