Te Akau Black Type Quinella

Confirming her hot favouritism, Costa Viva (3 f Encosta De Lago - Vivacious Spirit, by Bel Esprit) became the sixth Te Akau winner of the Ray Coupland Stakes (Listed, 1400m), on Saturday Oct. 19, at Ashburton.

Adding to the success, stable-mate Chambord (Zabeel) produced a big finish from the rear to finish second.

On a course that generally requires winners be handy to the pace, jockey Matt Cameron had a gamble payoff when crossing from a wide gate he was able to secure cover in third aboard Costa Viva.

Clear to challenge on straightening, Costa Viva put two lengths on her rivals sprinting to the 200 metres and kept galloping strongly to the line. While Chambord was ridden patiently at the rear by Jamie Bullard before booming home in centre track and closing the winning margin to half a length.

The pair, trained by Jason Bridgman, finished three and a quarter lengths ahead of the third horse in a time of 1:21.13 for the 1400 metres.

“She (Costa Viva) got the job done,” said Bridgman. “She was a bit workmanlike and although she has been doing things brilliantly she's not a flashy sort of horse. And I think the effort had a bit less gloss on it with the run of the second horse [Chambord] who might just be a very good horse. But, you can't take anything away from the winner.

“She was wide, used up to be put in the race, dropped the bit and got the job done. So, professionalism wins over greenness every time and that was the case today.

“Both horses have very good ability and the horse with more professional manners won today but the other horse also has a bright future,” said Bridgman.

Costa Viva is owned by Dave & Nicky Hurst, Ray & Jan Batten and Dianne Ford after she was purchased by Te Akau Principal David Ellis for $100,000 at the 2012 Gold Coast National Yearling Sale.

“It was a great win by the filly,” said Ellis, of Costa Viva as she prepares for the 1000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m) on Nov. 16 at Riccarton. “It was also a huge run by Chambord and it could have been the run of a possible 2000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m) winner.

“When Costa Viva lines up in her Guineas, Chambord won't be in the race and she was four and half lengths ahead of the others,” said Ellis. “She had just come off a long trip and I think there is so much improvement in her.

“To go the sales and buy two horses that finish a stakes' race like that is a big thrill,” said Ellis. “The stable success starts when we buy the right horses. If you buy the right horses you've got something to work with but if you buy the wrong horses it's hard to win races with them no matter how good a trainer you are.

The six wins in the event by Te Akau horses since 2003 could have easily been seven had Corsage (Volksraad) not suffered relegation after being first past the post in 2009. King's Chapel (King of Kings) started the ball rolling in 2003, Sea Saint (Orpen) won in 2005, Princess Coup (Encosta De Lago) 2006, King's Rose (Redoute's Choice) 2010, and Abidewithme (Redoute's Choice) won last year.

Costa Viva stunning on debut scores black type at start three

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