Te Akau Colours Fly at The Curragh

You may remember that in October 2013 Te Akau's David Ellis headed to Deauville looking to make his first European purchase.  

That year in France he secured a Fastnet Rock colt out of Magnolia Lane, she a full sister to four-time Ascot Gold Cup winner Yeats.  In a twist of irony, David and Karyn had been on hand at Royal Ascot to witness the crowd go wild when Yeats claimed his fourth Gold Cup crown.

The colt, who was purchased for 70,000 euros, went on to be named Torcedor (appropriately) and is raced by Sir Peter Vela, Sir Patrick Hogan, Mohammed Moussa and Laurie Laxon.  He is now a strapping 3YO gelding managed by David and trained by top trainer David Wachman in Ireland.

Congratulations to the team - after three placings, Torcedor won brilliantly - and on Oaks' Day - at The Curragh on Saturday.

Here is how the win was reported in Ireland ...

Torcedor and Gelenschik fought out the spoils in the concluding mile and a half maiden at the Curragh and it was the former who kept on best to score.

Ironically, both horses were fitted with first-time blinkers and they certainly appeared to help them focus on the job in hand.

They both came through to the front with a furlong and a half to race. Inside the final furlong it was Torcedor who found most under Waayne Lordan. The pair drew on from Gelenschik and Pat Smullen to win by two and a half lengths. The winner shaded favouritism at 9/4 from the runner-up at 5/2. There was a five length gap back to Secundos Out in third at 20/1.

David Wachman said: "He did it fine and was always threatening to win a maiden. He stays well and is a fine big horse."

Torcedor gets his first victory in the finale at the Curragh
(Healy Racing Photos)