Te Akau Rotorua Trials' Report

Te Akau trialled horses at Rotorua on Tuesday 5 March -

Weather: fine, track: Dead4, rail: out 7 metres

Heat 1 2YO 800 metres (2 ¼ lengths, 3 ¼ lengths 48.0)

Boutonniere (2 g Burgundy - Bouquet) - Joe Kamaruddin; worked
through to receive a good trip camped on the leaders, finishing solidly without
urging for third and rolled on well after the line.

Burgundy (Redoute's Choice) was bought by David Ellis, winning five stakes races and his first three two-year-olds all won on debut, while also siring New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year Dijon Bleu, and Leading Second Season Sire. Dam Bouquet (My Halo) showed good speed when winning and left three to race for three winners.

From the draft of Phoenix Park at
the 2018 Karaka Book 1 Sale, purchased by Ellis for $80,000 and owned by the Te
Akau Buttonhole Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM).

Heat 2 2YO 800 metres (neck, 1 ¾ lengths 47.7)

2 f Atlante - Astardia - Jonathan Riddell; settled at the back, four lengths 600m, improved to fourth entering the straight and held together she maintained her spot in fourth.

Having her first trial, she was purchased by David Ellis for $50,000 from the 2018 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale. Atlante (Fastnet Rock) won the 2000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m) and Second Top Colt on the NZ 3YO Free Handicap, he unfortunately had his stallion career curtailed by a fatal accident during his second season at stud.

The first foal from a mare that won over a mile, her sire, Starcraft, was well known in New Zealand, winning the first two legs of the Group One Triple Crown at Hawkes Bay, before going on to win Group One races in Australia, France, and England, and becoming World Champion Turf Miler. A strong stallion influence continues through the dam-line sires. Heralded broodmare sire Red Ransom, by English Derby winner Roberto, and Bluebird, a $1m yearling, Group One winner, and renowned for the quality he instilled.

Puysegur (2 f Fastnet Rock - Pins ‘n' Needles) - Opie Bosson; was back on the inner after beginning awkwardly from barrier one, five lengths 600m, but picked up well rounding the home turn and kept under a hold she galloped home solidly for fifth. 

A three-quarter sister to
stable-mate and Champion Two-Year-Old Avantage (Fastnet Rock), who was
purchased by Te Akau principal David Ellis for $210,000 at the 2017 New Zealand
Bloodstock Premier Yearling Sale, from the Oaks Stud draft, Puysegur is in
training for breeders Willie & Karen Calder.

Dam Pins ‘N' Needles (Pins) was a Group Three winner of six races to a mile. She has left four individual winners of 11 races including stakes winning, Group One placed, Asavant (Zabeel), the dam of Avantage, and Group One winner D B Pin (Darci Brahma) in Hong Kong. Pins ‘N' Needles is a sister to 2015 Canterbury Breeders Stakes (Gr. 3, 1400m) winner Miss Alice and a half-sister to the stakes winner Coup Fields (Carolingian).
 

Heat 3 2YO 800 metres (1 ½ lengths, long head 48.0)

2 f I Am Invincible - Hurtle Myrtle - Opie Bosson; settled fifth,
three lengths 600m, clear three wide in third at the 400m and after quickening
to lead at the 200m she got clear to win stylishly.

In training for Brent &
Cherry Taylor (Trelawney Stud), by I Am Invincible (Invincible Spirit), the
leading sire this season in Australia with 140 individual winners, from Hurtle
Myrtle (Dane Shadow), winner of the Myer Classic (Gr. 1, 1600m), Dane Ripper
Stakes (Gr. 2, 1400m) and Sapphire Stakes (Gr. 2, 1200m). It was her first
trial.

Skybound (2 f Shooting to Win - Deliciano) - Michael McNab; began well from the outside gate before steadying to the rear, six lengths 600m, and tracking up well around the home turn she kept up a good gallop without urging.

Another having her first trial,
owned by the Te Akau Shooting Queen Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM),
she was purchased by David Ellis for $65,000 from the draft of Pencarrow Stud
at the 2018 Karaka Book 1 Sale.

The first foal from a talented race mare that won six races from 1800m to 2100m, she by Darci Brahma (Danehill) whom Te Akau trained to win five Group One races before becoming a Champion stallion. Shooting to Win, by ill-fated emerging stallion Northern Meteor (Encosta De Lago), won the Caulfield Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m) and a brother to highly regarded stallion Deep Field. Their yearlings have sold up to $380,000 and $675,000 respectively.

Heat 4 2YO 800 metres (long neck, 2 ½ lengths 47.2)

2 f Shooting to Win - Kekova - Michael McNab; found an ideal
position in fifth, ranged three wide at the 400m and taking an advantage at the
200m she went on without urging to win well.

In training for Sam & Catriona Williams (Little Avondale Stud), having her first trial, dam Kekova (Elusive City) won impressively to 1600 metres, including the Wairarapa Breeder's Stakes (Listed, 1600m) and Great Easter Stakes (Listed, 1400m), and a half-sister to another very good LA Stud stakes performer, Rapid Kay (Towkay).

Heat 6 Maiden 800 metres (short neck, 1 length 48.7)

Oceans Eight (3 f Ocean Park - Ruud Van Slaats) - Opie Bosson;
began smartly, shadowed in front but held together, she gained an advantage
under her own steam inside the 200m to win.

Bred and owned by Brent and
Cherry Taylor (Trelawney Stud), from their very good race mare and producer
Ruud Van Slaats (Van Nistelrooy).

Named after the union between soccer star Ruud van Nistelrooy and his wife Leontine Slaats, Ruud Van Slaats included 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 produced four individual winners of 14 races, including the Te Akau trained Smashing (Pins), infamously named after a paddock accident left her battered about the face. Far from deterred, she became a dual stakes placed winner of six races.

Heat 7 Open 1000 metres (3 ¾ lengths, long head 1:01.0)

Pacific Coast (4 g Snitzel - Malibu Road) - Anna Jones; began well
from barrier one to co-lead, trail 600m and rounded off solidly under a hand
ride for third.

Twice a winner during his last campaign, and three thus far, owned by the Te Akau 2017 Breeding Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM), purchased by David Ellis for $500,000 at the New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Yearling Sale, from the draft of Curraghmore Stud. By a Champion sire in Australia, Snitzel (Redoute's Choice), he boasts a lovely Danzig cross and his pedigree page oozes group performers.

Ritzy Sparkle (3 f Pins - Kumari) - Chelsea Burdan; steadied to sixth, eight lengths 600m and she worked home solidly in the straight under no pressure.

An impressive trial winner before
winning on debut last season, her year older half-sister Semari (Sebring) has
won five races to 2040 metres in Australia.

In training for the Jimanda
Syndicate which comprises one of her breeders Jim Barlow, from a Zabeel mare
that impressed winning over 1600 metres. Barlow developed the classy family
going back to her grand-dam Vedodara (Kreisler) and the Te Aroha Breeders'
Stakes winner Balmacara (Bassenthwaite). Plus Hawkes Bay Guineas winner Shastri
(Stravinsky), Cuddle Stakes winner Bhandara (Zabeel), and Avondale Cup winner
Sharvasti (Montjeu), that in turn has left Baradevi (Volksraad) who produced Te
Akau two-year-old winner Byzantine (Savabeel).

Mongolianconqueror (4 g Ocean Park - Queen Rania) - Opie Bosson; was easy off a wide gate to settle last, 10 lengths 600m, travelled well approaching the home turn and remaining under a hold he went through the line with plenty to offer.

Purchased for $130,000 by David
Ellis, from the draft of Kiltannon Stables, at the 2016 New Zealand Bloodstock
Ready to Run Sales, Mongolianconqueror is owned by the Inner Mongolia Rider
Horse Industry (NZ) & Te Akau Conqueror Syndicate.

He followed two wins with a
second in the Waikato Guineas (Gr. 2, 2000m) and a nose away from providing
Ocean Park (Thorn Park) with his first Group One winner (New Zealand Derby
(2400m)) last March at Ellerslie, and a consistent improver throughout his
three-year-old season.

Grand Ariana (3 f Snitzel - Enduja) - Joe Kamaruddin; settled midfield on the inner, seven lengths 600m as the pace increased and finished at the back over a sprint trip but not asked for much in the straight.

A debut winner last season, she
was purchased privately by David Ellis after failing to meet her reserve at the
2017 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Yearling Sale, and owned by the Fortuna
Miss Ariana Syndicate (Mgr: John Galvin).

