Te Akau Ellerslie Trials' Report

Te Akau trialled horses at Ellerslie on Tuesday 6 April 2021 -

Weather: cloudy, track: Dead4, rail: true

Heat 1 Open 1200 metres (5 lengths, 2 ½ lengths 1:12.6)

Amarelinha (3 f Savabeel - Hopscotch) - Opie Bosson; began awkwardly, last, improved on bridle three lengths 600m, and she raced clear in the straight to win easily.

Purchased by David Ellis for $300,000 at the 2019 Karaka Book 1 Sale, from the draft of Waikato Stud and owned by the Te Akau Hopskip'n'jump Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM), winner of five from seven, she followed two Group Two and a Group Three win with victory in the New Zealand Oaks (Gr. 1, 2400m) on 20 March at Trentham. She is preparing for the $1m Australian Oaks (Gr. 1, 2400m), Saturday 17 April at Randwick.

Zouluminous (4 m Zoustar - Luminous) - Nitin Parmar; secured a trailing position, held up travelling well, and she got through late for third.

Recording her second win during the last campaign, owned by the Te Akau Shining Light Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM), she was purchased by David Ellis, from the draft of Rosemont Stud, at the 2018 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale. Her dam, Luminous Harmony (Fastnet Rock), won four races to 1400 metres in Australia, and sister to talented dual Group Three winner Neena Rock.

Heat 2 Open 1200 metres (head, 2 lengths 1:13.4)

Richard of Yorke (9 g Oasis Dream - Cascata) - Nitin Parmar; raced handy but wide and he kept up a good gallop to grab third on the line.

The winner of six races and placed four from four in hurdle starts before spelling in October.  Owned by the Te Akau Plantagenet Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM), he won at Royal Ascot before being sold to Australia. Following two further wins over 2400 metres he was purchased by Te Akau for $42,000 on Gavelhouse.

Heat 3 Open 900 metres (1 ½ lengths, head 52.4)

Top Brass (5 g Epaulette - Highlight) - Joe Kamaruddin; began well to co-lead inner, second turn, and he galloped on solidly for fourth.

The winner of four from seven, owned by Terry Archer, Mike Beazley, Howard Perry, Stu Graham, Murray Darroch, Marcelle Douglas, Stuart Gladding and A Dime-A-Dozen Syndicate, Top Brass is by the multiple Group One winning sprinter Epaulette (Commands), standing at Darley in Australia. He is the first foal out of a High Chaparral (Sadler's Wells) mare that won five races from 1400m - 1900m, from a good producing dam-line that includes talented third dam Superjet (Jetball).

Excitonic (4 g Savabeel - Bint Piavonic) - Nitin Parmar; trailed inner from barrier one, fourth turn, and he was not too far away in close quarters at the line.

An emphatic Maiden winner, he is looking to recapture the form. Purchased by David Ellis for $230,000 from the draft of Brighthill Farm at the New Zealand Bloodstock Book1 Karaka Sale, and owned by Te Akau Excitonic Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM). By six-time Champion Sire Savabeel (Zabeel), his dam, Bint Piavonic (Enosta De Lago), is the daughter of terrific nine-time winner Piavonic (Scenic), who defeated Sunline (Desert Sun) and Falvelon (Alannon) in the Manikato Stakes (Gr. 1, 1200m).

Heat 4 Open 900 metres (¾ lengths, ½ a length 52.8)

Pazienza (3 f Written Tycoon - Gypsy Chimes) - Opie Bosson; got back seven lengths 600m and she made good ground in the straight for third.

In training for Cambridge Stud owners Brendan Lindsay MNZM & Jo Lindsay, she was an impressive debut winner last March at Trentham, and returned home after a spring campaign in Australia. She is a half-sister to stable-mate and stakes performed dual winner Folk Dress (Pierro). Pazienza was offered by breeders Coolmore Stud and bought for $280,000 by Cambridge Stud at the 2019 Gold Coast Yearling Sale.

Heat 5 Open 900 metres (¾ lengths, ½ a length 54.2)

Aromatic (4 m Sacred Falls - Vickezzchardonnay) - Joe Kamaruddin; camped on the leaders, going boldly, and she quickened nicely on the inner for third.

Freshened in December after winning two of her four starts, and three from seven in total, for the Te Akau Sacred Wine Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM). Purchased by David Ellis for $160,000 at the 2018 Karaka Book 1 Sale, from the draft of Milan Park, her dam Vickezzchardonnay, by the highest priced yearling to ever sell at Karaka, Don Eduardo ($3.6 million) (Zabeel), was an impressive five-time winner from 1600m to 2100m and multiple stakes placed.

