Te Akau NZ Trials' Report

Te Akau trialled horses at Rotorua and Ashburton on Tuesday 22 September -

ROTORUA

Weather: cloudy, track: Dead4, rail: true

Heat 1 Open 1215 metres (neck, ½ a length 1:13.8)

Melody Belle (6 m Commands - Meleka Belle) - Opie Bosson; settled
off the pace in fifth and rounded them up with a good sprint in the straight,
winning under a hand ride.

Reigning Horse of the Year Melody Belle was purchased as a yearling by David Ellis for $57,500 at the 2016 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Sale, from the draft of Haunui Farm. The former Karaka Million 2YO (Restricted Listed, 1200m) winner and Champion Two-Year-Old has won 10 Group 1 races in NZ and Australia, 15 from 32 in total, and $3.5 million in prize money for the Fortuna Melody Belle Syndicate (Mgr: John Galvin).

Heat 2 Open 1000metres (1 ½ lengths, ½ a length 59.4)

Festivity (4 m I Am Invincible - Mabsam) - Opie Bosson; began well
to trail and too smart once clear in the straight to win impressively.

Two from two and impressive winning both, she was purchased by David Ellis for $410,000 at the 2018 Karaka Book 1 Sale, from the draft of Windsor Park Stud, and owned by the Te Akau 2018 Fabulous Fillies Breeding Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM). Progeny by Leading Australian Sire (wins) I Am Invincible (Invincible Spirit), standing for $247,500, have been incredibly well sought after with yearlings selling to $2 million.

You're Welcome (5 g Camelot - Chorus of Angels) - Troy Harris; received a nice trip and held together in comfortable trial for a staying type over sprint trip.

A debut winner with rich international staying pedigree and consistent over ground without breaking through last season, owned by Steve Mace, Paul Gallen, Wayne Knight, Jim & Pauline Hepburn, Wade Graham, Matthew Fitzgerald, Damian Nash, Brett Lambert, Josh Dugan, he was purchased by David Ellis for $200,000 at the 2017 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale, from the Curraghmore draft.

Heat 3 Open 1000metres (½ a length, ¾ lengths 59.4)

Aromatic (4 m Sacred Falls - Vickezzchardonnay) - Troy Harris;
positioned midfield inner and finished just off the leaders over a sprint trip.

Following two seconds at her first two starts, she simply cantered home to win by more than six lengths over 1400 metres in March at Rotorua. Purchased by David Ellis for $160,000 at the 2018 Karaka Book 1 Sale, from the draft of Milan Park (same as recent winner High Achiever (Pins)), owned by the Te Akau Sacred Wine Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM), her dam Vickezzchardonnay, by the highest priced yearling to ever sell at Karaka, Don Eduardo ($3.6 million) (Zabeel), was an impressive five-time winner from 1600m to 2100m.

Ginger Too (4 g Iffraaj - La Chiflota) - Opie Bosson; positioned midfield outer and given quiet time in the straight over a sprint trip.

Purchased by David Ellis for $70,000 at the 2018 Karaka Book 2 Sale, from the draft of Monovale Farm, owned by the Te Akau Little Jerry Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM), he hit the line strongly for a second-up win over 1400 metres last season. By Iffraaj (Zafonic), the sire of Te Akau trained triple Group 1 winner Gingernuts, and also the dam sire of Champion Two-Year-Old, reigning Horse of the Year, and 10-time Group 1 winner Melody Belle (Commands). He is out a Group 1 winner and Champion 2YO Filly in Chile.

Heat 4 Open 1000metres (¾ lengths, head 1:01.2)

Star of Bombay (4 m Atlante - Astardia) - Danielle Johnson;
travelled comfortably outside the leader and drew out under her own steam late
to win stylishly.

Stakes' placed at her fourth start, she went one better with a clinical victory in the Mufhasa Fasttrack Stakes (Listed, 1300m) on Derby Day (Feb. 29) at Ellerslie. Purchased for $50,000 by David Ellis at the 2018 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale, the winner of three from six owned by the Te Akau Bombay Star Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM). 

