Te Akau Avondale Trials' Report

Te Akau trialed horses at Avondale on Tuesday 26 February -

Weather: fine, track: Good3, rail: out 13 metres

Heat 2 Open 1000 metres (2 ¾ lengths, 5 ½ lengths 57.2)

Our Abbadean (6 m Lookin at Lucky - Highland Lights) - Opie Bosson;
got back over the sprint trip, 12 lengths 600m, and looked good making ground
through the line.

Bred and owned by the Hawkins
family at Wentwood Grange, Our Abbadean came of age last autumn winning three
of her last four starts, including the Awapuni Gold Cup (Gr. 2, 2000m), Travis
Stakes (Gr. 2, 2000m), and second in the Hawkes Bay Cup (Listed, 2200m).

Following a spell, she contested
all three legs of the Triple Crown at Hastings: resuming with a third to
stable-mate Melody Belle (Commands) in the Tarzino Trophy (Gr. 1, 1400 metres),
fifth, again to Melody Belle, in the Windsor Park Plate (Gr. 1, 1600m), and
fifth to Savvy Coup (Savabeel),in the Livamol Classic (Gr. 1, 2040m).

She trialled well prior to a terrific third in the Captain Cook Stakes (Gr. 1, 1600m) in December at Trentham, and now preparing for another autumn campaign.

Heat 4 Open 800 metres (1 ¼ lengths, 1 length 47.1)

Don'tblamethemusic (5 g Coats Choice - Blame the Music) - Nik
Bakar; travelled comfortably in front and sustained a good gallop, without
urging, to win well.

A winner of his first two starts,
and five from 13 in total, he was purchased as a yearling by David Ellis for $22,000 at the 2015 New
Zealand Bloodstock South Island Sale, from the Three Valleys draft, owned by
the Te Akau Musical Syndicate.

Don'tblamethemusic has a Northern Dancer cross, inbreeding
to Nureyev on the dam side and a Zabeel (Sir Tristram) influence as sire of his
grand-dam Noubeel.

Avantage (3 f Fastnet Rock - Asavant) - Opie Bosson; worked up outside the leader on a steady pace and without any pressure she rounded off well for second.

Champion Two-Year-Old after
winning the Karaka Million (Restricted Listed, 1200m), Sires' Produce Stakes
(Gr. 1, 1400m), and finishing second to stable-mate Sword of Osman (Savabeel)
in the Sistema Stakes (Gr. 1, 1200m), owned by the Te Akau Avantage Syndicate
(Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM), she was purchased by David Ellis for $210,000
at the 2017 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Yearling Sale, from the Oaks Stud
draft.

By champion Australian sire
Fastnet Rock (Danehill), her dam Asavant (Zabeel) was a very good filly that
won one of the best races in the New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year
Series: the Warstep Stakes (Listed, 2000m).

Lady Zeraph (4 m Makfi - Zatiger) - Joe Kamaruddin; trailed on the fence into the straight, finishing third and rolled on solidly through the line.

A staying mare in the making, she
has won in each of two short campaigns up to a mile and with further maturity
shapes as a mare to work through the grades while increasing in distance.

Owned by Linda Buttle, she was purchased by David Ellis for $120,000 at the 2016 NZB Premier Yearling Sale, from the draft of Wellfield Stud, who raced her dam, Zatiger (Zabeel), an impressive three-time winner over a mile that in turn has already left Billy Britain (One Cool Cat), a winner of nine races up to 2200 metres in Singapore, and Tiger Tim (Alamosa) a promising winner of five races to 2000 metres.

Heat 5 2YO 800 metres (short neck, 3 ½ lengths 47.0)

2 g Burgundy - Aventura - Nik Bakar; began smartly to lead, joined
at the 200m and fought hard for a close second.

Bred and owned by David Ellis and
Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM. Burgundy (Redoute's Choice), a three-quarter brother
to Darci Brahma (Danehill), both purchased as yearlings by David Ellis, was
trained by Te Akau to win five stakes races. Sire of New Zealand Bloodstock
Filly of the Year Dijon Bleu, and NZ Leading Second Season Sire, with group
winning progeny at two and three, his oldest progeny are four year olds and
proving their versatility up to 2000 metres.

Laureate (2 c Snitzel - Floria) - Opie Bosson; took up a handy position on the outer, angled clear at the 300m, running home solidly for third and looking for further through the line.

From the draft of Haunui Farm,
purchased by David Ellis for $625,000 at the Karaka Book1 Sale in January this
year, owned by Te Akau 2018 Colt Breeding Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis
MNZM).

By one
of three in the trilogy of breed shaping champion stallions in Australia:
Danehill (Danzig), Redoute's Choice (Danehill), and Snitzel (Redoute's Choice),
he is the first foal from impressive winning Savabeel (Zabeel) mare Floria,
winner of the Brisbane Cup (Gr. 2, 2400m), Summoned Stakes (Gr. 3, 1600m), and
Cuddle Stakes (Gr. 3, 1600m).

His grand-dam, Aria (Centaine), was also an impressive performer, winning four races, and the underlying key to success in the family is their ability to accelerate on good footing.

Heat 6 2YO 800 metres (¾ lengths, ¾ lengths 46.0)

When In Paris (2 f Pierro - Bulle De Champagne) - Chelsea Burdan;
began well to co-lead on the inner and fought hard, without urging, to finish
close up in third.

Having her first trial, owned by the Te Akau Champagne
Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM), she was purchased by David Ellis for
$160,000 at the 2018 Sydney Easter Yearling Sale.

The quintessential racehorse and
Champion First and Second Season Sire in Australia, Pierro only ever ran in
stakes races, winning 11 of his 14 starts. The unbeaten Triple Crown winner as
a two-year-old amassed $4.5 million and already had yearling progeny reach
$1.5m in the sales ring.

Her dam sire, Hurricane Run, was a world champion Irish bred racehorse, by Montjeu (Sadler's Wells) who made a significant impact as a sire in New Zealand. The French and Irish Derby winner also won the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, leaving a lasting legacy in the Southern Hemisphere as sire of stallion Tavistock (in turn the sire of four international Derby winners). Hurricane Run emulated the feats of his sire, Montjeu, by also winning the Irish Derby, Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, and King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes.

Aromatic (2 f Sacred Falls - Vickezzchardonnay) - Nik Bakar; settled in the rear group, last inside the 600m, before stretching out with a strong finish for fourth.

Purchased by David Ellis for
$160,000 at the 2018 Karaka Book 1 Sale, from the draft of Milan Park, owned by
the Te Akau Sacred Wine Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM), she was
having her first trial.

A first crop yearling by Champion Three-Year-Old (up to 1600m) and four-time Group One winner Sacred Falls (O'Reilly), her dam, Vickezzchardonnay, by the highest priced yearling to ever sell at Karaka, Don Eduardo ($3.6 million), was an impressive five-time winner from 1600m to 2100m.

Heat 7 2YO 800 metres (¾ lengths, ½ a length 46.2)

Awareness (2 f Redoute's Choice - Aware) - Opie Bosson; settled
rearward off the outside gate and showed a good action making ground behind
runners in the straight.

Having her first trial, purchased
by David Ellis for $300,000 at the 2018 Sydney Easter Yearling Sale, from the
draft of Newhaven Park Stud, owned by the Te Akau Very Aware Syndicate (Mgr:
Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM) and Luke Kemeys (Boys Get Paid).

By the undisputed king of Australian sires, Redoute's Choice, a son of the most successful sire of all time in Danehill (Danzig), his dam sire, Tale of the Cat (Storm Cat), was a Champion 2YO sire in the U.S.A, Champion Freshman sire in New Zealand, and sire of 2000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m) winner Tell A Tale who was purchased as a yearling by David Ellis for $125,000 at the Magic Millions Sale on the Gold Coast, and trained by Mark Walker.

Heat 8 2YO 800 metres (neck, 2 ¾ lengths 47.4)

Cisjurane (2 f Burgundy - Femmebot) - Craig Grylls; was held
together between horses on pace and sustained a strong gallop for second.

Purchased as weanling by David Ellis for $20,000 at the 2017 New Zealand Bloodstock May Sale, from the draft of Wentwood Grange, she is owned by the Te Akau Cisjurane Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM). From three named foals, her dam Femmebot (Stravinsky) has left three individual winners of 12 races.

