Te Akau Matamata Winning Treble - Win 1

Te Akau New Zealand trainer Jamie Richards and the team won a third of the programme on our home track at Matamata on Wednesday - here is the first of the three winners, all ridden by Opie Bosson ...

Placed in the Canterbury Belle Stakes (Listed, 1200m), Quattro Katie(3 f Zoustar - Kakakakatie, by Zedative) recorded a clinical victory in the $10,000 The Boltholder Maiden 3YO 1200 metres on 27 March at Matamata.

One off the rail in fifth and four lengths astern at the 600m, she received a perfect track into proceedings around the home, sprinted to lead at the 200m and rider Opie Bosson made sure the job was done in a dominant win. 

“She showed a good turn of foot off a slow speed and it was impressive,” Bosson said. “She'd been nailed late a few times and led last start which is probably not really her go and we decided to ride her quiet and let her show a turn of foot.”

Unlucky not to win during a Southern spring campaign when placing three times from five starts, Quattro Katie had resumed with a fourth in February at Tauranga, and trainer Jamie Richards opted to give her time before racing again.

“It's probably the best way to ride her,” Richards said. “She raced a bit keen and handy at Tauranga, and wobbled around the corner on the firm track right-handed, but home track, with some give, and ridden with a bit of cover she quickened up nicely and just needed a bit of luck to salute the Judge. 

“She raced well in the South Island and only missed winning a Premier Maiden by a nostril, so her form has been okay and she's just needed a bit of time to strengthen up. She's a filly that's got a bit of value and Dave (Ellis) bought her on the Gold Coast. Hopefully we can see her improving next season as well.”

Owned by Debra & Don Fox, Barbara Heeney, Sandy Moore, Henry Norcross, Nathan Pene, Jo-Ann & Wayne Phillips, and Colin Robertson, Quattro Katie won by one and a half lengths, running the 1200 metres in 1:12.6 on Dead4 footing, and paid $1.90 & $1.60 on the NZ TAB tote. 

Quattro Katie was purchased as a yearling by Te Akau principal David Ellis for $150,000, from the draft of Baramul Stud, at the 2017 Gold Coast Sale. Her sire, Zoustar (Northern Meteor), trained by Chris Waller, was sold to stud for $14 million in the week leading up to his victory in the 2013 Coolmore Stud Stakes (Gr. 1, 1200m) at Flemington - providing jockey Jim Cassidy with his 100^thGroup One winner. Zoustar won six of his nine starts, including two Group Ones and two Group Twos.

“She really deserved that and by a Champion young stallion that is now shuttling to the Northern Hemisphere, so it's terrific for her value to be a daughter of Zoustar,” Ellis said.

“Sharing in the ownership is Deborah and Don Fox, who also have a share in Avantage, and what a wonderful week they've had, and Jo-Ann and Wayne Phillips, they're also in the ownership of In A Twinkling, so they've had a great run too. 

“Jamie (Richards) has handled her well. He's been patient and she's a filly that's needed a bit of time. The way she won I think that more wins could come her way because she's a game filly and developing the ability to quicken at the end of her races.”

A Zoustar filly fetched $1 million at the 2017 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale, and his filly Sunlight (winning 10 from 15) finished third in the $4m Golden Slipper (Gr. 1, 1200m) as a two-year-old, won three Group One sprints (including the Coolmore Stud Stakes) already this season and $4.1m in prize money. Zoustar has sired 285 individual winners, including 24 stakes winners, and named Australian Champion First Season Sire.

Quattro Katie was strapped by Libby Richards and Laila Maisyura.

Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz

Back