Riccarton - 4 Wins - Wow

It has been an unbelievable seven days for the Te Akau NZ team - just incredible.  It's been a week that we have been hugely proud of - our whole team has really pulled all the winning stops out.

Steve, Jamie, Matt, Pam and everyone involved has worked so hard to deliver these stellar results for our owners.

Last week Te Akau trainers Stephen Autridge and Jamie Richards enjoyed two winners on the first day of the NZ Cup Carnival including the stunning performance by Xtravangant to provide them with their first Group 1 as Te Akau trainers.

Today Te Akau had horses lining up in four races at Riccarton on NZ Cup Day - including three fillies in the Group 1 NZB 1000 Guineas.  It was a day to remember with us winning ALL FOUR RACES we lined runners up in - the first being Vive La Difference ....

Employing a plan to ride patiently paid dividends when super consistent mare Vive La Difference (4 m Choisir - L'Artiste, by Peintre Celebre) got up to win the $40,000 Speight's Premier Rating 85 1800 metres on New Zealand Cup Day, 14 November at Riccarton.

“She's a very promising mare,” said co-trainer Stephen Autridge. “It's taken us a little while to work out her pattern and we decided to ride her back today and have the last crack at them."

Eased off the gates by jockey Matt Cameron to settle fourth last on a genuine pace, Vive La Difference was eighth on the inner at the 800m. Tracking up a wall of horses into the straight, and held up to the 150m, she squeezed through a tight gap and surged hard to score by a head.

Returning $5.30 & $2.00, Vive La Difference ran the 1800 metres in 1:48.1 and last 600m in 35.9.

Not only has the Te Akau Vive La Difference Syndicate (Mgr: D C Ellis) enjoyed a lucrative time in winning $46,235 during six starts since 5 September at Riccarton, her 322121 form line has brought many thrills as well.

Bought by David Ellis for $67,500 at the 2013 New Zealand Bloodstock Select Sale, from the draft of Haunui Farm, Vive La Difference has now earned $72,160, with three wins, four seconds, and two thirds from 15 starts.

“She's had few runs down here and we'll get her home now but we've always believed she could have a crack at black type,” said Autridge.

Co-trainer Jamie Richards said: “She has campaigned very well down here and Pam (Gerard) has done a great job, riding her every day and she just keeps stepping up. She's a mare with a big heart and tries really hard.

“We wanted to see her get the last laugh at them today, after getting there a bit too soon at times. She's rock hard fit and it was a good bit of riding from Matt (Cameron) to get that gap.

“The wins over the past few months has been a massive buzz and it's a lot of hard work from people behind the scenes. It's a huge team effort and we all owe a massive thanks to David (Ellis) and Mark (Walker). We're having a great run and hopefully the momentum keeps up,” said Richards.

Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz