Season Review: Amazing Aromatic

 

We continue our review of a remarkable season for Te Akau owners - 197 domestic wins, 33 at Group/Listed level - plus who can forget Imperatriz blitzing Melbourne Group 1 victory (and second by a whisker in the Group 1 Canterbury Stakes in Sydney too).

With stakes approaching $9 million won for our owners, Aromatic was in the thick of this action, claiming three black type titles during 2022/23.  Winning the Group 2 Travis Stakes, Group 3 Counties Cup and Group 3 Manawatu Breeders' Stakes - this gorgeous grey mare was also runner up in the Group 3 Metric Mile, Group 3 Cuddle Stakes and Listed Stephano's Classic, as well as third in the Group 3 Waikato Cup - enjoy our celebration of Aromatic's stand-out season of success ...

 

Te Akau trainer Mark Walker registered his 100^th stakes win in style when Aromatic (6 m Sacred Falls - Vickezzchardonnay, by Don Eduardo) defeated stable-mate Self Obsession (Shocking) in the $130,000 Pukekohe Traders Counties Cup (Gr. 3, 2100m) on 19 November at Pukekohe. 

With a trio in the race, including Belle En Rouge (Burgundy), who tied with Self Obsession for New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year last season, Walker had a strong hand but, given her affinity for wet track conditions, Aromatic appeared a strong contender despite the TAB tote odds ($16.20 & $4.80).

Ridden by leading jockey Craig Grylls, Aromatic got back from a wide draw (11), while Self Obsession lobbed into a handy position, but after tracking up ominously rounding the home turn and levelling with her stable-mate 300 metres out it was the grey mare that drew an advantage near home. 

It began a fabulous stretch of form by Aromatic, brilliantly winning the Manawatu Breeders' Stakes (Gr. 3, 2000m), equally so in the Travis Stakes (Gr. 2, 2000m), while in addition to three stakes' wins she included seconds in the Metric Mile (Gr. 3, 1550m), Staphanos Classic (Listed, 1950m), Cuddle Stakes (Gr. 3, 1600m), and she was a gallant third in the Waikato Cup (Gr. 3, 2400m).

Owned by the Te Akau Sacred Wine Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM), Aromatic was purchased by David Ellis CNZM for $160,000 at the 2018 Karaka Book 1 Sale, from the draft of Milan Park.

Her dam, Vickezzchardonnay, by the highest priced yearling ($3.6 million, Don Eduardo (Zabeel)) to ever sell at Karaka, was an impressive five-time winner from 1600m to 2100m. 

Fifth in the 2008 New Zealand Oaks (Gr. 1, 2400m) and second in the Warstep Stakes (Listed, 2000m) during her three-year-old season, Vickezzchardonnay went on to win the Taranaki Cup (Gr. 3, 2000m), finish third in the NZ Cup (Gr. 2, 3200m), and fourth in the Auckland Cup (Gr. 1, 3200m), Wellington Cup (Gr. 2, 2400m), Travis Stakes (Gr. 2, 2000m), and Rotorua Cup (Gr. 3, 2200m), indicating her genuine attributes. 

Vickezzchardonnay is a half-sister to impressive winning race mare Fifty Fifty (Justice Prevails), who has left seven winners of 15 races including stakes' performer Balham (Don Eduardo). 

Walker commenced training for Te Akau in 1997 and when leaving in 2010 to lead the stable in Singapore, he had recorded 88 stakes' victories among 858 wins and won five Trainers' Premierships. 

He now has 1079 domestic wins, including 126 Group & Listed, to go with over 500 wins and four Champion Trainer titles in Singapore.

 

 

 

Previous wins for Te Akau in the Counties Cup (Gr. 3, 2100m):

2019 - In A Twinkling (Fastnet Rock)

2020 - In A Twinkling (Fastnet Rock)

 

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Having registered the 100^th stakes win for trainer Mark Walker in the Counties Cup (Gr. 2, 2100m) last November, Aromatic (6 m Sacred Falls - Vickezzchardonnay, by Don Eduardo) kept a good thing going with victory in the $85,000 Martin Collins NZ Manawatu Breeders' Stakes (Gr. 3, 2000m) on 14 April at Awapuni.

Without all favours a week earlier at Pukekohe, when clocking the fastest final 600m (33.1) for sixth in the NZ Thoroughbred Breeders' Stakes (Gr. 1, 1600m), Aromatic stepped up to stakes racing in style this season to include seconds in the Metric Mile (Gr. 3, 1550m), Staphanos Classic (Listed, 1950m), Cuddle Stakes (Gr. 3, 1600m), and third in the Waikato Cup (Gr. 3, 2400m).

