Double Delight at Ruakaka

Te Akau Racing was thrilled to celebrate two winners today at Ruakaka - the hugely talented colt Scrutinize and stunning filly Love Triangle.

Te Akau Racing was represented in three races and it was almost three from three with Interstellar (on debut) being beaten a head into second.

Congratulations to the connections of the first of our two winners - Scrutinize ...

Scrutinize (3 c O'Reilly - Legs, by Pins) signalled he is back better than ever when proving too smart for his rivals in the $17,500 Harcourts Just Rentals 3YO 1200 metres on Saturday at Ruakaka, keeping intact his unbeaten record in the process.

“I'm delighted, and he's developed into a lovely looking horse,” said Garry Chittick, who purchased a share in the colt after he was selected and bought for $200,000 by David Ellis as a yearling from the draft of Waikato Stud at the 2014 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Sale.  In turn the colt was syndicated by David for the to the Te Akau Scrutinize Syndicate, which he manages.

With the scratching of Sally's Mustang (Nicconi) reducing the field to five, a number that generally sees tactical affairs, Scrutinize was outpaced early to settle rearward but once produced by Matt Cameron in the straight he displayed lovely stretch late in the piece and crossed the line 1.25 lengths clear.

On nice going, rated Dead5, he continued building in his finish and only really appeared to reaching full stride over the concluding stages.

Having charged home to win his only previous start, in the Maiden 2YO 1100 metres on April 1 at Matamata, the performance was compelling and suggested he has come on immensely following a spell.

A really promising staying colt in the making, on pedigree and type, questions could have been raised regarding his ability to force the issue over a sprint trip. But as many top horses in similar mould are able to do, he possesses the class and was presented in the right condition by trainers Stephen Autridge and Jamie Richards to enable the victory fresh up.

“He still looks quite green and has a bit to learn but to be honest I'm quite happy he races in that manner of getting back and running on because it augurs well for what we are aiming him for,” said Chittick. “Once we get him up over a mile I really think it will be his go, and I do see Derby attributes in him."

Having already had good the fortune of buying the stakes' winning five-year-old Wolfwhistle (O'Reilly), a half-brother from Legs with five victories from eleven starts, Ellis has triumphed again by securing Scrutinize.

“Wolfwhistle has done a great job and continues to develop into a lovely horse,” said Chittick.

“I think the thing with Legs is that she's a small to medium-sized mare herself and she has just had an Ocean Park (Thorn Park) colt, a beautiful foal, but when you're selling out of her it is a bit difficult because they're not that big and robust, as Wolfwhistle wasn't, but then look what they grow into, you know, and that's why I'm delighted with Scrutinize as I think he has grown into a very attractive, strong quartered horse and I hope he's good enough to come back to Waikato Stud.

“If you were lucky enough for him to go onto with it, with his pedigree, it would be a wonderful opportunity for all of us - and that's what dreams are made of,” said Chittick.

His dam, Legs (Pins - River Century, by Centaine), was Joint top filly on the 2005-06 NZ 3YO Free Handicaps. Legs recorded Group One wins in the New Zealand Oaks (2400m) and Kelt Capital Stakes (2040m), also won the Eulogy Stakes (Gr. 3, 1600m) and finished second in the Desert Gold Stakes (Gr. 3, 1600m) in a career of five wins from twelve starts, and stakes of $875,428.

From Ruakaka, David Ellis said: “When you buy a horse to win a Derby, it's a huge thrill to see them winning like he did over 1200 metres and depending how he comes through the race, and providing Steve and Jamie are happy with him, we'll go the Hawkes Bay Guineas (Gr. 2, 1400m) on October 3 and plot a path to the 2000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m) at Riccarton.

“There are plenty of options for a colt like this but the main thing is that it's nice to see him showing so much potential and so much genuine ability,” said Ellis. “Steve and Jamie haven't wound him up yet and he's got the world in front of him."

Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz