Te Akau Ellerslie Trials' Report

Te Akau trialled horses at Ellerslie on Tuesday 3 August 2021

Weather: fine, track: Heavy10, rail: true

(note Te Akau is also trialling 44 horses at Cambridge this Thursday)

Heat 2 Open 900 metres (head, ½ head 57.1)

Kahma Lass (4 m Darci Brahma - Distinctive Lass) - Craig Grylls; began well to travel alongside leader and she lifted under a hand ride to win nicely.

She had a terrific first campaign, culminating in becoming the fifth 1000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m) winner for Te Akau. Owned by Brendan Lindsay MNZM & Jo Lindsay at Cambridge Stud, she was purchased by David Ellis for $290,000 at the Karaka 2019 Book 1 Sale, from the draft of Curraghmore Stud.

Cornflower Blue (4 m Savabeel - Tiffany Yellow) - Danielle Johnson; improved to third after being a stride slow and she rounded off solidly, unpressured, for third.

Owned and bred by Waikato Stud, she had a terrific season winning the Barnswood Farm Stakes (Gr. 3, 1400m), finishing third to stable-mate Kahma Lass (Darci Brahma) in the 1000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m), and third in the Wellington Guineas (Gr. 2, 1400m).

Probabeel (5 m Savabeel - Far Fetched) - Opie Bosson; got back from the outside gate, angled widest turning in, and while not her ground she was close up fifth at the line.

Purchased by David Ellis CNZM for $380,000 as a yearling at Karaka, from the draft of Waikato Stud, Probabeel has won 10 of her 23 starts, including seven seconds, and NZ$3.3 million prize money for owners Brendan Lindsay MNZM and Jo Lindsay (Cambridge Stud). Last season, she won the Epsom Handicap (Gr. 1, 1600m), Futurity Stakes (Gr. 1, 1400m), Bill Ritchie Handicap (Gr. 3, 1400m), Geoffrey Bellmaine Stakes (Gr. 3, 1200m), and finished second in the Show County (Gr. 3, 1200m) and Queen of the Turf Stakes (Gr. 1, 1600m).

Heat 3 Open 900 metres (3 lengths, ½ a length 56.4)

Entriviere (5 m Tavistock - Marcey's Belt) - Danielle Johnson; began well to lead from barrier one and she drew clear to win handsomely.

Owned by Te Akau Buckle Up Racing Partnership Karyn Fenton-Ellis (MNZM), she had an outstanding season winning five of her seven starts and twice finishing second. This included the Concorde Handicap (Gr. 3, 1200m), King's Plate (Gr. 3, 1200m), and she finished her campaign finishing a whisker second in the Sapphire Stakes (Gr. 2, 1200m) at Randwick.

Amarelinha (4 m Savabeel - Hopscotch) - Opie Bosson; travelled up third and despite unsuitable footing she stayed on well for second.

The New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year, and 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). 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).

Seajetz (4 g Iffraaj - Bellazeel) - Craig Grylls; got back over a sprint trip and he was not pushed in testing conditions.

Owned by Bill and Sandra Duell, he was purchased by David Ellis CNZM for $100,000 at the 2019 Karaka Book 1 Sale, from the draft of Trelawney Stud, and was twice a winner to 1600 metres during his first campaign.

Heat 4 Open 900 metres (neck, neck 57.6)

Shezathinka (6 m So You Think - Headsup) - Joe Kamaruddin; showed pace from the outside gate to lead, travelled easily, and she found a good kick against the rail for second.

Winner of two, including a five length victory over 2200 metres, she is owned by the Te Akau Think Fast Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM), purchased by David Ellis for $175,000 at the 2017 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale, from the draft of Kilgravin Lodge.

Avantage (6 m Fastnet Rock - Asavant) - Opie Bosson; positioned handily fourth, surged on straightening and she did well for close third.

She was purchased by Te Akau principal David Ellis CNZM for $210,000 at the 2017 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Sale, and her 16 wins from 27 starts have amassed $2.1 million prize money for Te Akau Avantage Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM). Her five Group One wins last season took her tally to nine career Group Ones in total.

Festivity (5 m I Am Invincible - Mabsam) - Danielle Johnson; went forward three wide and she finished solidly to photo-finish for the minors.

Winning five from eight, and fourth most recently to stable-mate Entriviere (Tavistock) in the King's Plate (Gr. 3, 1200m), she was purchased by David Ellis for $410,000 at the 2018 Karaka Book 1 Sale, from the draft of Windsor Park Stud, and is owned by the Te Akau 2018 Fabulous Fillies' Breeding Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM).

Prise De Fer (6 g Savabeel - Foiled) - Craig Grylls; got back on the inner, six lengths 600m, and although climbing in the going he was otherwise fine.

Owned by the Te Akau En Guarde Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM), purchased by David Ellis for $100,000, from the draft of Trelawney Stud, at the 2017 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Yearling Sale. The winner of seven, including Group Two & Three races, and Group One placed, he has won $312,675 prize money.

Heat 5 3YO 900 metres (5 lengths, nose 57.3)

Imperatriz (3 f I Am Invincible - Berimbau) - Danielle Johnson; positioned handily, fourth turning in and she quickened appreciably in the going to win impressively.

Winner of both two-year-old starts, including the Eclipse Stakes (Gr. 2, 1200m), she was purchased by David Ellis in January at Gold Coast Yearling Sale 2020, from the draft of Bhima Thoroughbreds, owned by Te Akau Invincible Empress Racing Partnership (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM).

Palamos (3 g Extreme Choice - Unrevealed) - Opie Bosson; travelled near the pace from barrier two and he rallied gamely late for second.

Owned by Edmund Wong and winner of both his two-year-old starts, he was purchased as a yearling by Te Akau principal David Ellis for $85,000 at the 2020 Karaka Book 1 Sale. From the first crop of dual Group One winning sprinter Extreme Choice (Not A Single Doubt) he was an early favourite for the Karaka Million last season.

Millefiori (3 f Iffraaj - Miss Bluebell) - Joe Kamaruddin; got back second last, travelled up well five lengths 600m, and she closed well late for third.

Winner of two from three as a two-year-old, owned by Te Akau Millefiori Racing Partnership (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM), she was purchased by David Ellis for $65,000 at the 2020 Karaka Book 2 Sale, from the draft of Archer Park.

Quattro Quinta (3 g Darci Brahma - Quintette) - Sam Weatherley; showed pace from the outside gate to lead and fought well given the conditions to photo-finish for third.

Bred and owned by Karyn Fenton-Ellis (MNZM), Greg Tomlinson, David and Matthew Peacocke, and Oliver Saxton, he was twice a winner last season including the Wellesley Stakes (Listed, 1000m) and runner-up in the Fasttrack Insurance Stakes (Listed, 1100m).

Heat 6 2YO 700 metres (2 ¼ lengths, nose 44.9)

2 f Burgundy - Show No Emotion - Danielle Johnson; was third inner from barrier one and she finished fifth after unable to lift in the ground.

Bred and owned by Gavin and Shane Wealleans and Te Akau Stud, by five-time stakes' winning stallion Burgundy (Redoute's Choice), who was bought as a yearling by David Ellis, and from a talented big mare trained by Te Akau to win three times to 1600 metres.