Te Akau Season of Success - Towering Above

Today - with the new 2025/26 season officially commencing, we take our final look at our owners' season of success in 2024/25 ... the penultimate of our 23 Group/Listed titles also saw our gallant 2YO Towering Vision deliver his sire's first stakes' success ...

Towering Vision (2 g Circus Maximus – Qiji Vision, by Iffraaj) delivered a thrilling performance to claim the $80,000 Waikato Equine Veterinary Centre Stakes (Listed, 1400m) on 3 May at Te Rapa – marking yet another milestone in what has already been an outstanding season for Te Akau Racing.

This talented youngster had shown promise right from his debut on the same course in December, finishing a determined third in the 2YO 1100 metres. After a spell, he returned to the track on 17 April at Matamata, again showing his grit to finish third from beyond midfield over 1200 metres. His efforts hinted at an appetite for more ground – and stepping up to 1400 metres, he relished the opportunity.

Guided perfectly by premiership-leading jockey Craig Grylls, Towering Vision made the most of barrier one, slotting in beautifully behind the early pace. At the 600-metre mark, he was poised in fourth, travelling sweetly. When the field fanned wide into the home straight, Grylls took the brave route, punching through on the inside. Despite a fierce late challenge from Navy Dreams (Merchant Navy), Towering Vision dug deep, showing remarkable tenacity to hold on by a nose.

He stopped the clock at 1:26.2 for the 1400 metres on footing that had been upgraded to Soft7, rewarding his supporters with a healthy return of $11.20 & $3.00 on the NZ TAB tote – shortening significantly from his earlier quote of $17.00 & $4.50.

Towering Vision races for the Te Akau Look Smart Racing Partnership (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM) and was a $105,000 purchase by David Ellis CNZM at the 2024 Karaka Book 1 Sale, from the draft of Windsor Park Stud. At the time of his purchase, Ellis remarked:

    “He’s a really strong colt, beautifully balanced, and by this exciting new sire who was an incredible racehorse in Europe.”

His sire, Circus Maximus (Galileo), needs little introduction. By the world’s greatest sire of stakes winners, the legendary Galileo (Sadler’s Wells), Circus Maximus was a Champion Miler and triple Group One winner, capturing prestigious races including the St James’s Palace Stakes (Gr.1, 1600m) – a renowned stallion-making contest – and the Queen Anne Stakes (Gr.1, 1600m) at Royal Ascot, emulating the feats of Champion racehorse Frankel.

Towering Vision’s dam, Qiji Vision, is a sister to multiple stakes winner Who Dares Wins (Iffraaj) and hails from a rich South Island family brimming with quality. It is the same line as Joint Top Filly Talk Talk (Lord Ballina) and the prolific mare Rumour Has It Now (Traditionally). The family’s toughness is epitomized by Shudup (Final Orders), a 12-time winner – six of those as a two-year-old – who claimed three Listed races, defeating none other than the legendary Grey Way (Grey William) in each of those victories. Further back, the family boasts Natter (The Cobbler), winner of the New Zealand Oaks (Gr.2, 2400m).

After his Listed success, Towering Vision went on to underline his class by finishing runner-up in the Champagne Stakes (Listed, 1600m). He remains in training at Matamata, with connections eyeing his next steps as he continues to mature and progress. He is currently building fitness ahead of a scheduled jump-out on 11 September.

Previous Te Akau winners of the Waikato Equine Veterinary Centre Stakes (Listed, 1400m):

    2022 – Lord Cosmos (Pierro)

    2012 – Catalonia (Vilanova) by Commands

    2004 – Kindacross (Cape Cross)