By one of three in the trilogy of breed shaping champion stallions in Australia, Danehill (Danzig), Redoute's Choice (Danehill), and Snitzel (Redoute's Choice). Dam sire Encosta De Lago (Fairy King) is a Champion broodmare sire, setting an Australian record last year for progeny earnings in a single season, and his influence in any pedigree is excellent.

Heat 8 Open 1000 metres (head, ¾ lengths 1:01.5)

Kingsguard (6 g Rip Van Winkle - Her Royal Highness) - Opie Bosson; settled one off in sixth, four lengths 600m and he looked good finishing under a hold into fourth.

In the Windsor Park Stud colours, he raced well in New Zealand before going on to win five races, including the Hawkesbury Cup (Gr. 3, 1600m), and stakes just shy of $500,000 in Australia. Also raced by Windsor Park, Her Royal Highness (Volksraad) was an impressive stakes winning mare up to a mile. David Ellis purchased the yearling half-sister by Mongolian Khan (Holy Roman Emperor) for $110,000 from the Windsor Park draft at the Karaka Book 1 Sale this year - fully sold.

Bojangles (5 g Roc de Cambes - Stever House) - Chelsea Burdan; began smartly to lead from barrier one, he kept up a good gallop under a hold in the straight and carried on solidly through the line.

A fresh-up winner when he joined
the stable last season, in training for Bill and Sandra Duell, dam Stever House
(El Gran Senor) has left seven individual winners of 28 races.

Richard of Yorke (7 g Oasis Dream - Cascata) - Joe Kamaruddin; back on the inner over a sprint trip, six lengths 600m, he quickened up around the home turn and kept up a good gallop in the straight.

He campaigned solidly through the
spring and spelled after contesting the New Zealand Cup (Gr. 3, 3200m).

Owned by the Te Akau Plantagenet Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM), he was a winner at Royal Ascot before being sold to Australia. Following a further two wins over 2400 metres and $200,000 in prize money, he was sold for $42,000 on Gavelhouse. By Oasis Dream (Green Desert), the sire of 170 stakes winners, his dam sire Montjeu was one of the highest quality horses in the world, winning the Irish Derby, French Derby, and Arc de Triomphe, before experiencing a lot of success when standing at stud in New Zealand.

Our Flying Ace (3 g Darci Brahma - Aterbellatto) - Craig Grylls; was easy off the outside gate, improving six lengths 600m, but tended to lay-in a touch when looking to run on in the straight.

Impressive winning his first two
starts, he spelled after finishing second in the Barneswood Farm Stakes (Gr. 3, 1400m) at Ashburton.

Purchased by David Ellis for $140,000 at the 2017 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Yearling Sale, from the draft of Inglewood Stud, owned by the Te Akau Flying Ace Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM). He stems from a classy family of Pencarrow Stud that has left Group Two & Three winner Rasa Lila (Darci Brahma) and Group Three winner Posavina (Tiger Hill).

Heat 10 2YO 1000 metres (4 lengths, long head 1:00.6)

Probabeel (2 f Savabeel - Far Fetched) - Opie Bosson; began well,
one off fifth and three lengths 600m, clear four wide straight and put them
away in the twinkling of an eye to win with her ears pricked.

Owned by Brendan Lindsay MNZM
& Jo Lindsay at Cambridge Stud, she was purchased by David Ellis for
$380,000, from the draft of Waikato Stud, at the 2018 Karaka Book 1 Sale.

The winner of three from four, she became the third leg in a hat-trick of Karaka Million (Restricted Listed, 1200m) winners for Te Akau Racing with a devastating performance in January at Ellerslie. She trialled incredibly well and ready to contest the $175,000 Magic Night Stakes (Gr. 3, 1200m) on Saturday 16 March at Rosehill.

Heat 12 Maiden 1000 metres (nose, 2 ¼ lengths 1:00.8)

Mistletoe (3 f Tavistock - Tinsel Time) - Opie Bosson; strode along
in third with cover and clear on straightening she sustained a solid gallop for
third.

Bred and owned by Greg Tomlinson
at Nearco Stud, she is a half-sister Te Akau trained Tiffany's Time (Alamosa), twice
a winner.

With progeny selling up to
$975,000, Tavistock is clearly the best sire son of Montjeu (Sadler's Wells) at
stud in New Zealand. Brilliant winning two of the toughest Group One 1400-metre
races: Mudgway Stakes and the Waikato Sprint, his progeny are athletic and
already won 10 Group Ones. Tinsel Time (More Than Ready) has left three
individual winners.

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