Southern Girls on Exhibition

Stakes' quality fillies Cool Aza Rene (Cool Aza Beel) and Marokopa Falls (Hellbent) had an exhibition gallop between races on Saturday at Riccarton, ahead of trialling on Tuesday 11 August at Timaru.

Using the outing as a first trial, Cool Aza Rene, ridden by Triston Moodley, and Marokopa Falls, with Te Akau apprentice Hayley Hassman aboard, galloped over 1000 metres and ran the last 600m in 36.5.

“Cool Aza Rene was in front while Marokopa Falls sat off her and they worked together up the straight,” said assistant trainer Hunter Durrant.

“They weren’t going out to break any records, but it was pleasing work and that will bring them on nicely.”

Durrant indicated there are 16 horses from the Te Akau stable at Riccarton that are scheduled to trial on Tuesday 11 August at Timaru. 

Describing the mares – just turned four-year-olds – Durrant said: 

“Cool Aza Rene is a wee bull, strong mentally and physically, short-coupled and well put together, and Marokopa Falls is a nice framed horse that looks absolutely outstanding and probably has one of the best coats in the barn.”

Cool Aza Rene has registered five wins to 1400 metres, including the ninth Group 3 Barneswood Farm Stakes (1400m) for Te Akau early last season, after being purchased cheaply by Sir David Ellis KNZM for $55,000 at the 2024 Gold Coast Yearling Sale, from the draft of Newhaven Park, and she is owned by the Te Akau One Cool Beel Racing Partnership (Mgr: Lady Karyn Ellis MNZM).

A debut winning two-year-old, Marokopa Falls remained competitive against the better three-year-olds last season, when placed at Group and Listed level in both the North and South Island. Owned by the Fortuna Marokopa Falls Syndicate (Mgr: John Galvin), she was purchased by Te Akau principal Sir David Ellis KNZM and Fortuna Syndications for A$57,500 at the 2024 Gold Coast National Yearling Sale, from the draft of Lincoln Farm.

Main picture - Cool Aza Rene winning her Group 3 Barneswood Stakes crown last season