Special Hong Kong Win for Te Akau

When Telecom Puma won over the weekend in Hong Kong we were very proud - David Ellis selected, purchased and Te Akau trained both the winner's sire and his dam! A Te Akau double!

NZ Racing News reported:

Telecom Puma made the perfect start to his
new season at Happy Valley where the New Zealand Group winner gave weight and a
beating to his sprint rivals.

It was a breakthrough success in Hong Kong for the son of Cambridge Stud's Burgundy (a sale topping colt purchased by David Ellis from Karaka).

The five-year-old had finished in the money
three times from a handful of starts in his first campaign for trainer Jimmy
Ting.

Under 60kg, Telecom Puma was ridden on
Wednesday night by Chad Schofield and was coming off a trial success, which was
required after he had bucked out of the barrier at his previous appearance in
July.

“I think it was because when he got to the
gates he lost his tongue-tie and it was put back on a little too tight and
maybe he didn't like it,” Ting said.

“This season, in his trackwork and his
trials, he's been no problem.”

Before his sale to Hong Kong interests,
Telecom Puma raced as Hard Merchandize in New Zealand and won the Listed
Castletown Stakes (1200m) at two.

He trained on the following season to claim
the Gr.2 Hawke's Bay Guineas (1400m), accounting for subsequent dual Group One
winner Bostonian in the process.

Bred by Chris Grace, Telecom Puma is out of the Encosta de Lago mare Pride And Passion who is a daughter of Gr.1 Golden Slipper Stakes (!200m) winner Calaway Gal. She was purchased by David Ellis from the Magic Millions' Gold Coast Sale.

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