Te Akau Exhibition Excellence
1 August, 2024
In a sure sign that spring is nigh and the new racing season is upon us ... Te Akau trainers Mark Walker & Sam Bergerson took the opportunity to give four stakes' winners an exhibition gallops between races on 31 July at Tauranga.
Quintessa (3 f Shamus Award – Chaquinta, by High Chaparral), ridden by Craig Grylls, was on the inside of Campionessa (6 m Contributer – Bella Carolina, by O’Reilly), with Warren Kennedy aboard, working over 1000 metres on heavy footing in 1:08.1, last 600m in 38.3.
Commentator Bruce Sherwin said: “They were really well paired these two. We had the Levin Classic (Gr. 1, 1600m) winner Quintessa, who subsequently finished fourth in both the Australian Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m) and Australian Oaks (Gr. 1, 2400m).
“And Campionessa, she won the Zabeel Classic (Gr. 1, 2050m) before finishing second in the Herbie Dyke Stakes (Gr. 1, 2000m) and winning the Peter Young Stakes (Gr. 2, 1800m) at Caulfield (Melbourne).”
The pair was followed at an interval by Skew Wiff (4 m Savabeel – Starvoia, by Starcraft), working solo with Te Akau apprentice Tayla Melvin aboard, and then Move To Strike (2 c I Am Invincible – No Evidence Needed, by Shamardal), who worked solo for rider Opie Bosson.
“She (Skew Wiff) had a brilliant spring last season, winning the Tarzino Trophy (Gr. 1, 1400m) and The Hong Kong Jockey Club Stakes (Gr. 3, 1400m) on Melbourne Cup Day at Flemington,” Sherwin said.
“And Move To Strike was a horse of interest, such a dominant winner in the Sires’ Produce Stakes (Gr. 1, 1400m), he had a quiet time behind the other trio, but strode out lovely, stretched, covered the ground nicely, and looks in terrific order.”
Move To Strike ran 1000 metres on heavy ground in 1:10.1, closing in 38.9 for the last 600m, while Skew Wiff did similar work but was unable to be timed between the other two gallops.
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Owned by the Te Akau Awarded Racing Partnership (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM), Quintessa was purchased by Te Akau principal David Ellis CNZM as a yearling for $170,000 at the 2022 Karaka Book 1 Sale, from the draft of Wentwood Grange, and has won nearly $640,000 in stakes money. She was a Group 1 winner in New Zealand last season, and twice group placed at the elite level in Australia too. She is a finalist for the Champion 3YO of the Year.
Currently in training at Matamata, Quintessa is scheduled to trial on 6 August at Te Rapa, and race plans will be made thereafter but are likely to involve a second Australian campaign.
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Owned by the Te Akau Campionessa Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM), Campionessa was purchased by David Ellis CNZM for A$60,000 at the 2019 Magic Millions Gold Coast National Yearling Sale, from the draft of Mapperley Stud, where the sire stands.
Her 33 starts have yielded 11 wins, 10 places, and over $1.25 million in prize money. A Group 1 winner in New Zealand last season, she was also twice a winner at Group 2 level, and was runner up in the Group 1 Herbie Dyke Stakes. In winning the Group 2 Peter Young Stakes in Melbourne, she beat two former Melbourne Cup winners - she was also placed at Group 2 level during that same campaign across the Tasman.
Campionessa is a finalist for the Champion Middle Distance Horse of the Year title. She is in work at Matamata, and is scheduled to trial on 6 August at Te Rapa, with the target of the Group One Triple Crown during the Spring Carnival at Hastings.
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Bred and owned by Waikato Stud, Skew Wiff has claimed NZ$582,676 in stake earnings courtesy of four wins and five seconds from 15 starts. She is a Group 1 winner in New Zealand and Group 3 winner at Flemington on Melbourne Cup Day 2023.
Skew Wiff is scheduled to trial on 6 August at Te Rapa, before contesting the Foxbridge Plate (Gr. 2, 1200m) on 24 August at Te Rapa, ahead of attempting to defend her title in the Tarzino Trophy (Gr. 1, 1400m) on 7 September at Hastings.
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Owned by Te Akau 2023 Stallion Breeding Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM), Move To Strike was purchased by David Ellis CNZM for A$525,000, from the draft of Baramul Stud, at 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Move To Strike became the eighth Sires’ Produce Stakes (Gr. 1, 1400m) winner for Te Akau, and sixth in the past seven years after homebred filly and Champion Two-Year-Old Maven Belle (Burgundy) won in 2022.
In winning the Group 1 Sires, he also became his sire I Am Invincible's first ever Group 1 winning juvenile.
Scheduled to trial on 6 August at Te Rapa, Move To Strike will follow a path towards the 2000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m) on 9 November at Riccarton, when seeking to become the eighth winner of the event for Te Akau.