Heat 9 2YO 800 metres (long neck, ¾ lengths 47.8)

Crystal Bellini (2 f Ghibellines - Megagem) - Opie Bosson; began
well from barrier one to set a steady pace in front and quickened up well to
win.

Bred and owned by Brian Anderton
(ONZM) and Lorraine Anderton, she is raced on lease by Mark and Vicki Baker
(Hallmark Stud) and friends of theirs in the Megagem Syndicate. 

From the first crop of White Robe
Lodge (est. 1956) stallion Ghibellines (Shamardal), her dam Megagem (Personal
Escort) won three times over 1200 metres. A first-class family, her grand-dam
Emerald Fire (Honor Grades), herself an impressive four-time winner up to 2000
metres, has left seven individual winners of 33 races including Inferno (Yamanin
Vital), twice a winner of the weight-for-age Canterbury Gold Cup (Gr. 3, 2000m)
amongst 10 wins.

Ghibellines was a highly thought of colt in Australia, racing only in stakes races, winning the Todman Stakes (Gr. 2, 1200m) as a two-year-old on good ground at Rosehill, and his progeny are impressing their connections. His sire, Darley stallion Shamardal (Giant's Causeway) has a fantastic pedigree, with a Mr. Prospector influence of speed and versatility and proved himself as a sire of both juvenile and classic excellence with 18 Group One winners.

Heat 11 2YO 800 metres (¾ lengths, 1 ½ lengths 47.2)

Festivity (2 f I Am Invincible - Mabsam) - Opie Bosson; was back
and wide off the gate, four lengths 600 metres, circled to lead at the 300m and
held together for a tidy win.

Having her first trial, owned by
the Te Akau 2018 Fabulous Fillies Breeding Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis
MNZM), purchased by David Ellis for $410,000 at the 2018 Karaka Book 1 Sale. Progeny
by her sire, I Am Invincible (Invincible Spirit), have been incredibly well
sought after. His yearlings have sold for $2 million, $1.9m, $1.7m, $1.45m, and
averaged nearly $400,000 last year.

Mabsam was a debut winner over 1000 metres, winning to a mile, by a Golden Slipper (Gr. 1, 1200m) winning son of Redoute's Choice, Stratum, and her two progeny to race have both won. Also from Mabsam, David Ellis bought a Mongolian Khan yearling colt $140,000 from the same draft at the Karaka Book 1 Sale this year.

Heat 12 2YO 800 metres (½ lengths, 2 ¼ lengths 46.7)

Ginger Too (2 g Iffraaj - La Chiflota) - Opie Bosson; received a
lovely trip camped on the two leaders, worked between runners inside the 200m
and finished strongly for second in a good educational trial.

Purchased by David Ellis for
$70,000 at the 2018 Karaka Book 2 Sale, from the draft of Monovale Farm, owned
by the Te Akau Little Jerry Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM), having
his first trial.

By Iffraaj (Zafonic), the sire of Te Akau trained triple Group One winner Gingernuts, and also the dam sire of Champion Two-Year-Old Melody Belle (Commands), out a Group One winner and Champion 2YO Filly in Chile .A proven international sire and Champion 3YO sire in New Zealand, Iffraaj is also the sire of Royal Ascot Group One winner and Champion Miler Ribchester, and produced over 50 individual stakes winners.

Heat 13 2YO 800 metres (1 length, ¾ lengths 47.1)

High Achiever (2 g Pins - Thee Achiever) - Opie Bosson; began
smartly, steadied for cover in fourth and quickened when presented in the
straight to win.

Owned by the Te Akau High
Achievers Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM), purchased by David Ellis
for $100,000 at the 2018 Karaka Book 1 Sale, from the Milan Park draft.

From a great South Island family of the Dennis brothers (Tony, Joe, Martin and Ray Dennis), one of their three winners of the NZ Broodmare of the Year title, The Fantasy (Gate Keeper), produced The Phantom (Noble Bijou): winner of 10 races and $2,231,391 in stakes, and his brother The Phantom Chance won 11 races and $2,189,706 in prize money. The first foal of a three-time winning O'Reilly mare, his grand-dam, The Grin (Grosvenor), won four races and became the dam of 1000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m) winner The Jewel: 11 wins netting $620,003.

