Te Akau Saturday Success - Part 2

The second of Te Akau's three Saturday winners in New Zealand was a horse not without his issues:

A stakes' winner of the Spring Classic (Listed, 2000m) on the same course a fortnight earlier, Wolfwhistle (4 h O'Reilly - Legs, by Pins) emulated the victory on the first day of the New Zealand Cup and Show Week at Riccarton.

Although up five kilos in weight to carry 58kgs, against arguably a stronger field than he met in the Spring Classic, Wolfwhistle was equal to the task after happily lobbing along outside the leader he travelled best when taking control at the 300 metres and never looked like being beaten albeit winning by a neck margin.

The race favourite on the strength of his recent form, Wolfwhistle has now won three of his last four starts for the Te Akau Wolfwhistle Syndicate (Mgr: D. C. Ellis) since being stepped up in distance by Te Akau trainer Jason Bridgman.

Purchased by Te Akau principal David Ellis for $240,000 at the 2012 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Yearling Sale, from the draft of Waikato Stud, Wolfwhistle has been in the care of assistant trainer Pam Gerard after arriving on Oct. 23 at the stables on course at Riccarton.

“Pam has done an exceptional job yet again with the horses she's had down here,” said David Ellis. “It's just incredible the sacrifice she makes for the stable in order to come down with these horses.

“You could see that Wolfwhistle had improved so much down here in the south where Pam spends hours and hours each day with them. Horses love travelling, they love the trip away and we've always known that this is a really exciting horse and the syndicate that races him are the best group of guys and ladies you could hope to train for. It is a terrific syndicate,” said Ellis.

“We've had a bit of bad luck with this horse over the past twelve months, but luck evens out and it's nice to see Wolfwhistle come back so well and perform at the level that he is. I bought his half-brother, by Savabeel (Zabeel) out of Legs at the sales this year and he's been broken in and fully educated. And he's a magnificent colt too, and yet another good horse that I've bought from Waikato Stud,” said Ellis.

Legs (Pins - River Century, by Centaine), was Joint top filly on the 2005-06 NZ 3YO Free Handicaps. She recorded Group One wins in the New Zealand Oaks (2400m) and Kelt Capital Stakes (2040m), also won the Eulogy Stakes (Gr. 3, 1600m) and finished second in the Desert Gold Stakes (Gr. 3, 1600m) in a career of five wins from twelve starts, and stakes of $875,428.

Te Akau winners Bronte Lass (Stravinsky) and Wolfwhistle (O'Reilly) were ably supported on the Riccarton Park programme when Rockfast (Fastnet Rock) did everyone proud with a terrific performance from last to finish runner-up in the 2000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m).

Presented looking a picture, having been in the care of Te Akau Racing Manager Jamie Richards since being narrowly beaten a fortnight earlier at Trentham, Rockfast was touted as a sleeper in one of the blue riband events for three-year-olds and he stormed home widest on the track under the urgings of jockey Matt Cameron.

Picture credit - www.raceimages.net.nz