Te Akau Dragon Roars Home

Given an improving form line, Te Akau Dragon  (3 g Power - Cool Diamond, by One Cool Cat) recorded a dominant victory in the $10,000 Riverstone Cafe Maiden 1400 metres on 10 April at Otaki. 

Te Akau Dragon had finished third at his two previous starts and broke through at his fifth attempt for the New Zealand Chinese Jockey Club & Te Akau Diamond Power Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM), after being purchased by David Ellis for $120,000, from the draft of Cambridge Stud, at the 2017 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Yearling Sale.

The only horse wanted in betting ($1.60), apart from $6.00 second favourite Springsteen (Stratum), Te Akau Dragon was first away from the gates for Johnathan Parkes, received cover at the 1000m and after ranging to challenge around the home turn he extended clear to win handsomely.

“He's sweated up a little before the start, but got a nice run in the race and showed a good turn of foot up the straight,” Parkes said. “He deserved his win today, after a couple of nice runs earlier on.”

On footing rated Dead6, following overnight and early morning rain, Te Akau Dragon ran the 1400 metres in a respectable 1:24.8, winning by two and a half lengths.

“He's always shown the ability and it's just been a matter of putting it together on race day,” said stable foreman Mason Stevens. “We haven't been sure whether he'd been running out a strong mile, so back in trip and a bit of give in the ground he showed what he's been showing us at home.”

Closely related to Gift of Power (Power), winner of 11 races, Te Akau Dragon stems from the magnificent Eight Carat family at Cambridge Stud. His dam, Cool Diamond, is a half-sister to Capital Diamond (Lucky Unicorn), the dam of Gift of Power. Capital Diamond was an impressive winner over 1200m and 1400m that performed up with the best three-year-old fillies of her year.

The third dam in his pedigree is Diamond Lover (Sticks and Stones), a half-sister to Octagonal (Zabeel), Kaapstad (Sir Tristram), and Marquise (Gold and Ivory), and left Don Eduardo (Zabeel), Tristalove (Sir Tristram), Viking Ruler (Danehill), and Antwerp (Sir Tristram) the dam of Viscount (Quest for Fame). 

Te Akau trainer Jamie Richards said: “It was very pleasing to see him win. He's got a terrific pedigree, has shown ability since he was a two-year-old and has just taken a bit of time to work things out and strengthen up. 

“It's our first horse in partnership with the New Zealand Chinese Jockey Club, and a thrill for them to see him win. They're doing a great job promoting New Zealand thoroughbreds to Chinese investors, have a few horses in training in NZ, and I think Te Akau Dragon is a horse than can go on with it. 

“He's a horse that should take plenty of confidence from the win and some easing in the ground over the coming months won't worry him.”

Te Akau Dragon was strapped by Kate Belsham. 

Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz

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