Heat 14 Maiden 800 metres (¾ lengths, long neck 46.6)

Dundeel's Girl (3 f Dundeel - Mirovaya) - Craig Grylls; settled down
back on the inner and tracked up solidly nearer the rail for fourth.

Purchased by David Ellis for
$95,000, from the draft of Lyndhurst Farm, at the 2017 New Zealand Bloodstock
Premier Yearling Sale, owned by the Fortuna Dundeel's Girl Syndicate (Mgr: John
Galvin)

A filly from the first crop of remarkable racehorse Dundeel (High Chaparral), who stamped himself as well above average from the day he blew his two-year-old rivals off the track on debut over 1200 metres at Ellerslie. Dundeel racked up titles on both sides of the Tasman: Champion 3YO and Horse of the Year in New Zealand, and Champion Middle Distance horse in Australia. Ending his racing career winning the $4m Queen Elizabeth Stakes (Gr. 1, 2000m) at Royal Randwick, his progeny have been highly sought after.

Te Akau trainer Jamie Richards
produced the most recent stakes winner (six in total) for Dundeel when Yourdeel
won the Waikato Stud Slipper (Gr. 3, 1200m) by six lengths on 23 February at
Matamata.

Her dam, Mirovaya, is by the undisputed king of Australian sires Redoute's Choice, a son of the most successful sire of all time in Danehill (Danzig), from a second dam, Miss Kournikova (Mr Greeley), who was Joint Top Filly in the Australasian 3YO classifications and became a sensational broodmare.

Heat 15 Maiden 800 metres (1 ½ lengths, ½ a length 46.4)

Twilight Zone (3 g O'Reilly - Twilight Granita) - Joe Kamaruddin;
settled at the back of five runners, angled widest in the straight and rounded
off solidly in a heat where positions never changed little.

Owned by the Te Akau In The Zone
Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM), purchased by David Ellis for $70,000,
from the draft of Bradbury Park, at the 2017 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier
Yearling Sale.

By multiple Champion sire O'Reilly (Last Tycoon), the first foal from a young stakes winning Iffraaj (Zafonic) mare. A proven sire, Iffraaj has left New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year Fix. Champion Middle Distance & Sprinter of the Year and freshman sire Turn Me Loose, and Karaka Million winner Xiong Feng, while making an immediate impact as a broodmare sire through the deeds of Champion Two-Year-Old Melody Belle (Commands - Meleka Belle, by Iffraaj), bought by David Ellis and trained by Te Akau to win the Karaka Million (Listed, 1200m) and five Group One races - four this season.

Heat 18 2YO 1000 metres (neck, 2 ¼ lengths 1:01.9)

Xplosion (2 f Showcasing - Xpress) - Opie Bosson; worked into an
ideal trailing position and sustained a good gallop for third.

Xplosion was purchased by David
Ellis for $115,000 at the 2018 Karaka Book 2 Sale, from the draft of Nala Park,
and owned by Te Akau Xplosive Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM).

She is the year younger sister of Wakefield Stakes (Gr. 2, 1200m) winner Xpression, who also finished second to Te Akau Champion Two-Year-Old Avantage (Fastnet Rock) in the Gold Trail Stakes (Gr. 3, 1200m) and third in the 1000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m).

Heat 19 Maiden 1000 metres (head, 2 ½ lengths 1.00.9)

Firebrand (3 g Tavistock - Danart) - Opie Bosson; positioned one
off the rail in fifth but unable to let down on the firm ground over a sprint
trip.

Owned by the Te Akau Firebrand
Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM), purchased by Te Akau principal David
Ellis for $220,000 from the Valachi Downs draft at the 2017 New Zealand
Bloodstock Premier Sale.

With progeny selling up to $975,000, Tavistock is clearly the best sire son of Montjeu at stud in New Zealand. He brilliantly won two of the toughest Group One 1400-metre races - Mudgway Stakes and the Waikato Sprint - and already sired winners of 10 Group One races, including four Derby's, while dam Danart (Dancing Dissident) won nine races.

