Famous Colours at Te Teko

Dennis Ryan of The Informant reports on a Te Akau trained Te Teko trialist winning yesterday in internationally famous colours ...

The famous dark blue racing colours of global breeding giant Coolmore Stud were seen in the best possible light at yesterday's Te Teko trials.

New Zealand-bred blueblood Love Triangle, who is owned by a Coolmore partnership, kept her unbeaten trial record intact with an impressive 1020-metre heat win to go with her only previous public appearance as a spring two-year-old.

Love Triangle, by Encosta de Lago from the winning Danehill mare Love Diamonds, is a great-granddaughter of iconic broodmare Eight Carat and from the family branch that has produced the Group One winners Tristalove, De Beers and Viking Ruler. The leggy bay was bred at Cambridge Stud and fetched $400,000 at the 2014 National Yearling Sale when signed for jointly by Te Akau's David Ellis and Coolmore's Tom Magnier.

“She's a lovely filly and has been patiently managed, so it's wonderful to see her perform like that,” said Ellis after Matt Cameron had brought Love Triangle home an easy winner. “She represents some of the best blood in the world and it's great that an operation such as Coolmore Stud is prepared to invest in New Zealand bloodlines.”

Love Triangle was part of a big team stepping out for the new training partnership of Stephen Autridge and Jamie Richards at the season-opening trial fixture. Others to perform well included Fastnet Rock three-year-olds Special Memories and Beacon Of Hope, spring Guineas prospect Xtravagant and Savabeel colts Scrutinize and Splurge.

Another member of the Te Akau string to catch the eye was Interstellar (pictured below), who resumed after two juvenile educational runs for an easy win over 1020 metres.

The $125,000 Ready to Run Sale purchase is a half-sister by Shamoline Warrior to last season's New Zealand Oaks winner Savaria and in common with that filly has a stayer's look about her. The pair's dam Amathea topped the bidding at $250,000 when sold to Australian interests at last week's Karaka Mixed Bloodstock Sale.