Te Akau Racing - Perfect Group 1 Weekend Preview
6 December, 2024
A Group 1 scenario this weekend would be perfect!
It never stops at Te Akau Racing!
David Ellis CNZM and the team have just returned from 10 action-packed days criss-crossing New South Wales, in particular the Hunter Valley, conducting yearling inspections ahead of upcoming sales. These inspections are crucial in identifying future stars, and we’re excited by the exceptional quality we’ve seen.
With the Magic Millions sale just around the corner in early January, preparations are in full swing to find the next champion for the 'Tangerine Army'. With names like Imperatriz, Sword Of State, Captured By Love and Move To Strike being bought by us from this sale, it’s no secret why we love sourcing talent there.
Meanwhile, our Karaka Ready to Run horses are thriving and have settled beautifully into life at Te Akau Stud. Shares in these new horses are selling quickly and they represent an exciting opportunity to hit the ground - or should we say, the track - running with a ready-to-race prospect.
Te Akau Racing is thrilled to announce the promotion of Hunter Durrant to the role of Assistant Trainer, recognising his significant contribution to the stable's ongoing success. Hunter now joins a distinguished team of assistant trainers, including Nicole Shailer in Matamata and Ben Gleeson in Cranbourne, who ensure smooth operations across Te Akau’s world-class stables.
The results speak for themselves. Last season, Te Akau’s southern operation delivered remarkable success, highlighted at the South Island Racing Awards with three prestigious titles: Champion Two-Year-Old (Nucleozor), Champion Three-Year-Old (Talisker) and Champion Miler (Perfect Scenario).
This season’s momentum shows no signs of slowing. Following a stellar NZ Cup Carnival, we celebrated Captured By Love’s win in the Group 1 NZ 1000 Guineas and Mehzebeen’s triumphs in the Group 3 NZ Cup and Listed Metropolitan Stakes. Congratulations Hunter!
This Weekend’s Racing
The forecast looks promising for another big weekend of racing! Riccarton heads us in to the weekend, where we have a team racing on the synthetic on Friday.
At Ellerslie on Saturday, we’ll be represented in the Group 3 Bonecrusher Stakes by Unbridled Joy, while at Trentham, all eyes will be on Perfect Scenario in the Group 1 TAB Mufhasa Classic.
Perfect Scenario has been in fantastic form - with career earnings of over $455,000 he has won 11 times, with a winning strike rate of 3.7! He's heading north from NZ Cup Week where he won the TAB Mile Trial before finishing a gallant third, under 60kgs, beaten only a head and a head, in the $250,000 Group 3 TAB Mile itself.
Fun fact: Perfect Scenario is also a back-to-back winner of the Group 3 White Robe Lodge WFA - raced in February, he'll be eyeing up a three-peat in early '25! Now a 7YO, he's a wonderful reminder that watching a horse mature through the grades and blossom into a top campaigner is an absolute delight and privilege.
Then Sunday sees the weekend wrap up with a tangerine trio off to Te Aroha.
Across the Tasman, all eyes will be on Ballarat - Savoir Faire lines up in the Global Turf Handicap, coming off a smart win on Cranbourne Cup Day. Meanwhile, fan-favourite It’s A Wild Night tackles the A$500,000 Listed Ballarat Cup. He didn’t have much go his way last time out, and once again he's copped a draw-shocker - but he's happy, fit and well and been thriving at the beach and on the sand dunes.
Looking Ahead
Next week promises another round of not-to-be-missed racing with SkyCity Waikato Cup Day at Te Rapa, where some of our brightest prospects will take centre stage.
Thank you for your ongoing support of Te Akau Racing. GO THE TANGERINE! and remember only 19 more sleeps until Christmas Day. If you are stuck for that impossible person to buy for - gift a share in a RTR horse, the gift that keeps giving! We also have gift vouchers available too! https://www.teakauracing.com/yearlings-shares