Go Grazia - Win 40 for Te Akau NZ

Having threatened to break through on numerous occasions, Grazia (4 m Savabeel - Trocair, by Flying Spur) recorded a big win in the Maiden 1600 metres on 12 January at Wanganui.  Her victory became Te Akau New Zealand trainers Stephen Autridge and Jamie Richards' 40th win for the season.

Ridden by Opie Bosson, things set up perfectly for Grazia when race favourite Dream Dancer (Rip Van Winkle) was put under a bit of pressure to lead and after improving stylishly out of midfield rounding the home turn she gunned her down in the shadows of the post to win going away.

“It was a good effort and Opie (Bosson) was very complimentary of her,” said Te Akau racing manager Brad Taylor, from the course.

“He (Bosson) said she was very good in the gates, relaxed nicely for him and really tried that last bit, so it was pleasing to see.

“She has been a bit of a head scratcher for the team at home as we've always known she's had the ability and it was good to see her finally do it on race day.

“It was good to have some loyal owners here to enjoy the win,” Taylor said. “We had owners travel a fair distance to support her which was fabulous."

Presented in terrific order by trainers Stephen Autridge & Jamie Richards, Grazia was purchased as a yearling by David Ellis for $100,000 at the 2014 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Sale, from the draft of Little Avondale Stud, and rewarded the patience of owners in the Te Akau Grazia Syndicate.

“It was a big thrill,” said Ellis, who watched the race from the 2017 Gold Coast Yearling Sales.

“This filly has shown some real ability in track work although hadn't quite franked it on race day but Steve and Jamie have gone back to the drawing board, changed a few things, done a few things differently, and the way she won today I could see that she will continue with the form.”

A very valuable mare, made more so following the win, the sister to Brisbane Cup (Gr. 2, 2400m) winner Tullamore (five wins, $632,992 stakes) and recent Group Three placed stable-mate Shillelagh, Grazia is also very closely related to the Wellington Cup (Gr. 2, 2400m) winner Graphic (Volksraad), making it a fitting result with the Wellington Cup scheduled for 21 January at Trentham.

“Being a full-sister to Shillelagh and Tullamore, she's going to make a really nice broodmare in years to come and hopefully we can win more races with her before then,” Ellis said.

Grazia clocked 1:35.7 on Good3 footing in the Gas & Heating 1600 metres and returned $3.90 & $1.50 on the tote ($4.40 & $1.55 fixed odds).

“She was always going to need a bit of time, when I bought I knew that, and I was thrilled for the owners who have been really patient and happy to wait and all credit to them for giving us the time that this filly has needed,” Ellis said.

“Opie (Bosson) rode her really well and now we're looking forward to Matamata (Friday), and Trentham and Ellerslie on Saturday.

“The sale over here (Gold Coast) has been very strong. Te Akau has bought four horses so far - three fillies and a colt - and now our attention turns to Karaka (Jan. 30 - Feb. 5) where we're going to buy some really nice horses,” he said.

For one of her owners, Bill Heap, the sponsorship manager at the Auckland Racing Club, the win by Grazia was his first for thirty years.

“I'm over the moon, not just because she won but the way she won,” said Heap, in the packing process ahead of a few days in the Bay of Islands.

“I thought how she won was quite bloody stunning. I was watching with our son Liam and we're both doing a war dance around the lounge.

“It was a lovely ride of Opie's. He had her well balanced, she did everything right and when the leader went four or five lengths clear into the straight I thought if we win this we're a pretty good horse - that we did and she looked good at the finish too.

“I was talking to David (Ellis) about her the other day, and he said she's a good horse and once we get her right we should have a lot of fun.”

Heap explained how his involvement came about.

“I'd worked with Julia-Rose (Ellis) for a couple of years at the racing club and she'd been at me, saying: ‘Heapsy, when are you going to get a share in a horse of DC's', and one day after a few drinks I let David know I'd like a share in something.

“A week after I got a share in her, I was talking to a mate in Napier, Gerald McCarthy, who said he'd like to own a share in a horse but only a Savabeel filly, and I rolled around the floor laughing, told him I had a share in Grazia, and he phoned David and got a share or two as well.

“So, that's a bit of the history of how we got involved. I raced two or three horses about thirty years ago and haven't had a horse since and she's the first winning share I've had in a horse for a long time and today I feel like a 21-year-old.”

Grazia was strapped by Milou Grylls.

Of note, Grazia is out of a Flying Spur mare and so is the purchase (Lot 24) made by David Ellis yesterday at the Gold Coast Yearling Sales: bay filly I Am Invincible - Flying Single (Flying Spur).

A son of Danehill, 2007 champion Australian stallion Flying Spur won the 1995 Golden Slipper (Gr. 1, 1200m) at Rosehill, the richest two-year-old race in the world, has sired eighty-nine stakes winners (12 Group One) and as a broodmare sire has already left four Group One winners among 43 winners, 14 of those two-year-olds.

Flying Spur has been described as a ‘Rolls Royce' influence in pedigrees.

Picture credit - www.raceimages.co.nz