Hall of Fame - Group 1 Glory

The Informant reports:

Stephen Autridge won the very first Levin Classic as a jockey on Altitude in 1981, and 36 years later he has won it again as co-trainer of today's classy and courageous winner Hall Of Fame.

Making today's Group One triumph even sweeter, Autridge and his Te Akau Racing co-trainer Jamie Richards came into today's Randwick Meats-sponsored Group One feature with a couple of points to prove. They suffered an unexpected defeat in this race last year with high-profile colt Xtravagant, while Hall Of Fame had finished near the tail of the field in his only previous Group One attempt in the New Zealand 2000 Guineas in November. Today it was a very different story.

Ridden by Opie Bosson, who was appointed as Te Akau's number-one jockey less than a month ago after returning from a stint in Hong Kong, Hall Of Fame settled into a good rhythm in a midfield position as Jon Snow, Figurable and Lincoln Blue showed the way early in the 1600-metre feature.

Bosson went for gold in the straight and Hall Of Fame swept to the lead with a sparkling turn of foot 300 metres from home. He appeared to have the race at his mercy.

There was a twist inside the last 200 metres as Hall Of Fame began to slow and Savile Row and Jon Snow came back at him strongly on the inside. But defeat was not an option for Hall Of Fame, who pinned his ears back, lifted again and held on by a nose.

“That was a top win,” Bosson said. “He possibly got to the front a little bit soon and then started gazing around a bit, but to his credit he stuck his head out at the right time.”

Bosson is unbeaten in two rides on Hall Of Fame, having guided him to a smart win on Boxing Day at Ellerslie in his first ride on the Savabeel colt. Hall Of Fame has quickly become a favourite for the champion jockey, who is happy to be back in the winning grove after being frustrated by a lack of opportunities in Hong Kong.

“This horse has just got the best attitude,” he said. “He's great to ride and I just love him.

“It's a great feeling to be back in New Zealand and riding horses like this in these big races. It's good to get a big one in the tangerine colours for the boss.”

Autridge and Richards took over as Te Akau trainers in May 2015 and have enjoyed outstanding success, claiming the 2015-16 trainers' premiership alongside Group One successes with Xtravagant, Risque and Heroic Valour.

“This is a great result for the Te Akau syndicates, especially with the sales just around the corner,” Autridge said. “It's brilliant for Savabeel too, having a Group One colt like this. We're all rapt.

“Opie gave him a great ride. When I won the Levin Classic in 1981, he was one year old!

“This is a colt who's always shown us a lot. He's a great little colt. We still don't know what happened in the 2000 Guineas, maybe it was just that he'd had enough in that campaign. He's come back better than ever. It was a good field today. He only just won, but he really gutsed it out. It's fantastic.”

Hall Of Fame was sold at the 2015 Ready to Run Sale, where Te Akau principal David Ellis bought him for $230,000.

“He was actually passed in, but I bought him five minutes after he went through the ring,” Ellis said. “He's out of a Galileo mare, and I thought he was one of the closest I've seen to Galileo in appearance.”

Today's Levin Classic triumph was Hall Of Fame's fifth win from nine starts, along with two second placings. He has now won twice at black-type level, having scored a dominant win in the Listed Zacinto Stakes at Riccarton in the spring. His prize-money earnings now stand at $232,200.

Hall Of Fame's connections now have their sights set on the $1 million Gr. 1 Vodafone New Zealand Derby at Ellerslie in March, and Hall Of Fame is now a $9 equal second favourite for the 2400-metre classic. He shares that mantle with today's placegetter Savile Row, with Sacred Elixir the market leader at $5.

Today was the second Group One placing for Savile Row, who chased home Ugo Foscolo when second in the 2000 Guineas in November. His connections were far from disappointed.

“He fought really well,” owner-breeder Kevin Hickman said. “He was just beaten by one slightly better on the day. The Derby is definitely still on the radar from him.”

In the midst of their tussle to the line, things got tight between Savile Row and Jon Snow in the closing stages. The connections of Jon Snow lodged a protest against Savile Row, but it was dismissed.