Te Akau Ellerslie Exhibitions

Te Akau trainers Mark Walker & Sam Bergerson took the opportunity to give four Black Type performers an exhibition gallop between races on Saturday at Ellerslie.

On footing upgraded to Good4, La Dorada (3 f Super Seth – Gold Fever, by Savabeel) ridden by Craig Grylls, and Queen’s Evidence (3 f King’s Legacy – Enjay, by High Chaparral), with Wiremu Pinn aboard, ran 1000m in 1:05.2 and last 600m in 35.2. 

The first New Zealand thoroughbred to win a million-dollars during her two-year-old season, La Dorada became the eighth winner of the Karaka Millions 2YO for Te Akau. Her stellar juvenile season included victories in the Group 2 Matamata Breeders’ Stakes and Group 1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes, and culminated in her being voted New Zealand's Champion 2Yo for 2024/25.

Owned by the Te Akau Solid Gold Racing Partnership (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM), La Dorada was purchased by David Ellis CNZM, from the draft of Waikato Stud, at the 2024 Karaka Book 1 Sale.

La Dorada is scheduled to have another exhibition gallop on Sunday 7 December at Te Aroha, before resuming in the $65,000 3YO 1200 metres on Saturday 13 December at Te Rapa.

Queen’s Evidence is preparing to resume in the Rating 65 1200 metres on Saturday 6 December at Pukekohe, or, a week later, in the Rating 65 1200 metres on Saturday 13 December at Ellerslie.

A debut winning two-year-old and placed in the Listed Champagne Stakes (1200m) and Group 3 Gold Trail Stakes (1200m), Queen’s Evidence was purchased by David Ellis CNZM, from the draft of Cambridge Stud, at the 2024 Karaka Book 1 Sale, and owned by the Te Akau Lineage Racing Partnership (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM).

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To Bravery Born (3 g Snitzel – Milunka, by All Too Hard), ridden by Darren Danis, and Dream Of The Moon (4 m All Too Hard – Moonchild, by Charge Forward), with Hayley Hassman aboard, ran 1000m in 1:01.8, 800m in 48.5, and last 600m in 35.1.

The winner of three races, To Bravery Born was purchased by David Ellis CNZM at the Karaka 2024 Book 1 Sale, from the draft of Curraghmore Stud, and is owned by Te Akau Secret Identity Racing Partnership (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis). He won his first two races as a two-year-old, before finishing fourth to stable-mate La Dorada in the Karaka Millions 2YO and was third to stable-mate Return To Conquer (Snitzel) in the Group 3 Matamata Slipper over 1200m.

To Bravery Born is scheduled to resume in the $65,000 3YO 1200 metres on Saturday 13 December at Te Rapa.

Reigning New Zealand Bloodstock Southern Filly of the Year, Dream Of The Moon is preparing to resume in the $65,000 Rating 75 1200 metres on Saturday 13 December at Te Rapa.

Owned by the Te Akau Moon Dreaming Racing Partnership (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MZNM), Dream Of The Moon was purchased by David Ellis CNZM at the 2023 Gold Coast Yearling Sale, from the draft of Glenbeigh Farm.

The winner of three races, Dream Of The Moon won brilliantly as a two-year-old, finished runner-up in both the Listed Canterbury Belle Stakes (1200m) and Group 3 Barneswood Stakes (1400m), and won the Listed NZB Airfreight Stakes (1600m) last season.