Heat 20 Maiden 1000 metres (1 ¼ lengths, 5 lengths 1:02.4)

Red Jakkal (3 g Jakkalberry - Red Alert) - Chelsea Burdan; found a
good position in fourth and held together he ran home solidly for third.

Spelled following a very good
debut second in September and stronger for the break he appears ready for a
solid campaign.

Purchased by David Ellis for
Fortuna Syndications, managed by John Galvin, the first foal of an unraced
mare, his second dam is by Savabeel (Zabeel), from the family of 2000 Guineas
(Gr. 1, 1600m) winner Master Belt (Masterclass). A very successful family
developed by trainer Kevin Gray. 

His sire, Jakkalberry (Storming Home) won 12 races, stakes of $2.7m, and holds the record for the fastest last 600m (33.5) in the Melbourne Cup (Gr. 1, 3200m). Red Jakkal is from his first crop.Strong, consistent, and a high-class performer, Jakkalberry was a Champion (2010 and 2011) in Italy, and Great Britain (2012). He has a Mr. Prospector (Raise a Native) cross through the sire sides of his pedigree, bloodlines that remain prevalent in staying ranks worldwide.

Heat 21 Maiden 1000 metres (½ a length, 1 ¼ lengths 1:01.0)

Shebringsmerubies (3 f Sebring - Run Away Ruby) - Opie Bosson;
began well to secure a lovely trip in fourth and maintained a good gallop,
without serious urging, running home for a close fourth.

Owned by the Te Akau Girls Having
Fun Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM), she was offered by Vinery Stud
and purchased by David Ellis for $57,500 at the 2017 Gold Coast National
Yearling Sale.

Her sire Sebring (More Than Ready), who died prematurely at 13, had progeny sell for $1m plus, siring 51 stakes winners, including Australian Horse of the Year, five-time Group One winner Dissident whose oldest progeny are two-year-olds.

Heat 22 Maiden 1000 metres (short neck, head 1:00.9)

Dublin Rose (3 f O'Reilly - Irish Dream) - Chelsea Burdan; received
an economical trip in the trail, rails run 300 and finished strongly under her
own steam for a close third.

Unlucky not to have won, she has
registered two seconds, third, and two fourths, from six starts, but trialled
as though a win could soon come her way.

She was purchased by David Ellis for $130,000 from the draft of Little Avondale Stud at the 2017 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Yearling Sale. Owned by the Te Akau Dublin Rose Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM), her dam Irish Dream, by Savabeel (Zabeel), won three races and a sister to Group One winner Shillelagh, Brisbane Cup (Gr. 2, 2400m) winner Tullamore, and the Te Akau trained stakes winning mare Grazia.

Heat 23 Maiden 1000 metres (2 ¼ lengths, 3 ½ lengths 59.8)

English Rose (4 m Makfi - Bislieri) - Joe Kamaruddin; improved from
fifth to trail approaching the 500m and ran home strongly under a hold for
third, looking for more after the line.

Sister to 2016 New Zealand
Bloodstock Filly of the Year Sofia Rosa (Makfi), a multiple Group winner that
culminated her three-year-old season with a victory in the ATC Oaks (Gr.1,
2400m) at Randwick. Owned by the Te Akau English Rose Syndicate, she was
purchased for $200,000 by David Ellis from the draft of Westbury Stud at the
2016 NZB Premier Yearling Sale.

Although yet to break through, registering some good performances and a mare with enormous residual value, she looked in very good order to resume.

Heat 24 Maiden 1000 metres (2 lengths, ¾ lengths 1:12.0)

Man Oh Man (3 g Reliable Man - Lumir) - Opie Bosson; travelled
boldly in the trail, rails run 300m, lengthened to a handy advantage and won
well.

In training for owner/breeders
Gerard Peterson, Brad Peterson, and Penny Vuglar, he stems from an unraced
Encosta De Lago mare, half-sister to eight-time Group One winner Mahogany (Last
Tycoon) who earned $3.6 in prize money.

Displaying natural ability, Man
Oh Man has the pedigree to develop into a nice staying horse, with Lumir
already having left three winners around 2000 metres.

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