Exaltation (4 m Not A Single Doubt - Meleka Belle) - Opie Bosson; showed fresh legs to lead and held together in finishing a close third.

Impressive winning on debut last the spring at Riccarton, and again when resuming in February at Hastings, she is a half-sister to Champion Two-Year-Old, 10-time Group 1 winning stable-mate and Horse of the Year Melody Belle (Commands). Owned by the 2018 Fabulous Fillies Breeding Syndicate, purchased by David Ellis from Haunui Farm draft at the 2018 Karaka Book1 Sale, by Champion sire Not A Single Doubt, a son of the undisputed king of Australian sires Redoute's Choice (Danehill).

Heat 6 2YO 630 metres (1 ¾ lengths 35.8)

Medal (2 c Savabeel - Gold Rocks) - Troy Harris; worked up from
barrier one to contest the lead and kept up a strong gallop to win well.

Having his first trial, in
training for Waikato Stud, by their resident six-time Champion Sire Savabeel
(Zabeel), from Group 2 winner Gold Rocks (Oratorio), he is a brother to Gold
Fever, a filly that David Ellis purchased as a yearling on the Gold Coast. Gold
Fever became the sixth Te Akau filly to win the Matamata Breeders' Stakes (Gr.
2, 1200m), finishing third in both the Sistema Stakes (Gr. 1, 1200m) and Eclipse Stakes (Gr. 3,
1200m) and became a Champion Two-Year-Old and Horse of the Year
finalist.

2 f Savabeel - Matakana - Opie Bosson; got in behind the leaders and doing her best work through the line.

Owned by Bill & Jim Gartshore, who have top mare and last start winner Savy Yong Blonk (Savabeel) in the stable, she was purchased by David Ellis for $145,000, from the draft of Little Avondale Stud, at the 2020 Karaka Book 1 Sale. Bred by Christopher Grace QSM, a miler/staying type, she is from a great line and typically the family continues to improve with time.

Heat 8 Maiden 3YO 800 metres (long head, 7 lengths 45.8)

Conquering Khan (3 g Mongolian Khan - Mabsam) - Diego Montes de
Oca; found a nice spot in fourth and not asked for too much over a sprint trip.

Having his first trial for the Te Akau Imperial Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM), he was purchased by David Ellis for $140,000, from the draft of Windsor Park, at the 2019 Karaka Book 1 Sale. From the first crop of Champion Three-Year-Old and subsequent dual Horse of the Year and Champion Stayer Mongolian Khan (Holy Roman Emperor), recording Group 1 wins in the NZ Derby, ATC Derby, and Caulfield Cup. He is a half-brother to Festivity (above).

3 g Headwater - Noanoa - Troy Harris; travelled quite keenly off the pace, five lengths 600m, and stretched out nicely into third.

In training for Mr. Hongwei Chen (Horse Feng Bloodstock), from the first crop of speed sire Headwater, a beautifully bred stallion by Australian Champion Sire Exceed and Excel, out of Oakleigh Plate (Gr. 1, 1100m) winner River Dove (Hurricane Sky). Dam, Noanoa (Reset), has left two winners of six races.

Heat 10 Maiden 3YO 1000 metres (1 ¾ lengths, length 59.2)

Our Final Offer (3 g Deep Field - Egyptian Melody) - Troy Harris;
began well to lead/trail, outside leader 600m and he found plenty to win well.

He was purchased by David Ellis
for $100,000, from the draft of Phoenix Park, at the 2019 Karaka Book 1 Sale,
and owned by Fortuna Syndications (Mgr: John Galvin). He is the first foal from
an Australian placed mare by Exceed and Excel
(Danehill). Deep Field was a highly regarded Group 2 winner in the
Australia, by ill-fated emerging stallion Northern Meteor (Encosta De Lago),
and a brother to Caulfield Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m) winner and stallion Shooting
to Win. Their dam, Listen Here (Elusive Quality), subsequently sold for nearly
$4 million.

Vitani (3 f Pins - Queen of Lions) - Danielle Johnson; tended to get her head up through the early stages, positioned handily and fought solidly on the inner.