Romantic Lady (4 m Power - Romantic Time) - Samantha Collett; travelled handily in the open and she worked home solidly without pressure to finish close up.

Very genuine in her performances, winning four times, four seconds, and four thirds, from 15 starts. Purchased by David Ellis at the 2018 New Zealand Bloodstock Book 1 Sale, from the draft of Cambridge Stud, owned by Sir Patrick Hogan, John Aubrey, Richard Johnstone, Michael Macky, James Montgomerie and Warwick Taylor. The first foal of a race winning filly over 1250 metres in Sydney, by Champion Sire Fastnet Rock (Danehill).

Heat 10 2YO 900 metres (head, neck 53.9)

2 f Iffraaj - More than Adequate - Samantha Collett; began well to trail, clear inner on straightening, and she kept up a solid gallop near the rail for third.

In training for owner Greg Clarke, she was purchased for $34,000 by David Ellis at the 2020 Karaka Book 2 Sale, from the draft of Highview Stud. Not only is she by high-quality proven International Group One stallion Iffraaj (Zafonic), the sire of the Te Akau triple Group One winner Gingernuts, but bred on the same cross, with Gingernuts also being out of a mare by Epsom Derby and Irish Derby winner Generous (Caerleon). From a very good family, her dam has left two winners of seven races.

Sophisticardo (2 g Burgundy - Glamorous Girl) - Opie Bosson; settled fifth, five lengths 600m, and he finished strongly for fourth once angled clear in the straight.

He won stylishly on debut before a notable performance for fourth to stable-mate On the Bubbles (Brazen Beau) in the Karaka Million 2YO (Restricted Listed, 1200m). Purchased by David Ellis for $30,000 at the 2020 Karaka Book 1 Sale, from the draft of Cambridge Stud, owned by Te Akau Glammed Up Racing Partnership (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM). His dam, Glamorous Girl (Thorn Park), impressed winning over 1400 metres before scoring in the Desert Gold Stakes (Gr. 3, 1600m). Ellis also purchased five-time stakes winning stallion Burgundy (Redoute's Choice).

Heat 11 2YO 900 metres (neck, 10 lengths 53.0)

Trieste (2 f Tivaci - Domani Oro) - Samantha Collett; raced outside the leader, on terms early in the straight, and she quickened in a duel to win well.

From the first crop by Group One winner Tivaci (High Chaparral), her dam, Domani Oro, is by the highest priced yearling ($3.6m) to ever sell at Karaka, Don Eduardo (Zabeel), that went on to win the AJC Derby (Gr. 1, 2400m) at Randwick, before proving solid as stallion and now getting good results as a broodmare sire.

2 g Shooting to Win - Moment of Choice - Michael McNab; began well from barrier one to lead and he quickened well with the stable-mate, while drawing clear, for second.

Owned by Mr. Edmund Wong, he was purchased as a weanling by David Ellis for $30,000 at the 2019 Karaka May Sale, from the draft of Monovale Farm. Young Darley stallion Shooting to Win (Northern Meteor), already the sire of 188 winners from his first three crops and touted by some highly respected judges in the New Zealand breeding industry. His dam-sire, Choisir (Danehill Dancer), a history making racehorse when winning Group One sprints in both hemispheres, is also the sire of Leading Second Season stallion Proisir. It is the family of smart staying horse Kapitain Kash (Kaapstad), a Counties Cup (Gr.2, 2100m) winner, as well as Champion Hong Kong Sprinter Aerovelocity (Pins).

Heat 12 2YO 900 metres (short head, 3 ½ lengths 53.4)

2 g Per Incanto - Centree - Opie Bosson; raced in front on the inside of three, level in tussle through the straight, and narrowly second on the line.

Owned by Mr. Edmund Wong, he was purchased as a weanling by David Ellis for $40,000 at the 2019 Karaka May Sale, from the draft of Ardsley Farm. By NZ Leading Sire (wins) Per Incanto (Street Cry), from a winning Centaine mare, the family of quadruple Group One winner and Horse of the Year Tit for Taat (Faltaat). Centree has left four winners of 10 races, including Group Two winner Sierra Sue (Darci Brahma). For Mr. Wong, Ellis also purchased dual two-year-old winner Palamos (Extreme Choice).

Heat 13 2YO 900 metres (neck, 1 ½ lengths 54.3)

2 f Rip Van Winkle - Shikoba - Opie Bosson; worked up fourth rounding the home turn and she finished fifth without too much pressure.

