Te Akau Monday Trackwork

Te Akau track work Monday Jan. 20

Plough (Good):

Costa Viva (Hercock) and Flirty Gertey (Misbah) prepared for their weekend assignments when working over 1400 metres in 1:32, last 600m in 36.5. Winner of 1000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m) in November at Riccarton, Costa Viva (Encosta De Lago) is preparing for the Desert Gold Stakes (Gr. 3, 1600m) on Saturday Jan. 25 at Trentham, and Flirty Gertey (Thorn Park) contests the Karaka 3YO Mile (Listed, 1600m) on Sunday Jan. 26 at Ellerslie. The twilight meeting features the $1m Karaka Million (Restricted Listed, 1200m) for the sale graduates from last year, on the eve of the New Zealand Bloodstock 88th National Yearling Sales Series which commences on Monday Jan. 27.

Costa Viva (main picture) was purchased as a yearling by Te Akau principal David Ellis for $100,000 at the 2012 Gold Coast National Yearling Sale and not only has she already won the most coveted crown in the three-year-old fillies season, but she leads the New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year series with 19 points and has developed into a magnificent physical specimen.

Flirty Gertey was also a David Ellis purchase - she was knocked down to David at the Karaka Premier sale for $110,000.

My Fiancée (Hercock) and Rapid Gain (Misbah) worked over 1200 metres in 1:19, last 600m in 37.2, ahead of their respective races on Friday Jan. 24 at Rotorua.