In training for owner-breeder
Tony Rider (Milan Park Stud), for whom Te Akau trained Miss Aotearoa (Savabeel)
to win the Gold Trail Stakes (Gr. 1, 1200m) last Saturday at Hastings. By
champion racehorse and sire Pins (Snippets), her dam, Queen of Lions (King of
Kings), is a half-sister to Victoria Derby (Gr. 1, 2500m) and Underwood Stakes
(Gr. 1, 1800m) winner Lion Tamer (Storming Home) and impressive six-time winner
Let Me Roar (Rip Van Winkle). Her fourth dam is triple Group 1 winner Blue
Denim: Auckland Cup, Tancred Stakes, and Queen Elizabeth.

Be Flexi (3 f No Nay Never - Isabelino) - Joe Kamaruddin; was midfield inner, up to trail 600m but lost her place after becoming unbalanced rounding the home turn.

In training for Dr. Gene Tsoi, for whom Te Akau trained New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year King's Rose (Redoute's Choice). No Nay Never (Scat Daddy) is also the sire of stable-mate Need I Say More (above), winner of three from three including the Waikato Stud Slipper (Gr. 3, 1200m) and Northland Breeders' Stakes (Gr. 3, 1200m). Be Flexi is from a mare (Isabelino) by current leading Australian Broodmare Sire and Champion Sire Encosta De Lago (Fairy King). Isabelino has left two winners of seven races.

Heat 11 Maiden 3YO 1000 metres (¾ lengths, ¼ lengths 59.8)

Tallulah (3 f Burgundy - Streaming) - Troy Harris; steadied to
trail from a handy gate and ran on solidly for fifth.

She was purchased by David Ellis for $60,000 at the 2019 Karaka Book 1 Sale, from the draft of Cambridge Stud, owned by the Te Akau Tallulah Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM). Ellis also purchased her sister Pinot Grey, a five-length debut winner at two that finished fourth in the Ashford Lodge Stakes (Listed, 1100m) and fifth to quadruple Group 1 winning stable-mate Avantage (Fastnet Rock) in the Karaka Million 2YO (Restricted Listed, 1200m).

Holyhead (3 f Pierro - Irish Sea) - Opie Bosson; pulled her way forward from a wide barrier to second outer, but hung rounding the home turn and held together thereafter.

In training for owner/breeder China Horse Club, she is by Pierro (Lonhro) the Champion First, Second, and Third Season Sire in Australia. Pierro only ever ran in stakes races, winning 11 of his 14 starts. The unbeaten Triple Crown winner as a two-year-old amassed $4.5 million and already had yearling progeny reach $1.5m in the sales ring. He has sired 568 winners, including seven Group 1 wins. Dam Irish Sea, by Champion Sire Fastnet Rock (Danehill), was a winner over 1100 metres in Australia.

Heat 12 Maiden 3YO 1000 metres (1 ¾ lengths, ¾ lengths 59.1)

Jahzara (3 f Power - Game Duchess) - Opie Bosson; settled handily
on the inner and held her spot near the rail.

In training for JML Bloodstock
(Mgr: Lib Petagna), by ex Cambridge Stud stallion Power (Oasis Dream), Champion
Second Season Sire. Her dam, Game Duchess, is by Montjeu (Sadler's Wells), one of the highest quality
horses in the world, winning the Irish Derby, French Derby, and Arc de
Triomphe, before experiencing plenty of success internationally and when
standing at stud in New Zealand. Game Duchess has left six individual winners
of 23 races, including Group 3 winners Exquisite Jewel (Lucky Unicorn) and Dark
Princess (Cape Blanco).

The Panther (3 g Iffraaj - Le Panthere) - Diego Montes de Oca; raced keenly three wide in third and pushed wider in the straight.

