Te Akau Dares to Dream of Back To Back Kiwi's

Te Akau Racing won the inaugural running of The NZB Kiwi last year with Damask Rose (NZ) (Savabeel), and they are daring to dream of retaining their crown.  New Zealand’s leading stable have been spoilt for choice to fill their slot among their eligible contingent, but they have settled on He Who Dares (NZ) (Snitzel).

Bred in partnership by Frantic and Haunui Bloodstock, He Who Dares is by champion sire Snitzel and out of Group One performer Rondinella, and he was offered through Haunui Farm’s 2024 New Zealand Bloodstock Book 1 Yearling Sale draft.

Te Akau Racing principal David Ellis was taken by the colt when inspecting him at the Karaka stud farm and again at New Zealand Bloodstock’s sales complex, and he was determined to bring him home.

“We bought him from one of New Zealand’s great farms in Haunui,” Ellis said.

“When inspecting him I put down – ‘an obvious two-year-old type, physically well conformed, athletic, forward, mature, will train on and be a really good three-year-old and beyond’ and I wrote ‘just buy’.”

And buy he did, with his final bid of $825,000 securing the blueblood colt. 

He Who Dares has gone on to vindicate Ellis’ early assessment, with the colt winning on debut as a juvenile before finishing runner-up to his subsequent Group One-winning stablemate Return To Conquer (Snitzel) in the Group Three Matamata Slipper (1200m).

He picked up where he left off as a three-year-old, finishing runner-up first-up in the Listed Sir Colin Meads Trophy (1200m), and ran undefeated Group One-winning filly, and The NZB Kiwi favourite, Well Written (Written Tycoon) close in the Group Two Auckland Guineas (1400m), and was runner-up to her again last start in the $1.5 million Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m).

“We couldn’t be happier with him and the boys (trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson) have been very excited about the way he has been working,” Ellis said.

Te Akau’s announcement brings the stable’s representation in The NZB Kiwi to two, after Belle Cheval (NZ) (Savabeel) was secured by slot holders The King’s Men, while Ellis said there has been strong interest in La Dorada (NZ) (Super Seth) by several slot holders following her victory in last month’s Group Two Levin Classic (1400m) and placing in the $1.5 million Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m).

“We are proud to have good representation in The Kiwi as we look to defend the title,” Ellis said.

“Having a good chances in the race is exciting and to try and go back-to-back is not an easy thing to do, especially with Well Written, who looks exceptional, but she does have an extra three kilos to carry.”

Ellis has enjoyed being a part of the southern hemisphere’s richest three-year-old race and he said it was a great thrill taking out the inaugural running last year with Damask Rose.

“It is a great concept and it is an exciting race,” he said. “It was a very proud moment to win the first edition last year. We spent so much time looking at all of the yearlings and to win the race with a Savabeel filly was great. 

“She went up in value, not just on the day through her own work, and she is also a full-sister to subsequent dual Group 1 winner Provence.”

While Damask Rose didn’t have all favours in Melbourne in the spring, she has thrived with a freshen-up and pleased with her last-start runner-up effort in the Group Three Geoffrey Bellmaine Stakes (1200m), and her connections are hoping she can continue that form into her next assignment at Caulfield next weekend.

“We are thrilled with the way she is coming to hand,” Ellis said. “Her next race will be the Group 3 Mannerism Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield next week on Blue Diamond Day, where we have I Am Aria running in the flagship race.”

Meanwhile, Ellis is busy selling shares in yearlings he has acquired at the sales on both sides of the Tasman, and he is hoping a future NZB Kiwi winner is among them.

“The other day I went around the farm with my vets, Jack O’Brien and Doug Black, who vetted all the horses, and they said ‘these yearlings are up there with the best group you have ever bought in your career’,” Ellis said. “It is pretty exciting to be selling them, we are selling shares every day, and welcoming lots of new owners to the team.” – NZ Thoroughbred Racing