Te Akau Season of Success - Mehzebeen Triple Stakes' Success

On this, the final day of a remarkable 2024/25 season, where Te Akau owners celebrated a total of 23 stakes' wins - we reflect on a staying star and her third black type victory for her proud owners ...

In sparkling autumn form, the classy staying mare Mehzebeen (5 m Almanzor – Salkantay, by Zabeel) delivered another outstanding performance to capture the $120,000 Listed Valley D’Vine Restaurant Hawkes Bay Cup (2200m) on 12 April at Trentham.

Already well known to the Trentham crowd as runner-up in the Group 1 New Zealand Oaks as a three-year-old, Mehzebeen has continued to build an impressive résumé. 

During Cup Week in November, she stamped her staying prowess with victories in both the Listed Metropolitan Trophy over 2600m and the Group 3 New Zealand Cup over 3200m at Riccarton. Her recent lead-up run was full of merit too - a courageous third from the outside barrier in the New Zealand St Leger (2600m) on 22 March, also at Trentham.

Once again dealt a wide gate (11), apprentice Lily Sutherland showed real initiative. She sent Mehzebeen forward to cross and lead, before handing up when pressured down the back straight. In the home straight, the mare briefly found herself blocked for a run, but Sutherland coolly angled her back to the rail. With a powerful surge, Mehzebeen rattled home to claim the prize in style.

On a Soft5 track, she clocked a sharp 2:16.7 for the 2200 metres, defying her betting drift – from $5.00 fixed odds to pay $11.60 & $3.30 on the NZ TAB tote.

This victory marked her sixth career win, boosting her stakes earnings to over $550,000.

Bred by Pencarrow Stud and purchased by Sarai Stud for just $50,000 at the 2021 Karaka Book 1 Sale,   she was raced by a delighted ownership group: M E & Y M Davis, Mrs B & W R Duncan, Mrs K J & T L Howe, D J & Mrs S P Rolston, Sarai Stud, and Mrs S Waddell.

Mehzebeen has now been retired from racing, her season's success proving invaluable to her future broodmare credentials.

Her pedigree is steeped in quality. Mehzebeen hails from the family of Group 2 Matamata Breeders’ Stakes' winner Te Akau Coup (Thorn Park) and Listed Wellesley Stakes winner Don Garcia (Danehill) – both Karaka yearling purchases by David Ellis - as well as the triple stakes-winning stayer Sacramento (Pierro).

Te Akau previous win in the Hawkes Bay Cup (Listed, 2200m):

2023 – Fierce Flight (Flying Artie)