Te Akau Dominates Karaka Million Field

Te Akau principal David Ellis has confirmed Hugh Bowman, currently rated the best jockey in the world, to ride two-year-old colt Al Hasa (Exceed and Excel) in the $1m Karaka Million (Listed, 1200m) on Saturday 27 January at Ellerslie.

Having guided the top rated mare in the world Winx (Street Cry) to three Cox Plate (Gr. 1, 2040m) victories, and recently won the Japan Cup (Gr. 1, 2400m) aboard Cheval Grand (Heart's Cry), Bowman also won his fourth Jockey Premiership last season in Sydney.

“Hughie is a good mate of mine, obviously world class, and it's a privilege to have him aboard one of the Te Akau horses in such a prestigious race,” said Ellis, seeking back-to-back wins after Melody Belle (Iffraaj) won in 2017.

Stable rider Opie Bosson would partner current race favourite Avantage (Fastnet Rock), Michael McNab rides recent debut winner and second favourite Sword of Osman (Savabeel), Pinot Grey (Burgundy) combines with Cameron Lammas, and at this stage Danielle Johnson will be aboard debutante winning filly The Real Beel (Savabeel).

The Informant reports:

Te Akau Racing is set to have five runners in the Karaka Million at Ellerslie on Saturday week, with stable rider Opie Bosson booked for the unbeaten filly Avantage.

The Fastnet Rock filly extended her career record to three from three with a win at Ellerslie yesterday, moving to the top of the Karaka Million order of entry.  She will be joined in the field by impressive debut winner Sword Of Osman, whose form was boosted by runner-up Platinum Mam'selle's win at Trentham on Saturday, along with Al Hasa, Pinot Grey and The Real Beel.

“I'd say we'll have a third of the field,” Te Akau principal David Ellis told www.theinformant.co.nz today.

“Opie's going to ride Avantage at 54.5 kilograms. Hugh Bowman will ride Al Hasa, Pinot Grey will be ridden by Cameron Lammas and Michael McNab will be on Sword Of Osman with Danielle Johnson assigned to The Real Beel.”

Te Akau trainers Stephen Autridge and Jamie Richards won last year's Karaka Million with Fortuna Syndications filly Melody Belle, who was bought by Ellis for $57,500.

The Te Akau team sent a number of horses to Ellerslie on Monday morning to gallop on the course proper ahead of their engagements at the Karaka Million meeting. They included Sword Of Osman, Al Hasa and the 2000 Guineas winner Embellish.

“Sword Of Osman was ridden by Opie and he galloped with Al Hasa and The Real Beel,” Ellis said. “Embellish also galloped with Our Abbadean. We were very happy with all of their work. We wanted to give them a look around Ellerslie and get a feel for the environment, so that when they go there on the night, they're ready to perform to their very best.”