Fellini Fabulous - Back to Back Wins

In preparation for $1m Karaka Million 2YO (Restricted Listed, 1200m), Fellini  (2 g Belardo - Silke Top, by Librettist) had a telling look around when winning $35,000 2YO 1200 metres on 9 January at Ellerslie.

After debuting with a brave third, off a wide run in a 2YO 1000 metres on 23 October at Matamata, he resumed on 20 December at Pukekohe, winning easily after leading a Maiden 2YO 1000 metres. On Sunday he further strengthened his standing in the Order of Entry for Karaka 2YO Million, for which he is now joint second favourite.

Increasing prize money to $32,225 situates Fellini fourth in the field of 14, which currently includes stable-mates Grace ‘N' Grey (Spirit of Boom), Taviarma (Tavistock - listed as doubtful starter), Lord Cosmos (Pierro), Dynastic (Almanzor) and Time Flies (Time Test - sitting on the cusp).

Fellini provided the sixth winner in week for Te Akau apprentice Joe Kamaruddin, with additions Maven Belle (Burgundy), Exaltation (Not A Single Doubt), and Burgundy Rose (Burgundy) for Te Akau, plus two for other stables.

Last year, trainer Jamie Richards produced On the Bubbles (Brazen Beau) to claim Te Akau's fifth consecutive Karaka 2YO Million 2YO. He added the first four home, including the third placed Avonallo, another son of Belardo (Lope de Vega) that had earlier provided the first New Zealand stakes' success for the sire in the Welcome Stakes (Listed, 1000m).

Receiving a perfect trail behind stable-mate and race favourite Time Flies (Time Test), who had company outside, Fellini angled clear on straightening and let down strongly to beat Alabama Gold (Turn Me Loose) and Time Flies.

“He was given a nice ride by Joe (Kamaruddin) and the two-kilo claim (55.5kg) was a big help to him,” Richards said.

“The win will set him up nicely for the Karaka Million in a couple of weeks (22 Jan.) and we've used this race before with our two-year-olds, like Avantage and On the Bubbles, as a stepping stone.

“Whether he's top drawer like them I'm not one-hundred percent sure but he's a good honest horse and he'll show up here in thirteen days and give it everything.”

Sponsored by Premier Horse Transport, Fellini ran 1200 metres in 1:11.0 and paid $4.80 & $1.30 on NZ TAB tote.

From a talented international family, Te Akau principal David Ellis CNZM bought Fellini for $40,000 from breeders Valachi Downs at 2021 Karaka Book 1 Sale. A year earlier at Karaka, his half-brother Chancellor (Vadamos - Silke Top) sold for $185,000.

Grand-dam Zaza Top (Lomitas) was the Second Top filly in the German 2YO Handicaps and is doing a great job at stud, having already left Champion 3YO in Germany Zazou (Shamardal), and Zoe Dream (Galileo), winner of seven from 2300m-4050m in France. She has also left Group 2 placed Za Za Gabor (O'Reilly) in New Zealand, a half-sister to Silke Top.

“I thought it was a nice win and a beautiful ride,” Ellis said. “He's a great person, Joe, rides beautiful track work, is always happy, is really starting to ride well, and his two-kilo claim is a hell of an advantage.

“Fellini was one of the value buys of the sale for us last year at Karaka. He's got a really nice international pedigree and by a sire that we've already experienced success with.

“Like Avonallo, we expected he had the precocity to race as a two-year-old. The sire is doing a really good job as a young stallion and has produced some lovely strong and athletic types.

“He's from a nice young mare, is a good mover, and he shows you don't have to spend the earth to get a Karaka Million contender.”

Fellini carries a Danzig bloodline cross, on his dam line of Belardo, as the sire of dam sire Danehill, and sire of dam sire Librettist.

Ellis paid $90,000 for On the Bubbles, who receives the chance to join stable-mate and Horse of the Year Probabeel (Savabeel) as the only horses to win the Karaka Million double when he contests the Karaka Million 3YO Classic (Restricted Listed, 1600m) on 22 January at Ellerslie.

Ellis also purchased Melody Belle for $57,500, who started the ball rolling with Te Akau's first  Karaka Million victory in 2017.  She retired the winner (New Zealand record) of 14 Group 1 races (19 from 41 in total) and $4.3 million in prize money, before selling as a broodmare for A$2.6 million.

Te Akau's five Karaka 2YO Million winners have all trained on to become Group 1 winners - Melody Belle, Avantage, Probabeel, Cool Aza Beel and On The Bubbles ... with three of them going on to be Champion 2YOs (Melody Belle, Avantage and Cool Aza Beel).  Probabeel of course in the reigning Champion Sprinter Miler and New Zealand Horse of the Year.

“Mark Walker is on the sale grounds on the Gold Coast, and I'm poring over the catalogue for the Magic Millions' yearling sale that starts on Tuesday (11 Jan.),” Ellis added. “It's likely to be a strong sale, but we're hopeful of being able to buy some quality horses.”

Fellini was strapped by Milou Grylls.

Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz