Te Akau Racing Ready to Conquer Group & Listed Challenges

The upcoming Super Saturday of racing promises to be a thrilling one for Te Akau Racing, as we eagerly anticipate the performances of our 11 impeccably prepared horses set to compete at both Group and Listed levels. 

Starting off with the girls in Sydney, our two mares, Campionessa (Contributer) and Quintessa (Shamus Award), are ready for Group One races at Royal Randwick in Sydney (NSW). 

Both are trained by Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson but are currently campaigning from Te Akau's stable at Cranbourne (Victoria) - what an asset this base is proving itself to be! 

Quintessa (3 f Shamus Award – Chaquinta, by High Chaparral) contests the A$1 million The Star Australian Oaks (Gr. 1, 2400m) and Campionessa (6 m Contributer – Bella Carolina, by O’Reilly) runs in the A$1 million Grainshaker Vodka Queen Of The Turf (Gr. 1, 1600m). 

Owned by Te Akau Awarded Racing Partnership (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM), Quintessa was purchased by Te Akau principal David Ellis CNZM as a yearling for $170,000 at the 2022 Karaka Book 1 Sale, from the draft of Wentwood Grange. 

Quintessa provided the stable with a hat-trick of victories in the Group 1 Levin Classic (1600m) before heading to Australia, where she ran a great race for fourth in the Group 1 Australian Guineas (1600m) and most recently was beaten by a nose in the Group 2 Alister Clark Stakes (2040m), where she was galloped on during the running and also lost a plate. 

A talented and tenacious filly, she has won four of her nine starts, including three seconds, and nearing $620,000 in prize money.
Drawn barrier two in the Group 1 Australian Oaks, with Te Akau stable rider Opie Bosson ONZM aboard, she is currently paying $14.00 & $2.80 fixed odds with NZ TAB. 

Owned by Te Akau Campionessa Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM), Campionessa was purchased by David Ellis CNZM for A$60,000 at the 2019 Gold Coast National Yearling Sale, from the draft of Mapperley Stud, where the sire stands. 

Campionessa, who richly deserved her Group One in the Zabeel Classic (2050m) on Boxing Day at Pukekohe, gained another valuable victory in the Group 2 Peter Young Stakes (1800m) at her first start in Australia, beating two former Melbourne Cup winners in the process. She most recently got home strongly for third after being held up in the Group 2 Sunline Stakes (1600m). 

Her 31 starts have yielded 11 wins, six seconds, four thirds, and nearly $1.3 million in prize money.
Drawn barrier 13 in the Queen Of The Turf, and also with Opie Bosson aboard, she is currently paying $16.00 & $4.80 fixed odds with NZ TAB. 

In addition to the Group One contestants in Randwick, Te Akau has stakes' runners at Morphettville (South Australia) and Bendigo (Victoria), and Otaki and Riccarton in New Zealand. 

Freshened since contesting the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m) on 9 March at Flemington, Skew Wiff (4 m Savabeel – Starvoia, by Starcraft) contests the A$150,000 Group 3 Sportsbet R. N. Irwin Stakes (1100m) at Morphettville.
A Group One winner in the Tarzino Trophy (1400m) earlier this season, she produced wicked acceleration to win the Group 3 Hong Kong Jockey Club Stakes (1400m) on Melbourne Cup Day (7 Nov.) at Flemington, and appears capable of proving competitive from barrier five. 

 In training for Waikato Stud, as is Skew Wiff, Certainly (3 f Savabeel – Frankly, by Pins) contests the Listed A$200,000 RSN 945AM Bendigo Stakes (1400m).
Certainly won the Group 3 Mufhasa Stakes (1400m) on Derby Day (2 March) at Ellerslie, before finishing sixth in the Group 3 Alexandra Stakes (1600m) on 23 March at Moonee Valley and although possessing plenty of ability, she requires luck from a wide draw (17). 

 Elegant Lady (4 m Highly Recommended – Lady Masako, by Iffraaj), who won three of her last five to 2200 metres before being denied room in the Group 3 South Island Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m), contests the Listed $120,000 Hawke’s Bay Cup (2200m) at Otaki. 

At the same meeting and following her fresh-up second, Aris Aris (5 m Contributer – Irish Encore, by Darci Brahma) contests the Listed $80,000 City Of Napier Sprint (1200m). 

At Riccarton, two from two winner Nucleozor (2 g Almanzor – Nucleonic, by Burgundy) and dual placed stable-mate Discretion Rules (2 g Alabama Express – Miss Madonna, by Zoustar) are out to provide Te Akau with its ninth Listed $80,000 Welcome Stakes (1000m) success. 

While the stable is represented by four runners: Sense of Timing (3 f Time Test – Pin Up Lae, by Pins), Mazzucato (3 f Tivaci – Yellen, by Pentire), Tranquila (3 f Iffraaj – Equanimity, by More Than Ready), and Lady Of Court (3 f Savabeel – Are There Any, by Exceed And Excel), in the Listed $80,000 NZB Insurance Stakes (1600m). 

 Good luck to all our runners today! Go the tangerine!