Te Akau Group 3 Quinella

Having notched first and second in the 2000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m) during Cup Week at Riccarton, training partners Stephen Autridge & Jamie Richards produced another stakes race quinella when Royal Success (5 g Savabeel - Royal Show, by Deputy Governor) staved off Chambord (Zabeel) on Waikato Cup Day at Te Rapa.

In the $70,000 J Swap Contractors Sprint (Gr. 3, 1400m), a race upgraded from listed status, Royal Success made steady ground along the rail to a trailing position at the 800m and clearing a pocket at the 200m under rider Cameron Lammas he found the line strongly to score by a head.

Conversely, stable-mate Chambord was denied room in the straight, rider Chris Johnson waiting and searching, until finally dashing home over the final 50m to close the margin.

On Good3 footing, the race was run at genuine tempo, resulting in a time of 1:21.5 and last 600m in 34.9.

“They're both real racehorses, both gutsy, worked well on Tuesday and I said we'd get the quinella,” Autridge said.

“It took Chambord 200 metres to try and get a clear run and I think if he'd got it he would have won easily but the other horse deserves a good win and he's got it, so we're all happy.”

Bringing fine form to the race, Royal Success has now won six of his 12 starts, including three seconds, and was well supported to return $3.80 & $1.80 on the NZ TAB tote.

“He's a pretty smart horse and he's got a really good strike rate,” said David Ellis, who purchased the horse for the Te Akau Royal Success Syndicate.

“He's another good horse that I bought from the [NZB] Ready to Run Sales and those I've bought at that sale have had a fantastic record. Gingernuts has won three Group Ones and was close up in both Champion Three-Year-Old and Horse of the Year, Hall of Fame won a Group One, and Te Akau Shark won both his starts before finishing a close fourth in the 2000 Guineas.

“It was a great ride by Cameron Lammas, and Steve, Jamie, and all the staff can take a lot of gratitude in the result.”

In congratulating the connections, Jamie Richards said: “Royal Success is a pretty good horse. He's got his fair share of issues, but when he's right he could be top line. I'd also like to thank the staff at home and at Te Akau Stud, who put so much hard work into this horse and also to Cameron Lammas who puts in an enormous amount of hard work behind the scenes and it's great that he could win another good race for us.

“Obviously I'm not born and bred in the Waikato [Wingatui, Dunedin], but I've spent the last four or five years in Matamata and Swaps are a massive part of the local community.”

The presentation was made by Waikato Racing Club Chairman Karyn Fenton-Ellis (MNZM), who congratulated the owners and sponsors, alike.

“The upgrade of any race is very difficult and this club is achieving it,” Fenton-Ellis said. “We've seen the Foxbridge Plate elevated to Group Two, the Sarten Memorial elevated to Group Two, and it's with a great deal of pride that we celebrate this race today.

“The Swap team is a wonderful family story and research tells me it's actually 80 years since Joe Swap started the business in 1937. So, this is a significant milestone for a very significant family.”

In reply, Michael Swap said: “I guess I'm a little biased when a Matamata team comes through, so it's fantastic to see David (Ellis) and Te Akau with a great win. It was a great showing from Matamata, which is where our heart is.”

Accepting the trophy on behalf of the owners, syndicate manager David Ellis said: “The last time I shook Michael's hand was in February when we won the J. Swap Matamata Breeders' Stakes with Gold Fever, and it's a pleasure to do so again.”

Royal Success was strapped by Raj Rasheed.

Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz