It's Te Akau NZ Win 100

Esprit De Corps (3 g Bel Esprit - Vercors, by Catbird) broke Maiden ranks in no uncertain terms with a dominant victory in the Steve Lunjevich Contracting 1400 metres on 19 June at Te Aroha, and in the process notched 100 wins this season for trainers Stephen Autridge & Jamie Richards.

Steadily building towards a win for the Te Akau Esprit Syndicate, Esprit De Corps produced an excellent preliminary, travelled sweet as a nut in the Heavy10 conditions, and after jockey Matt Cameron gave a cursory glance on straightening he set sail for home by a widening margin.

“He'd been knocking on the door, especially after his good effort last start for second,” said Richards.

“He towed Matt (Cameron) into the race and when he went for him he quickly found a few lengths to win impressively.

“Although not the easiest horse to train, he is owned by a group of patient owners and it was good to see him salute the judge.  He's another example of the good horses Dave (Ellis) buys out of Karaka, and showing a liking for the heavy track he should go on with it,” said Richards.

Winning by three and three-quarter lengths, Esprit De Corps was backed in late to pay $2.90 & 1.50 on the tote. He ran the 1400 metres in 1:29.7 and last 600m in 39.5.

With a smart strike rate of 5.15, it was celebrations all-round for the Te Akau team and time to raise the bat for a very well compiled century. Leading the premiership for wins and group & listed victories (10), with stakes of over $2million, including 75 seconds and 55 thirds is an outstanding achievement. And the opportunity to extend the numbers exists with six weeks of the season remaining.

Securing the 100^th victory was extremely thrilling for Te Akau principal David Ellis, on so many levels, for a man that has dedicated 33 years to establishing and developing a thoroughbred racing business capable of these achievements.

“It was a really impressive win,” said Ellis, from Orca Restaurant and Bar in nearby Raglan.

“I've brought Karyn, Julia-Rose & Hamish, and Dayna Davey, who looked after the the horses for nine years at Te Akau Stud, over to have lunch at Kerry Wells' restaurant.

“In the bar they have a TAB, so we went through to watch the race and to see to Steve and Jamie get their one-hundredth winner for the season was the biggest thrill I've had for a long time.

“It's just so wonderful in racing when you can see a team work so hard and get such incredible results.

“To win one hundred races in any season is an amazing achievement and Te Akau has only ever done it twice before. I think we had 102 and then broke the record with 108 and it can only be done with a world-class team effort and I'm just so proud to be part of the team.

“And to do it with a horse that we bought from Pencarrow Stud, who are world-class horse breeders is special.

“We've had a lot from this family in the stable, and the way he won today shows he's only just coming to it and going to strengthen up further.

“There are a lot of really good owners in this horse,” said Ellis. “Owners that have been supportive of us for a long time and such a thrill to get the hundredth win with a horse that they own.

Ellis purchased Esprit De Corps as a yearling for $70,000 from the 2014 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Yearling Sale. The second foal of impressive winning mare Vercors, whom Stephen Autridge co-trained to win the Wairarapa Breeders' Stakes (Listed, 1600m).

“In February we gave Matt Cameron his 1000^th winner with Heroic Valour and today he's ridden our one-hundredth win for the season, and there's more wins to come,” said Ellis.

Esprit De Corps was strapped by Scott Price. 

Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz

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