Season of Success: Cool Aza Rene Continues Amazing Legacy

With a wing on every hoof, Cool Aza Rene (3 f Cool Aza Beel – Irene, by Xtravagant) was an emphatic winner of the $100,000 Group 3 Barneswood Farm Stakes (1400m) at Ashburton on 11 October 2025, providing Te Akau with its second of 19 black-type successes of the 2025-26 New Zealand season.

Displaying both speed and class, Cool Aza Rene travelled beautifully before quickening impressively in the home straight to score with authority. It was another memorable stakes' victory early in the season and one that carried special significance for everyone at Te Akau.

Very much a Te Akau success story, both her sire, Cool Aza Beel, and her dam-sire, Xtravagant, were purchased as yearlings at Karaka by Sir David Ellis CNZM before developing into outstanding Group One winners in the Te Akau colours.

Champion Two-Year-Old Cool Aza Beel (Savabeel) captured both the Karaka Million 2YO (Restricted Listed, 1200m) and Group 1 Sistema Stakes (1200m), while Xtravagant (Pentire) produced one of New Zealand racing's most dominant performances when smashing the Group 1 NZ 2000 Guineas (1600m) by 8½ lengths in a race record 1:33.5, before following up with an equally brilliant eight-length victory in the Group 1 NRM Sprint (1400m) - culminating in him being named Champion Three-Year-Old of the Year.

Both are now stallions at Newhaven Park Stud (NSW), where Cool Aza Beel has recently been joined on the roster by his own Group One-winning son, Cool Archie.

After winning four of her five starts as a two-year-old, Cool Aza Rene was given a 28-day freshen-up following the Listed Canterbury Belle Stakes (1200m). She signalled her readiness to return when flashing home from last with a powerful finish for second in a Riccarton trial on 29 September.

Brazilian jockey Bruno Queiroz was aboard in the Barneswood Farm Stakes and, after beginning smartly, settled the filly perfectly in the trail. Angling across heels approaching the 300 metres, Cool Aza Rene quickly gathered in the leaders before racing clear for a commanding victory.

Te Akau stablemates Belle Du Monde (Zoustar) and Origin Of Love (Snitzel) also performed admirably, finishing fourth and fifth respectively.

On a Good4 track, Cool Aza Rene covered the 1400 metres in 1:22.7, with an impressive final 600 metres of 34.0 seconds. The least favoured of Te Akau's three runners in betting, she rewarded supporters with NZ TAB dividends of $9.70 and $3.10.

Her victory provided Te Akau with a remarkable ninth success in the Barneswood Farm Stakes, following Star Of Justice (Justify), who won the race in 2023.

Purchased by Sir David Ellis CNZM for just $55,000 from the Newhaven Park draft at the 2024 Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Cool Aza Rene races for the Te Akau One Cool Beel Racing Partnership (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM).

"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 at the time of her victory.

"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 is a direct descendant of Australia's Champion Two-Year-Old Filly, Hasna (Snippets), and is the first foal from Irene, a mare by dual Group One winner Xtravagant (Pentire).

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

Third dam Hasna (Snippets) won two legs of Australia's Triple Crown, taking both the Group 1 Sires' Produce Stakes (1400m) and Group 1 Champagne Stakes (1600m), among her seven victories from 1000m to 1600m.

Cool Aza Rene also carries a valuable bloodline cross to the legendary Zabeel (Sir Tristram), appearing through the sire line of Cool Aza Beel and the dam line of Xtravagant.

Te Akau's previous winners of the Group 3 Barneswood Farm Stakes (1400m):

2023 – Star Of Justice (Justify)

2020 – Cornflower Blue (Savabeel)

2013 – Costa Viva (Encosta de Lago)

2012 – Abidewithme (Redoute's Choice)

2010 – King's Rose (Redoute's Choice)

2006 – Princess Coup (Encosta de Lago)

2005 – Sea Saint (Orpen)

2003 – King's Chapel (King of Kings)