Te Akau Boxing Day Bonanza - Win 2 of 6 - Entriviere

On terms with Railway (Gr. 1, 1200m) pre-post favourite Levante (Proisir) when trialling recently, Entriviere (4 m Tavistock - Marcey's Belt, by Golan) romped home in the $50,000 Rating 74 1200 metres on Boxing Day at Ellerslie. 

A usually circumspect (rider) Danielle Johnson was full of praise for the mare, saying: “She's machine-like, amazing, such a good turn of foot and she travelled beautifully. She's so fast and exciting. She going places and doing it so easily. 

“She's a bit unlucky not to have won all her starts so far and today she's done it effortlessly. I don't know what's in store for her but she's going to be a pretty good animal.”

Johnson made the comments after positioning three back on the outer aboard Entriviere, standing the leader six lengths at the 600m, ranging four wide rounding the home she put paid to her rivals in a few strides and blew clear to win by four lengths.

“She let the speed go and there was good tempo and when they quicken like that I think that's the sign of a very good horse,” said trainer Jamie Richards. 

“She looks to be Group class for sure and we'll take our time with her. She could be suspect on the firmer tracks over summer, and we've got plenty of time. She's worth looking after and it's all in front of her.

“She could race at stakes level this season, but it might not be until the autumn. We've got lovely owners in her, including the team from Waikato Equine, and my Grandma and Granddad sitting in Alex. (Alexandra). It's very cool and quite special.”

In a short career of three wins from four starts, it was the second time Entriviere had scored by the same margin, having made it two from two when streaking clear to win the Rating 65 1300 metres in October at Tauranga.

She had finished second to listed winner and Group 2 placed Levante (Proisir) when trialling on 14 December at Te Aroha, runs good times, and certainly warranted her hot favouritism.

The best backed horse on the programme, Entriviere returned $1.70 & $1.20 in the race sponsored by Auckland Co-op Taxis, running the 1200 metres in a slick 1:09.2 and last 600m in about 33 flat. 

Entriviere is from the family of triple Group 1 winner of the Cox Plate, Orr Stakes, and Yalumba Stakes, Maldivian (Zabeel). She is owned by the Te Akau Buckle Up Racing Partnership (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM) and among the owners are Garry & Lorraine McDonnell, parents of Leanne Richards, and grandparents of trainer Jamie Richards.

“She really does look exciting,” said Te Akau principal David Ellis.

“My vet Douglas Black, it's hard to get a dollar out of him. They talk about Scotsmen! But I thought we must be onto something when he took ten percent, and this is the first time he's won a race at Ellerslie. It's exciting, too, for all the owners that have invested in this really talented mare.

“It's such a thrill for Karyn (Fenton-Ellis MNZM) and me to see you all getting such a huge buzz out of Entriviere and I think it's fair to say that Jamie has done an outstanding job. It's quite freakish the way he's brought her through. His understanding of her and work he's given her is hard to beat.”

Ellis also paid tribute to the Auckland Racing Club board and staff.

“It doesn't go unnoticed that this great track is the result of an incredible amount of hard work, both paid and unpaid, by people that love racing,” he said. “And we're thrilled to be here. The club is run extremely well and it's one we can all be proud of.”

Entriviere was strapped by Hunter Durrant.

Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz

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