Owned and bred by Micaela Murray for whom Te Akau trained NZ Bloodstock Filly of the Year Shikoba (Chief Bearhart), dual Group One placed and triple Group Two winner of $307,000. By the sire of dual Group One winner Te Akau Shark, she carries a Northern Dancer cross in her sire-lines.

Heat 14 2YO 900 metres (1 ½ lengths, neck 54.2)

Belle En Rouge (2 f Burgundy - Cavendish Belle) - Michael McNab; travelled handily, camped on the leaders turning in, and she stretched out well near the rail for second.

Owned by Te Akau Beautiful in Red Racing Partnership (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM), she was bred by David Ellis & Karyn Fenton-Ellis. Burgundy (Redoute's Choice), purchased as a yearling by Ellis, won five stakes races before standing at stud and having his first three two-year-olds to race win on debut. Out of a Thorn Park mare, she is from the family of smart gallopers Filante Etoile (Soviet Star), Valbuena (Darci Brahma), and Star Dancer (Starwatch).

Heat 15 2YO 900 metres (neck, ½ length 53.8)

2 f Rip Van Winkle - Safari Sunset - Samantha Collett; went forward three wide on the pace and she found plenty in order to win.

In training for Wentwood Grange, by the sire of dual Group One winner and former stable-mate Te Akau Shark, she is from a Volksraad mare that has left four individual winners of 16 races.

Contempt of Court (2 g Pierro - Miss Judged) - Michael McNab; steadied back last, eight lengths 600m, and he made good ground near the rail before let cruise home over concluding stages.

Owned by Te Akau Beyond All Doubt Racing Partnership (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM), he was purchased by David Ellis in January at the 2020 Karaka Book 1 Sale, from the draft of Wentwood Grange. By the Champion First, Second, & Third Season Sire in Australia, his dam, Miss Judged, by Champion Sire and leading broodmare sire Volksraad (Green Desert), was a solid performing mare that won a couple of times over 1200m and 1400 metres and already left two winners from three foals.

Heat 16 2YO 900 metres (neck, head 54.2)

Medal (2 c Savabeel - Gold Rocks) - Opie Bosson; began well from barrier one to co-lead, he quickened to an advantage in the straight and kept up a strong gallop to win.

In training for Waikato Stud, by their resident six-time Champion Sire Savabeel (Zabeel), from Group Two winner Gold Rocks (Oratorio), he is a brother to Gold Fever, a filly that David Ellis purchased as a yearling on the Gold Coast. Gold Fever became the sixth Te Akau filly to win the Matamata Breeders' Stakes (Gr. 2, 1200m), finishing third in both the Sistema Stakes (Gr. 1, 1200m) and Eclipse Stakes (Gr. 3, 1200m) to become a Champion Two-Year-Old and Horse of the Year finalist.

2 g Vadamos - Selenus - Michael McNab; got back off the outside draw, tracked wide rounding the home turn, and he closed late with a good gallop into fourth.

In training for Mr. Edmund Wong, he was purchased as a weanling by David Ellis for $80,000 at the 2019 Karaka May Sale, from the draft of Rich Hill Stud. Vadamos (Monsun) was the Leading First Season Sire at the Karaka Yearling Sales. An internationally bred and performed racehorse, Vadamos is by top-class stallion Monsun, who has sired three Melbourne Cup (Gr. 1, 3200m) winners in the past seven years. His dam, Selenus (Pentire), won five times from 1600m - 2200m.

Heat 17 2YO 900 metres (¾ lengths, ¾ lengths 55.1)

Prismatic (2 g Savabeel - Kaleidoscope) - Craig Grylls; steadied behind leaders, switched inner in straight, and he rounded off solidly for second.

Owned by Te Akau Prismatic Racing Partnership (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM), purchased by David Ellis for $240,000 at the 2020 Karaka Book 1 Sale, from the draft of Rich Hill Stud. By six-time Champion Sire Savabeel (Zabeel), from the family of 2000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m) winner Xtravagant (Pentire), purchased by Ellis and now standing at stud in Australia. From a Pins (Snippets) mare, he is bred on the same cross as history making Karaka Millions winner and triple Group One winning stable-mate Probabeel.

2 f Savabeel - The Solitaire - Opie Bosson; was caught three wide fifth, wide turn and she tracked home nicely without much room for fourth.

In training for owner/breeder Tony Rider (Milan Park), by Cox Plate (Gr. 1, 2040m) winning Champion Sire Savabeel (Zabeel), whose progeny have topped $100m prize money, she is from impressive stakes winner The Solitaire (O'Reilly) (10 wins) and a top family bred by the Dennis brothers.

