Fabulous Flight, Fabulous Again

Te Akau continued a run of winning races they sponsored when Fabulous Flight(4 g I Am Invincible - Court Flying, by Flying Spur) won the $10,000 Te Akau Racing - Three Times Karaka Million Winner Rating 65 1600 metres on 13 February at Te Aroha.

Debutante two-year-old filly Harlow (Proisir) obliged to take out the Te Akau sponsored $30,000 2YO 1200 metres on Legends Day at Te Rapa, and Fabulous Flight followed suit.

Carrying 56kgs, courtesy of a three-kilo claim by Te Akau apprentice Nik Bakar, Fabulous Flight was on pace before receiving cover at the 1000 metres, under a hold turning for home and once gaining a rails run inside the 300m he showed a good kick to prevail in a close finish. 

On footing upgraded to Good3, in 30 degree temperatures, Fabulous Flight ran the 1600 metres in 1:35.6, last 600m 34.8, and equal fixed odds second favourite he paid $6.00 & $2.30 on the NZ TAB. 

“It was a lovely ride by Nik (Bakar),” said trainer Jamie Richards, recording his 65^thwin this season and leading the premiership in prize money.

“I wanted him to jump out and be positive, not be caught three wide, and he ended up in the trail, never went around a horse, and a good effort by both horse and rider.”

After a strong Maiden win over 1400 metres in November at Rotorua, Fabulous Flight continued solid form with a notable fourth, despite no favours, in the Rating 65 1600 metres on 13 December at Ellerslie, and again ran notably for fourth after being three wide on 28 January in the Rating 65 1400 metres at Te Teko.

“He didn't have a lot of luck on Jockeys' Challenge night at Ellerslie, and hit the line nicely last start,” Richards said. “We'd like to get him over ground in the autumn and he's going the right way.

“We're happy to sponsor, as Dave (Ellis) and Karyn (Fenton-Ellis) like giving back to the Clubs and at the same time it's always good to win races we've sponsored too.”

Purchased by David Ellis for $205,000, from the draft of Lyndhurst Farm, at the 2016 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale, he is a lovely type of horse with the depth of pedigree to keep improving and now won two of his eight starts for the Te Akau Fabulous Flight Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM).

“He's from the same vendor we bought Group One winner Hall of Fame, a year earlier at the Ready to Run Sale,” Ellis said. “This horse never runs a bad race and just continues to improve. He's by a great sire in I Am Invincible, the same as Queen of the Air that won for us last week and we've got some lovely horses in the stable by him. 

“He raced by a great group, including new owners and some of our most loyal owners in Donna & Robert Rudd, Dave & Nicky Hurst, John Frew, Oliver Saxton, Ronald Lau, great friends of Karyn's and mine. 

“I thought Nik (Bakar) rode the horse very well and we've got a couple of really good apprentices that are going to come into their own in May/June. They need to really focussed and fit heading into the autumn and winter and we can use their allowances to good effect.”

“Te Aroha is one of my favourite tracks and it's a beautiful course. We used to win a lot of races there when I was a young bloke and we enjoyed picnic lunches under the trees.

“I think Te Aroha is where the all-weather track should go because they've already got facilities. It's handy to Matamata, Cambridge, not too far from Pukekohe and Byerley Park. I think it would be ridiculous to build a new all-weather complex somewhere without existing amenities and Te Aroha is a good sized course and would lend itself perfectly.”

Ellis also had a progress update on the 43 yearlings he purchased at the recently completed New Zealand Bloodstock Yearling Sales Series at Karaka.

“They really are a fantastic lot of yearlings, well developed after a terrific growing season, and I don't think we've ever sold shares in horses so quickly. 

“Like a shopkeeper, our plan was to have some stock available going into the year but with the rate they're selling I don't think we will. The support has been fantastic from our loyal ownership base and also a lot of newcomers, which is great to see from an industry perspective and we're thrilled to welcome all the new people into this great sport.”

Fabulous Flight was strapped by Sarah West. 

Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz

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