Season Review: A Perfect Scenario

The 2022/23 season for Te Akau was so very memorable ... not only did the team break the all time record, it also became the first ever to achieve 200 wins in a season - with 203 the end tally.

Amongst our 203 domestic winners (plus a Group 1 winner in Melbourne - Imperatriz) 33 were Group/Listed winners - we are proud to reflect now on a 'perfect scenario' black type winner ...

From last, Perfect Scenario (5 g Iffraaj – Rosetti Bay, by Pins) was a huge winner in the $100,000 White Robe Lodge (Gr. 3, 1600m) on 4 February at Wingatui.

After finishing second earlier on the programme with Romancing the Moon (El Roca) in the Dunedin Guineas (Listed, 1500m) – who subsequently won the Levin Classic (Gr. 1, 1600m) – the stable was looking to go one better and the up-and-comer delivered in style.

Placed in the Waikato Guineas (Gr. 2, 2000m) at three, Perfect Scenario had charged home to win the Coupland’s Bakeries Mile Prelude (Open, 1400m), before a notable fifth in the Coupland’s Bakeries Mile (Gr. 3, 1600m) during Cup Week at Riccarton, and returned to the scene with a noteworthy effort for third in the Timaru Stakes (Listed, 1400m) on 28 January. 

Backing up a week later, it was slick thinking by trainer Mark Walker and all the polish required to win. 

With Champion Te Akau apprentice Joe Kamaruddin aboard, notching his sixth stakes success, Perfect Scenario received a saloon passage near the rail turning for home and again displayed the scintillating type of finish he had produced previously to score by three and a quarter lengths.

“It was great win and a lovely ride of Joe’s, saving all the ground and then came out into better going up the straight.” said nine-time Champion Trainer Mark Walker.

“He’s really come of age this season, winning at weight-for-age now, so we’ll give him a shot at bigger and better things.”

He subsequently finished fourth in the Otaki WFA Classic (Gr. 1, 1600m). 

By high-quality stallion Iffraaj (Zafonic), dam Rosetti Bay (Pins) was an impressive Group Three winner and multiple group placed mare that won eight races and already left very good stakes winning mare Queens Rose (O’Reilly) who also won eight times. 

Perfect Scenario was purchased by David Ellis CNZM for $165,000 at 2019 Karaka Book 1 Sale, from the draft of Woburn Farm, for owners in the Te Akau Perfection Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM).

Rosetti Bay was a really good race mare, with class and quality and, similarly, she too displayed a great turn of foot. Perfect Scenario has been sparingly raced to win six times and continued career best form.

“It was a really good no panic ride by Joe (Kamaruddin), to sit back and save all that ground on the inner,” Ellis said.

“You take these chances in stakes races and sometimes you won’t get the gaps, but it opened up beautifully.

“Joe rode him last Saturday in the Timaru Stakes and thought he’d improve for his third and true to his word he put in a great performance. 

“He’s matured into a really good horse this season, winning three times, and he’s proved up to the best now.

“He was bred by Liz Pollard and Gloria Graydon and they’re a couple of really good breeders from Te Awamutu, and Liz’s father, Joe Pollard, was also a good breeder.”