Te Akau Season of Success - Mehzebeen Kicks Off Black Type Blitz

Every year, in the last month of the racing season, we love looking back at the success of our horses and humans on the track - the ultimate being black type honours! Enjoy the reflections over the next three weeks as we kick off today ...

What a way to open the account for Te Akau’s black-type winners this season - a Cup Week double for a bold and brave mare!

The first stakes' strike of the 2023/24 term came courtesy of the talented Mehzebeen (5 m Almanzor – Salkantay, by Zabeel), who led every step of the way to claim the Listed $100,000 Nautical Boat Insurance Metropolitan Trophy over 2600m on 9 November at Riccarton during Cup Week - on her way to a Cup Week double!

Already proven at the elite level when finishing runner-up in the Group 1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) as a three-year-old, the lightly raced staying mare was peaking beautifully at her fourth run of the preparation. Co-trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson timed her campaign to perfection, and rider Samantha Spratt delivered a perfectly judged front-running ride.

On a Soft5 surface across the 11-race card, Mehzebeen ran the 2600 metres in 2:39.6, with an impressive last 600m of 34.8 seconds - and her ability was clear to all, as she returned $6.00 & $2.10 on the NZ TAB tote.

A $50,000 Karaka Book 1 purchase in 2021 for Sarai Stud from the Pencarrow Stud draft, Mehzebeen went from strength to strength in the season. Owned by M E & Y M Davis, Mrs B & W R Duncan, Mrs K J & T L Howe, D J & Mrs S P Rolston, Sarai Stud & Mrs S Waddell. She has been retired as a six-time winner with over $558,000 in career earnings.

Mehzebeen boasts a rich pedigree - she descends from a Te Akau-purchased family that includes Group 2 Matamata Breeders’ Stakes winner Te Akau Coup (Thorn Park), Listed Wellesley Stakes winner Don Garcia (Danehill), and multiple stakes' winner Sacramento (Pierro).

Her Metropolitan Trophy win also adds to Te Akau’s legacy in the race:

    2022 – Campionessa (Contributer)

    2011 – Zabene (Zabeel)

And in a bit of Te Akau déjà vu, on the very same day Mehzebeen struck, stablemate Rock ‘N’ Pop (Fastnet Rock) claimed the Group 1 NZ 2000 Guineas back in 2011. The NZ Cup Carnival has always been a bright star in our stable's success.

Mehzebeen’s tough, determined performance was the perfect start to what became a season full of black-type brilliance.