Saturday Double - Group 3 Glory Cool Az!

With a wing on every hoof, Cool Aza Rene (3 f Cool Aza Beel – Irene, by Xtravagant) was an emphatic winner in the $100,000 Group 3 Barneswood Farm Stakes 1400m on Saturday at Ashburton.

Winning four of five starts last season as a two-year-old, and named Champion South Island 2YO of the Year, Cool Aza Rene was given time (28 days) after contesting the Listed Canterbury Belle Stakes. She signalled her readiness when coming from last with a strong finish for second when trialling on 29 September at Riccarton.

Ridden by Brazilian jockey Bruno Queiroz, Cool Aza Rene began like a flash before settling nicely in the trail, and once across heels at the 300m she quickly rounded up the leaders before going on to score well. 

“I spoke to the trainers before the race and they both told me that she was ready,” Queiroz said. “She didn’t get a good start last time (Canterbury Belle Stakes), but today there was improvement.

“It was a good track, good barrier (3), and I didn’t receive any instructions. The trainers have good confidence in me and I was confident she would go a good race. It was a good win.

“She jumped fast, tracked up the pace very well, and once we got a gap in the last 200m she was flying home.

“I’m very happy and enjoying the moment, and I’d like to thank the owners and the trainers for supporting me, and my manager Andre Neill, who is doing good work.”

It was a top ride by Queiroz, who won earlier in the day aboard stable-mate Court Of Appeal, and now combined for nine wins in quick time with Te Akau trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson. 

Stable-mates Belle Du Monde (Zoustar) and Origin Of Love (Snitzel) also produced creditable performances in the race for fourth and fifth respectively. 

On course, Sam Bergerson, training partner with Mark Walker, said: “All three fillies were pretty hard to split, and we had a query about her at 1400 metres, but she’s just so tough and game and has such a positive racing style.

“It was a fantastic ride by Bruno and fair play to the filly because she had to change ground a few times to get clear and was really strong to the line. 

“I can’t thank Hunter (Durrant) and the team enough that are looking after the horses in our stables at Riccarton. It was a massive team effort and it’s not easy to win these black type races, so we cherish them all.”

On Good4 footing, Cool Aza Rene ran 1400 metres in a polished 1:22.7, last 600m in 34.0 (approx.) and the least favoured in betting of the three Te Akau runners she paid $9.70 & $3.10 on the NZ TAB tote.

Cool Aza Rene recorded the ninth win in the event for Te Akau, having won it most recently with Star Of Justice (Justify) in 2023.

A filly with a great Te Akau pedigree, Cool Aza Rene was purchased cheaply by David Ellis CNZM for A$55,000 at the 2024 Gold Coast Yearling Sale, from the draft of Newhaven Park, and is owned by Te Akau One Cool Beel Racing Partnership (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM).

Everything surrounding the success and pedigree is a feather in the cap for Ellis, who purchased both the sire, Cool Aza Beel (Savabeel), and dam-sire Xtravagant (Pentire), as yearlings before they went on to win Group One races and each now stands at Newhaven Park Stud (NSW). 

Cool Aza Rene also recorded the first win for the former Champion Two-Year-Old Cool Aza Beel, who won the Karaka Million 2YO (Restricted Listed, 1200m) and Group 1 Sistema Stakes (1200m), while her dam-sire Xtravagant produced a race record 1:33.5 when winning the Group 1 NZ 2000 Guineas by 8.5 lengths, and followed up with an 8-length win in the Group 1 NRM Sprint (1400m) against the older horses.

“That really put a smile on my face, especially given the fact that we bought both the sire and dam-sire, saw them both develop in the stable to become Group One winners, and then to see Cool Aza Rene come out of the first crop by Cool Aza Beel,” Ellis said.

“It doesn’t get much better as a feeling to see that happen, for her to win the race so well, and Cool Aza Beel left a Group One winner (Cool Archie) in his first crop, too, so he’s really proving himself at stud.

“Xtravagant, too, we have such fond memories of him and the way he won his Group One races was quite extraordinary, so it all adds up to a special result.

“I’m thrilled for John Kelly and his family at Newhaven Park Stud, where the two stallions stand, and they can be really proud of the result. 

“Cool Aza Rene, she’s got a good action, she’s tenacious, and I think the way she won over 1400 metres will serve her well in the Group 1 NZ 1000 Guineas next month at Riccarton. I thought it was a great trial for the Guineas. 

“We’ve won the 1000 Guineas seven times and I think we’ve got solid chances going into it again this season. It’s certainly an advantage to have these fillies stabled on the course at Riccarton, where our assistant trainer Hunter Durrant and all the team are doing such a great job.

“Everyone deserves credit, also the team here on the farm at Te Akau Stud, who educate the youngsters and spell them, and Sam (Bergerson), Reece (Trumper), and Mark (Walker) and Ben (Gleeson), that are running our stables at Matamata and in Melbourne.”

A direct descendant of Champion 2YO Filly in Australia, Hasna (Snippets), Cool Aza Rene is the first foal out of a mare by dual Group One winner Xtravagant (Pentire).

Her grand-dam Hades is by Champion Sire and Champion Broodmare Sire Encosta de Lago (Fairy King) and produced four individual winners of 17 races, including Group Three placed dual winner Mintha (Redoute’s Choice).

Third dam Hasna (Snippets) won two legs of the Triple Crown: Group 1 Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) and Group 1 Champagne Stakes (1600m), among seven victories from 1000m to 1600m. 

Cool Aza Rene carries a bloodline cross to unparalleled New Zealand sire Zabeel (Sir Tristram), on the sire line of Cool Aza Beel and dam line of dam sire Xtravagant.  

Cool Aza Rene was strapped by Molly Coutts. 

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