It's Season Win No.70

As expected ($1.10), Cool Aza Beel (2 c Savabeel - Cool ‘N' Sassy, by Testa Rossa) proved far too good winning the $22,500 Matamata Veterinary Services 2YO 1200 metres on 17 January at Tauranga, and confirmed a place in the $1m Karaka Million (Restricted Listed, 1200m) next Saturday (Jan. 25) at Ellerslie.

Purchased by Te Akau principal David Ellis for $150,000 at the 2019 Karaka Book 1 Sale, from the draft of Fairdale Stud, Cool Aza Beel is owned by the Te Akau Sassy Beel Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM).

Having won the first two-year-old race of the season, over 800 metres on 7 September at Wanganui, and freshened after an unlucky fourth in the Fasttrack Insurance 5K Bonus 2YO Stakes (Listed, 1100m) on 23 November at Pukekohe, it appears trainer Jamie Richards has got him there in the nick of time. He now looks to emulate stable-mates Melody Belle (Commands), Avantage (Fastnet Rock) and Probabeel (Savabeel) as Te Akau winners of the Karaka Million in the past three years.

“We're on track and he's a pretty important horse for us, so it's good to see him do that,” said Richards, after Cool Aza Beel had romped home impressively by three lengths in the hands of Opie Bosson. 

“I thought he did it nicely and physically he's still got a bit of improvement in him for eight days time. He hasn't raced in a fair while. We think he's good enough to be competitive and the next eight days are going to be very important, but he's the sort of horse that can handle what we need to give him to get him there. 

“The (Karaka Million) race gives us a great platform to kick off the sales (Jan. 26 - 31, Karaka). We've bought seven (yearlings) at the Magic Millions already, and there's shares available in them, and we'll be very strong at Karaka as well. It's a really important time for us and hopefully this colt or our other representative (Bordeaux Le Rouge) fly the flag.”

After tracking fourth of four on a slow tempo, Cool Aza Beel clicked up to run home in 34.5 for the last 600m, in 1:12.7 overall for the 1200 metres on Dead4 footing, and will now provide Bosson with an opportunity to notch his fourth consecutive victory in the Karaka Million.

“He did everything right, today,” Bosson said. “He can over race a little bit, but he relaxed beautifully and when he balanced up I had a lap full of horse. He did it too easy and he will improve a lot from it.”

The first foal from a three-time winner to 1200 metres in Australia, Cool ‘N' Sassy (Testa Rossa) is line bred to immortal sire Northern Dancer and blueblood producing mare Special, the dam of 2000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m) winner and champion sire Nureyev.

“I thought it was a very impressive performance,” Ellis said. “It's hard to know what he beat, but the horses behind him are trained by good trainers that don't start two-year-olds until they're ready. 

“It was his first race for a long time and he hasn't had a trial, so I thought it was a pretty good effort. Opie (Bosson) was very impressed and he can't wait until the Karaka Million. He'll improve a fair bit for the run, too, because he had a good puff.

“It's a thrill to have a really good chance in the Karaka Million and another one (Probabeel) in the Karaka Million 3YO Classic, and both by Savabeel. We don't push our young horses, so to be going for four in a row in the Karaka Million is something special. A lot of horses we buy can race as two-year-olds if they show natural ability, but otherwise they're three-year-old and older types with the physiques and pedigrees to get over more ground. 

“Cool Aza Beel is in our colt barn, where Mette (Mosebo) is in charge. With Scott Lucock off work at the moment, Mette is doing a truly outstanding job and her horses are racing out of their skin. She's a young lady that you'll hear a lot more about in years to come. 

“He was a very good value colt that I bought from the Fell's at Fairdale Stud, and they'll be getting an enormous thrill out him as well as our owners are.

“I've spent the week looking at yearlings and finished last night at Cambridge Stud. I've seen some beautiful yearlings, presented immaculately in what have been great weather conditions for preparing them, and we're really looking forward to seeing our short list again next week at Karaka.

“It was Te Akau's 70^thwin for the season and Jamie (Richards) leads the premiership. It's a big achievement considering the season is not yet six months old.”

Cool Aza Beel was strapped by Mette Mosebo.

Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz

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