Heat 18 Maiden 900 metres (short head, 1 ½ lengths 54.8)

Duby (4 m Ocean Park - Lost in Dubai) - Joe Kamaruddin; improved to fifth, angled widest turn, and she sustained a good finish for third.

Second twice from four starts in her first campaign, she was bred and owned by Monovale Farm. A half-sister to stable-mate Pinultimate (Pins), a winner of three from five, from the family of 2016 Karaka Million winner Xiong Feng (Iffraaj) and triple Group One winner of the Cox Plate, Orr Stakes, and Yalumba Stakes, Maldivian (Zabeel). Lost in Dubai (Dubai Destination) has left five individual winners of 19 races, including Group One placed Star Treasure (Lonhro).

Heat 19 Maiden 900 metres (long head, 3 ¼ lengths 54.1)

Flat Track Bully (3 g Reliable Man - Lime Squeeze) - Michael McNab; settled on the bridle fourth, tracked up rounding the home turn, and he remained held finishing third.

In training for owner/breeders Rod Duke and Gerard Petersen (Gee Gee Equine), he carries a Northern Dancer and Mr. Prospector cross, from a mare by leading sire Exceed and Excel (Danehill).

Heat 20 Maiden 900 metres (1 ¾ lengths, 2 ¼ lengths 53.6)

Full Gear (3 g Rubick - Purringa) - Craig Grylls; ended up back in close-knit bunch, improved to angle clear in the straight and he stretched out nicely to win easily.

In training for Mr. Ben Kwok, by Encosta de Lago stallion Rubick, a Group Two and Group Three winning sprinter, he is out of Purringa (Purrealist), twice a winner over 1400 metres in Australia, and dam of five-time winner Felino Bel (Bel Esprit).

Heat 21 Maiden 900 metres (long head, 3 ½ lengths 53.8)

Moet Belle (3 f Tavistock - Meleka Belle) - Michael McNab; steadied behind the pace in fourth, third turn, and she ran home well while holding her position.

In training for owner/breeder Marie Leicester, she is a half-sister to reigning dual Horse of the Year and 14-time Group One winner Melody Belle (Commands), and impressive three-time winner Exaltation (Not A Single Doubt), both also bred by Marie.

Heat 22 Maiden 900 metres (¾ lengths, 2 ½ lengths 53.9)

Vitani (3 f Pins - Queen of Lions) - Joe Kamaruddin; situated fourth inner, four lengths 600m, and she held her spot without urging.

In training for owner-breeder Tony Rider (Milan Park Stud), for whom Te Akau trained Gold Trail Stakes (Gr. 1, 1200m) winner Miss Aotearoa (Savabeel). By champion racehorse and sire Pins (Snippets), her dam, Queen of Lions (King of Kings), is a half-sister to Victoria Derby (Gr. 1, 2500m) and Underwood Stakes (Gr. 1, 1800m) winner Lion Tamer (Storming Home) and impressive six-time winner Let Me Roar (Rip Van Winkle). Her fourth dam is triple Group One winner Blue Denim: Auckland Cup, Tancred Stakes, and Queen Elizabeth.

Heat 25 Maiden 1200 metres (½ head, ½ head 1:12.5)

Devoted (3 g Contributer - Mapmaker) - Craig Grylls; got back second last, improved six lengths 600m, and after surging into a gap he finished strongly claim a narrow victory.

Purchased by David Ellis for $55,000 at the 2019 Karaka Book 1 Sale, from the draft of Mapperley Stud, and owned by the Te Akau Cartography Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM). From the first crop of Champion Australian Middle Distance Horse of the Year Contributer (High Chaparral), a dual Group One winner of the Chipping Norton (Gr. 1, 1600m) and Ranvet Stakes (Gr. 1, 2000m). His dam, Mapmaker (Volksraad), won twice and placed in the Trentham Stakes (Gr. 3, 2100m).

Heat 26 Maiden 1200 metres (short neck, head 1:12.4)

Its All Over Rover (3 g Rip Van Winkle - Nightofpassion) - Michael McNab; rallied from barrier one to lead and he found well in a tussle to figure in a three-way photo, finishing third.

In training for breeder/owners Ruth and Michael Redwood and William Thrupp, Rip Van Winkle (Galileo) is also the sire of dual Group One winning stable-mate Te Akau Shark, whom they shared in ownership, and Filly of the Year Jennifer Eccles. He carries a Nureyev cross through the dam line of Rip Van Winkle and dam-sire line through Sir Tristram.