Following in the footsteps of dam Vickezzchardonnay, who won five races including the Taranaki Cup (Gr. 3, 2000m), Aromatic inherited the genuine attributes of her dam to establish an illustrious record, equal if not superior. 

Prior to the race, Te Akau Racing Manager Reece Trumper said of her last start effort in the NZ Thoroughbred Breeders' Stakes (Gr. 1, 1600m): “She was amazing, we were really thrilled with her and Joe (Kamaruddin) rode her terrifically.

“We always had it in our minds, this race. She came through the run so well and we've been very happy with her, and this morning, taking her for a swim, she looked magnificent and looks like a top chance in the race.”

Appearing in full readiness beforehand, Aromatic looked fine in her preliminary and raced accordingly. 

Negating an awkward draw (11) to work forward and secure a lovely position in fourth, Aromatic settled into a nice rhythm for rider Opie Bosson and she raced clear over the final furlong to score impressively by two lengths. 

“She was a beautiful grey filly when we bought her as a yearling, with lovely big ears, from the first crop by Sacred Falls, and from a mare that was an impressive winner and very genuine,” Ellis said.

“Now a six-year-old, but she always showed ability and continued to get better as she's strengthened with maturity, and the type of mare that you would just love to own.

“She's building really good residual value for her breeding career, but still looks to have more to give in racing, and we trust she remains sound and continues to enjoy it. She's a very correct mare, excellent pedigree, and has a lot of quality about her.”

 

 

 

Te Akau previous wins in the Manawatu Breeders' Stakes (Gr. 3, 2000m):

2021 - Savy Yong Blonk (Savabeel)

 

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Riding the crest of a wave, Aromatic (6 m Sacred Falls - Vickezzchardonnay, by Don Eduardo) recorded her third stakes' win this season in the $120,000 Travis Stakes (Gr. 2, 2000m) on 29 April at Te Rapa.

In November, the beautiful grey mare provided trainer Mark Walker his 100^th stakes win when defeating stable-mate Self Obsession (Shocking) in the Counties Cup (Gr. 3, 2100m). 

More recently, she was without favours when running fastest last 600m (33.1) in the NZ Thoroughbred Breeders' Stakes (Gr. 1, 1600m) on 8 April at Pukekohe, and backed up with a brilliant last start victory in the Manawatu Breeders' Stakes (Gr. 3, 2000m) on 14 April at Awapuni. 

It was the third time in eight years that Te Akau had won the Travis Stakes, most recently with Our Abbadean (Lookin' at Lucky) and beforehand with Abidewithme (Redoute's Choice).

“What a thrill it is to be here at the Cambridge Jockey Club meeting, and winning this race for the fourth time,” Ellis said.

“We first won the Travis Stakes 23 years ago with my favourite mare, Integrate (Integra), and it's fantastic to be back winning with a mare that is going from strength to strength.

“Congratulations to Mark Walker, what a wonderful record-breaking season he's having, and also to this great group of owners that have got themselves a really good horse. Also, huge thanks to the staff for getting this mare in the great form that she is.

“Opie Bosson, our stable rider, congratulations on a wonderful 10 out of 10 ride and you just can't beat having this man on in big races.”

Ellis was spot on in his praise of Bosson. Soon after the start, from barrier seven, he had Aromatic positioned beautifully in midfield and in a seamless display she never missed a beat while extending to score with authority by two lengths. 

“She got into a good spot,” Bosson said. “The speed was on and she relaxed beautifully. I had a lapful of horse turning for home and when she balanced up and worked through the gears she was impressive.”

Interestingly, Aromatic ran fastest last 600m (33.9) when resuming at the corresponding meet last year, when coming from last with a big run for fourth in the Rating 74 1200 metres. 

In addition to her three stakes' wins this season, Aromatic included seconds in the Metric Mile (Gr. 3, 1550m), Staphanos Classic (Listed, 1950m), Cuddle Stakes (Gr. 3, 1600m), and third in the Waikato Cup (Gr. 3, 2400m).

 

 

 

Te Akau previously won the Travis Stakes (Gr. 2, 2000m):

2018 - Our Abbadean (Lookin' at Lucky)

2015 - Abidewithme (Redoute's Choice)

2000 - Integrate (Integra)

 

Owned by the Te Akau Sacred Wine Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM), Aromatic was purchased by David Ellis CNZM for $160,000 at the 2018 Karaka Book 1 Sale, from the draft of Milan Park, and extended her record by season's end to six wins and 11 seconds from 27 starts, for $341,350 in prize money.

 

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