Te Akau Midweek News

The Informant reports on two of Te Akau's rising stars ...

Highly-rated colt Xtravagant will return later this month to the scene of his impressive debut win last season.

“He will head to Hastings on the 29th of August for the three-year-old 1200 on the first day of the carnival,” co-trainer Jamie Richards said. “We know he likes the track and he has come through his Te Teko trial well.”

A runaway winner in the autumn (below), Xtravagant may also take in the Gr. 2 Hawke's Bay Guineas on his way toward November's Gr. 1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas at Riccarton.

Special Memories will take her first step along a classic path when she returns to racing at Taupo today.

One of a number of lightly-tried or unraced three-year-olds her trainers Stephen Autridge and Jamie Richards will have in action at the meeting, the filly will resume against a competitive line-up in the NZB Insurance Pearl Series Race.

“Everything she did last preparation was very good and most of the Fastnet Rocks improve so much between two and three so we're looking forward to this season with her,” Richards said.

Special Memories (main picture above) collected a win and a placing last term and she was spelled following an unplaced effort, after she was caught wide without cover, in the Gr. 2 Matamata Breeders' Stakes.

“Her trial at Te Teko behind Serena Miss was very good and we're thinking the 1000 Guineas for her,” Richards said. â€œTe Akau have had great luck sending horses to the South Island early so we will be keeping our eyes on the weather before we decide whether to do that or whether she stays for the Gold Trail at Hastings.”

The Oaks Stud Stallions 1300 contender Rocksun and Charm Spirit @ Windsor Park 1300 runner Amperage are another pair of promising three-year-olds to open their careers at Taupo.

“They have improved off their trials at Te Teko,” Richards said. “Rocksun is another by Fastnet Rock who is owned by a stallion syndicate and he's an exciting colt while Amperage is one of the last Zabeels and he is looking a million dollars.”