First Win a Stakes' Win

Te Akau Racing's new training partnership has recorded its first (the first of many more!) win - and it is a stakes' win!

The first time for every notable occasion is etched in one's memory forever, and young Jamie Richards will never forget Stella Di Paco (2 f Paco Boy - Savabeel Star, by Savabeel providing his first as a trainer when taking out the Castletown Stakes (Listed, 1200m) on Saturday at Wanganui.

With five second place finishes and six thirds since a change at the helm earlier in May, having registered a stakes' victory to get on the board is a fairytale beginning.

In partnership with Stephen Autridge, himself the trainer of twelve Group One winners, Richards has endeared himself in the ranks and now follows in the footsteps of his father Paul Richards who trains at Byerley Park.

Showing good gate to lead the well-favoured Massa Lu (Makfi) for rider Johnathon Parkes, Stella Di Paco was under siege rounding the home bend. She carried an advantage past the 200m and stuck to her guns to win narrowly but well.

“Being a two-year-old listed race is unbelievable really to get our first winner and being for Max Whitby, you wouldn't know where it could end because he has a lot of horses and he loves results like that,” said Autridge, who trained A Touch of Ruby (Pins) for Whitby to win the Thorndon Mile (Gr. 1, 1600m) last year at Trentham.

“He now has a filly with black type and he owns the broodmare”.

Thrilled to bag his first win since returning to Te Akau, Autridge was delighted for his younger counterpart.

“We were coping a bit of friendly flack for not winning a race, but we knew it was only a matter of time and it's great that it was a very good race,” said Autridge. “I've loved every minute since getting involved again with Te Akau and can't wait for it to carry on."

Autridge said Stella Di Paco might be the sort to fill in the next two months at the stables and that she might be a Guineas' horse. “She's a little toughie, and could basically spell, eating grass, while in work”.

As the race took place, Richards was just landing in Brisbane, with both David Ellis and Mark Walker, ahead of inspections leading up to the Gold Coast National Yearling Sale next week.

“It's incredibly exciting,” said Richards. “Nobody could ever imagine that your first winner would be in a stakes' race and it reiterates what a fantastic opportunity this is and I can't thank David, Mark & Steve enough.

“She (Stella Di Paco) had really come on for her run at Avondale and she was rock hard fit, so it was a great result for everyone concerned. It's a huge team effort at home and it is just so exciting to get the first winner home for the new partnership,” said Richards.

Stella Di Paco had only yielded at the 200m after leading on May 8 in the 2YO Fillies 1200 metres on Slow9 at Avondale, where stable-mates Risque (Darci Brahma) and Tatters (Tavistock) had finished second and third behind High Class (Shocking), and she defied the $51 & $12 fixed odds quote to win on footing rated Slow7 in 1:14.0 for the 1200 metres.

She also provided Paco Boy (Desert Style) with his first winner, and first stakes' winner (his fifth in total) in New Zealand, having stood a season at Waikato Stud.

In the care of Lynley Autridge for the overnighter to Wanganui, Stella Di Paco had done everything right.

“She had shown great improvement since her last run and we were hoping to run in the money but this is even better. She hasn't done a lot wrong in three races but with that last race under her belt she has come back better than ever. Max Whitby is going to be over the moon.”

Johnathon Parkes said: “She put herself in the race and they told me not to worry about her form and it was a good, tough win. When they came to head her, she fought them off.

“She took a bit of riding but kept on giving,” said Parkes.

It was almost a dream double with the stable's other runner Tavi's Star finishing a close up second at Ellerslie!

Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz