Matamata Winning Double

A successful raceday on our "home turf" saw the Te Akau team celebrate two winners - the first being Qian Gua ...

Given a top ride by Opie Bosson, Qian Gua (3 g Cape Blanco - Cool Diamond, by One Cool Cat) broke through at just his second start on 28 March at Matamata, in the $10,000 Fairview Motors Maiden 1600 metres.

After going to the start early and proving reluctant to load, Qian Gua proceeded to jump away well and take up a prominent position. Beautifully placed in fourth from the 1000m, he ranged to challenge around the home turn and after a tussle with third placed Tenacious (Niagara) he asserted nicely over the final 100m.

Also making ground from a tight spot back in the field, stable-mate Miss Scandinavia (Smart Missile) was without favours but kept closing.

“He won well,” Bosson said. “He wanted to over race a bit early, but he came back underneath me around the 1200m, then he relaxed, travelled into it and he was too good in the run home.”

Following a sixth on debut, when finding the line in tight quarters in the Maiden 1400 metres on 22 February at Wairoa, Qian Gua returned $10.00 & $3.30 fixed on the NZ TAB, running the mile in 1:37.2 and last 600m in 36.4 on Dead4 footing.

“It was a really good win and he was given a lovely ride by Opie,” said Jamie Richards, who trains in partnership with Stephen Autridge.

“He's not easy to train, has a lot of quirks, and a good effort by the team at home to get to the race in such good order. He's a pretty good galloper, but a work in progress and hopefully he continues to improve.”

In training for Mr. Shuping Hon, Mr. Qian Yu and the Inner Mongolia Rider Horse Industry, he was purchased by Mr. Hon at the 2016 NZB Ready to Run Sale, from a terrific Cambridge Stud family that includes Capital Diamond, Diamond Lover, Tristalove, and stallions: Don Eduardo, Viking Ruler, and Viscount.

“It's a privilege to win a race for Mr. Hon, Mr. Yu and Mr. Lang Lin, or Mr. Wolf as they call him in New Zealand, from the Rider Horse Group,” said Te Akau principal David Ellis.

“Mr. Wolf also has a share in Mongolianconqueror (Ocean Park), a horse I bought that finished second in the New Zealand Derby, ran well last Saturday in the Rosehill Guineas and getting ready for the Australian Derby at Randwick in early April.

“They are good supporters of Te Akau Racing and they're great to train for.”

Qian Gua was strapped by Jamie Richards.

Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz