Riccarton Double - Aishiteru Awesome

Taking the bull by the horns, Aishiteru (3 f Satono Aladdin – Cuddles For Layla, by Galileo) recorded a strong breakthrough win in the $25,000 NZB Mega Maiden Series 2000 metres on 18 February at Riccarton.

In addition to the winning stake ($10,360), the owners won an extra $20,000 and trainers receive $5,000, as part of the NZB Mega Maiden Series.

The New Zealand Bloodstock and New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing initiative, supported by Entain/TAB, is available to horses purchased at Karaka, that enter for the Karaka Million Series.

The $1 million in bonuses is made up of 40 Mega Maiden Bonus races each season across New Zealand.

Aishiteru, which means 'I love you" in Japanese, was ridden by Te Akau apprentice Hayley Hassman (a2), who recently won an NZB Mega Maiden Series' race (with the same bonus) on stable-mate Bolli Belle (Shamus Award), and combined with the filly to win again last Saturday at Matamata, which won her the Zilco Saddle Award ($1,200 saddle & accessories) for the best winning ride on the day by an apprentice.

After remaining back from her wide draw (15) in the Rating 60 2000 metres on 4 February at Riccarton, Aishiteru dropped in grade for the Maiden 2000 metres and on this occasion went straight to the front.

“She jumped well and there was no early speed, so we were happy to lob along, and got some easy sectionals done the back,” Hassman said. “No one wanted to take us on, so things went our way.”

Handling Heavy8 conditions, which was somewhat of an unknown going into the race at her third start, Aishiteru scored dominantly by three lengths and paid $7.10 & $2.20 on the NZ TAB tote, after running 2000 metres in 2:07.2, last 600m in 37.2 (approx.). 

“She was a bit slow out of the gates last time and didn’t seem that interested, so Hayely’s instructions were to put her in the race and get her travelling, and it worked a treat,” said assistant trainer Hunter Durrant, who oversees the Te Akau horses stabled at Riccarton. “She travelled nicely the whole way, ears pricked, and really relaxed.”

“Hunter and the team have changed things up with her, doing plenty of jumping and dressage work,” said Mark Walker, training partner with Sam Bergerson.

“It was a good, positive ride by Hayley and hopefully the win will give the filly the confidence to measure up in the next grade.

“It was also good to see her cope with some give in the track, which is a bit unseasonal at the moment but there are generally more of them in the latter part of autumn.

“The performance was a big improvement on what she’d shown in her first two starts, which is very pleasing to see, and she’s obviously derived a fair bit from the race experience.”

Owned by the Te Akau Sweet Embrace Racing Partnership (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM), Aishiteru was purchased by David Ellis CNZM for $150,000 at the Karaka 2024 – Book 1 Sale, from the draft of Carlaw Park.

While most were packing up, or had left the sales' ground, Ellis was there to buy the very last lot of the Book 1 Sale, for what must surely be excellent value, and the resultant filly Aishiteru certainly looks a promising staying type.

Ellis was an early admirer of Satono Aladdin (Deep Impact), buying Karaka Million 2YO (Restricted Listed, 1200m) winner and Champion Two-Year-Old Tokyo Tycoon from his second crop, while the abilities of him leaving stayers was illustrated by NZ Champion Staying Filly Pennyweka, winner of both the Group 1 NZ Oaks (2400m) and Group 1 ATC Oaks (2400m). 

By the greatest sire of stakes' winners in the world, Galileo (Sadler’s Wells), her dam Cuddles For Layla is a half-sister to Australian stakes' winner Man Of His Word (Lope de Vega) and notably her third dam Mohave Dancer was a stakes' winner by Champion Sire Zabeel (Sir Tristram), from whom Tokyo Tycoon is a direct descendant on his dam line. 

At the time of purchase, Ellis said: “She was very good buying and sometimes at the very start, or end, of a sale these lots get under the guard. 

“She reminded us a lot of Tokyo Tycoon in her physical makeup, with a mixture of quality and strength, and they’re just such naturally gifted athletes these Satono Aladdin’s.

“Being able to buy fillies out of Galileo mares is a bit of a rarity, too, and having his influence in the blood, along with Zabeel, is a powerful combination of the best blood in the world.”

Aishiteru carries a cross to immortal sire Northern Dancer, through the dam line of Satono Aladdin and both the sire and dam lines of Cuddles For Layla. 

Aishiteru was strapped by Ruby Rae. 

Photo credit - Ajay Berry - www.raceimages.co.nz