Owned by the Te Akau Fiery Red Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM), purchased by David Ellis CNZM for $60,000, from the Wentwood Grange draft, at the 2019 Karaka Book 1 Sale. Bred on the same cross as Gingernuts - by Iffraaj, out of a Generous mare - trained by Te Akau to win the NZ Derby (Gr. 1, 2400m), Rosehill Guineas (Gr. 1, 2000m), and Windsor Park Plate (Gr. 1, 1600m). Iffraaj (Zafonic) is also the dam sire of stable star and Horse of the Year Melody Belle (Commands), winner of 10 Group 1 races and history-maker when winning the Hawkes Bay Triple Crown.

Heat 13 Maiden 4YO & Up 1000 metres (½ a length, 1 ¾ lengths 59.3)

Spirit of Gold (4 m Medaglia d'Oro - Full of Spirit) - Opie Bosson;
was pushed to work up second and she responded well to gain ascendency near the
line.

Bred and owned by Haunui Farm and
H J Mackley, by Darley stallion Medaglia d'Oro (El Prado), standing for
$200,000 in 2020, she is from impressive race mare Full of Spirit (Flying
Spur), a winner in both NZ and Australia, who highlighted her career winning
the Adrian Knox Stakes (Gr. 3, 2000m) at Royal Randwick.

Messing (4 m Dissident - Rossarita) - Danielle Johnson; went forward to secure a handy position and fought hard to photo-finish for third.

Owned by Brendan Lindsay MNZM & Jo Lindsay at Cambridge Stud, for whom Te Akau trains brilliant mare Probabeel (Savabeel), she is from the first crop of five-time Group 1 winner and Australian Horse of the Year Dissident (Sebring). Trained by Peter Moody, Dissident was known for his exceptionally tough qualities when winning from 1000 metres to 1600 metres. Her dam, Rossarita (Testa Rossa), won three times to 1300 metres in Australia.

Heat 14 Maiden 4YO & Up 1000 metres (3 lengths, 1 ¼ lengths 59.7)

Oceans Eight (5 m Ocean Park - Ruud Van Slaats) - Opie Bosson; went
forward to situate outside the leader and fought on without quickening over a
sprint trip.

Bred and owned by Brent and
Cherry Taylor (Trelawney Stud), from their very good race mare and producer
Ruud Van Slaats (Van Nistelrooy), who recorded victories in the Auckland
Thoroughbred Breeders' Stakes (Gr. 2, 1400m) and Cal Isuzu Stakes (Gr. 2,
1600m) amongst five wins and $340,000 in earnings, she has left four individual
winners of 14 races, including the Te Akau trained and twice stakes placed mare
Smashing (Pins).

Uber Roca (4 m El Roca - Uberfrau) - Joe Kamaruddin; begun well, steadied but trapped three wide on pace and she found the line after being pushed wider rounding the home turn.

Owned by David and Matt Peacocke, Oliver Saxton, Mark and Paul Apatu, and MJ Fox, she is from the first crop by El Roca (Fastnet Rock), sire of Group 1 winner Travelling Light (Levin Classic, 1600m). Through her sire line, she carries a cross of immortal stallion Northern Dancer.

ASHBURTON

Weather: fine, track: Dead4, rail: out 3 metres

Heat 1 2YO 600 metres (neck, 5 lengths 37.2)

2 c Belardo - Real
Angel - Samantha Wynne; sprang out to lead, tackled 200m but had plenty in
reserve when winning under a hold.

From the first NZ crop of Lope De Vega (Shamardal) stallion Belardo, multiple Group 1 winner, the sire of 10 winners including Group 3, he is out of an unraced mare by Champion Sire O'Reilly and a half-sister to dual stakes' winner and multiple Group 2 placed Marquardt (Shamardal). He is owned by Chris Rutten and Little Avondale Stud.

Heat 9 Maiden 4YO & Up 1000 metres (½ a length, 4 lengths 59.4)

Lethal (4 g
Savabeel - Katie Lee) - Jason Laking; got back from the outside gate, six
lengths 600m, carted wide into the straight and made good ground between
runners over the concluding stages.

By six-time Champion Sire Savabeel (Zabeel), his dam, Katie Lee (Pins), became the first horse in history to win both the 2000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m) and 1000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m).

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