Soaring at Eagle Farm

As well as having horses race at two venues on Saturday in New Zealand, Te Akau also has Costa Viva (Encosta De Lago) and Precious Time (Stravinsky) stepping out at Eagle Farm in Brisbane.

Forty-eight hours after arriving in Brisbane, Costa Viva finished an unlucky fourth in the Gold Coast Guineas (Gr. 3, 1200m) on May 3 and she has since been building in her preparation to contest the $350k Queensland Guineas (Gr. 2, 1400m) this Saturday at Eagle Farm, and all going well the Tattersalls Tiara (Gr. 1, 1400m), a $500k weight-for-age race for fillies and mares on June 17, also at Eagle Farm.

Purchased by Te Akau principal David Ellis for $100,000 at the Gold Coast Magic Millions National Yearling Sale in June two years ago, from the draft of Tyreel Stud, Costa Viva won the 1000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m) and bagged four additional stakes' wins and places on her way to being named New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year.

“She has copped everything that we've given her and done it without batting an eyelid,” said assistant trainer Pam Gerard, of Costa Viva. “She is working on her ear and ran 1:03 for the 1000 metres and 35.5 the last 600m with race day rider Jim Byrne in saddle this morning at Eagle Farm.

“She scoped clean as a whistle afterwards, has been eating well, her blood is excellent and the vet this morning said ‘these two look super'. She's done the work and run the times, knows what she's doing, has grown up, takes it all in her stride and should be able to sneak into the race (Guineas) without any pressure.

“When Jim (Byrne) first rode her the other day, he came in and said ‘geez, she got some gears'. “I can't fault her condition and she is gleaming and dappled in her coat,” said Gerard.

Also unlucky in her first outing in Australia, Precious Time is set for the Mittys benchmark 90 1800 metres this Saturday and has pleased Gerard in her lead up.

“She worked the house down this morning and has been flying the last three or four days,” said Gerard, after Precious Time had covered 1200 metres at three-quarter pace with race day rider Vinnie Colgan aboard. “Vinnie has been awesome and he's a great track work rider. He's a machine and nails it (time) every time.

Bought by David Ellis for owners Christopher & Susanna Grace, Precious Time is from the family of the stallions Grosvenor (Sir Tristram), Lonhro (Octagonal), Niello (Octagonal) and talented mare La Sizeranne (Stravinsky).

Precious Time is campaigning before visiting Redoute's Choice (Danehill) early in the new season. The decision was made on the back of recent Ozzie sprint sensation Lankan Rupee (Redoute's Choice) converting a hat-trick of wins in the Oakleigh Plate (Gr. 1, 1100m), Newmarket Handicap (Gr. 1, 1200m) and T J Smith Stakes (Gr. 1, 1200m). Lankan Rupee, the winner of nine races from sixteen starts and $2.8m in prize money, is from Estelle Collection (Stravinsky - Ana Zeel) who is a sister to Precious Time.

On course last Saturday at Doomben, Gerard was impressed by the high level of racing competition and especially the jockeyship.

“Winning the races were Nash (Rawiller), Michael Rodd, Damien Browne, Glenn Boss. They're tough, ride hard, and it's another level when those boys turn up in town,” said Gerard.

“You've got to have them on to be competitive, or otherwise you need a lot of luck and it really is another league.

“Vilanova (Commands) [another Te Akau graduate purchased by David Ellis] won the Grand Prix (Gr. 3, 2200m) in track record time (2:14.47) and man they were going fast. They ran home in 11.9 for the last 200m, 400m in 24 and Vilanova (known as Catalonia in NZ) has become very strong, mature and he just killed them."