Cousteau Coasts Home

Ridden like the best horse, Cousteau (2 c Exceed and Excel - Maritime, by Falbrav) recorded a strong win in the $10,000 Tararua Alliance 2YO Maiden 1100 metres on 20 April at Woodville.

Vying for favouritism with the debutante Lodi (More Than Ready), Cousteau was given an assertive ride by Jonathan Riddell. Sent forward to lead in the early stages, nothing appeared to travel better than Cousteau inside the 600 metres and he had the race in safekeeping after putting a three length break on his rivals, against the rail, at the 200m.

Purchased by Te Akau principal David Ellis for $230,000 in January last year at the Gold Coast Yearling Sale, for the Te Akau Cousteau Syndicate, with the addition of visor blinkers and a tongue tie and sporting clearly the strongest form amongst the field of nine he was able to break through at his fourth start.

He followed a pleasing debut effort for fifth in February, when caught wide over 1000 metres at Te Aroha, with a very good performance for second in the Maiden 2YO 1200 metres to subsequent winner Qiji Phoenix (Not A Single Doubt at Te Rapa, and led last start at a good clip before being claimed near the line by Joyfilly (Highly Recommended) and stable-mate Swing Note (Encosta De Lago) in the Maiden 2YO 1200 metres on 15 March at Matamata. Enhancing the strength of the form, Joyfilly was runner-up to the Autridge/Richards trained Gold Fever (Savabeel) at her previous start in the Matamata Breeders' Stakes (Gr. 2, 1200m) and subsequently finished third to Te Akau winner Melody Belle (Commands) in the Sires' Produce Stakes (Gr. 1, 1400m) at Awapuni.

Cousteau became the sixth individual two-year-old winner and notched the 70^th win for trainers Stephen Autridge & Jamie Richards this season, which sees them second in the premiership and leading in prize money with $2.85 million in stakes.

The authority of his 2 ¼ length victory, in 1:06.9 for the 1100 metres on Heavy10 footing, has prompted the trainers to consider a stakes' race for the promising colt.

“It was a nice win and provided he comes through it okay it could secure a trip south for the Champagne Stakes in a couple of weeks at Riccarton,” said Autridge, referring to the $50,000 Berkley Stud Champagne Stakes (Listed, 1200m) on 6 May.

“He was beaten by a pretty good filly last start. His two runs beforehand were very promising, when he was still learning, but he is a horse that has continued to improve and we think that he's good enough to get some black type as a two-year-old.

“He's matured into a grouse colt, a little gentleman and he's professional in his approach. He's a very good-looking colt with a good attitude.  He's continuing to grow and mature, getting stronger, and we think he has the makings of an even better three-year-old.”

Cousteau is a half-brother to Charlie Boy (Myboycharlie), a Group Two winner over 1200 metres and a dual Group Three winner twice since, who has also placed twice at Group One level in the Doomben 10,000, in Australia.

“He was a lovely colt that Mark (Walker) and Jamie (Richards) picked out at the Gold Coast,” Ellis said.

“After inspecting him, I said that ‘we had to have this horse' and we were prepared to pay more for him than what we did.  It was great to buy a colt off the Kelly family at Newhaven Park, where Xtravagant now stands. They are renowned breeders and this is another example of a quality colt with their brand.

“He has a terrific ownership team behind him and Steve and Jamie have done a great job in preparing him as a two-year-old. They've backed off him at the right times, given him a break, before putting a bit more pressure on him. He's continued to thrive and really come to it now.”

Cousteau was strapped by Mason Stevens.

Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz