Te Akau Season - Stakes' Win 19 (NZ) of 30

July sees the final month of our phenomenal 2023/24 racing season.  

As we like to do at this time of the year, we now reflect every day on our Group/Listed performers of the 'season that was' - and there were plenty!  In fact 30 across New Zealand and Australia, with nine at Group 1 level.

Te Akau's track record in Group 1 Guineas’ races is second to none, with now 13 elites titles having been won by the stable - seven Group 1 NZ 2000 Guineas and six Group 1 NZ 1000 Guineas over the past two decades.

Due to timing and previous scheduling, while the stable’s wins in the Group 1 Waikato Guineas whilst not as prolific, are undoubted quality - as our 2024 winner showed, you will hear more of his name in the season ahead …

Having just his fourth start, Ascend The Throne (3 g Savabeel – Thee Achiever, by O’Reilly) was a very good winner of the $160,000 Legacy Lodge Waikato Guineas (Gr. 2, 2000m) on 31 January at Te Rapa.

After producing two notable performances on the course at Te Rapa, Ascend The Throne had lengthened stylishly to win the Maiden 2000 metres on 10 January at Matamata, and made the step up with aplomb.

Sporting the addition of blinkers, drawn barrier one with Te Akau stable rider Opie Bosson ONZM aboard, Ascend The Throne began smartly to take up a handy position, was sixth at the 1000m, tracked up camped on the leaders turning for home, reached the lead 300m out, and kept up a defiant gallop to prevail in a close finish.

“We thought the blinkers would help him focus just that bit more and I think we saw that,” Walker said.

“He comes off a very good farm of Tony Rider’s at Milan Park and we’re having plenty of success with horses bred and prepared by them – second (Damask Rose) in the Karaka Millions 2YO last Saturday and now a Waikato Guineas winner, plus The Perfect Pink, the 1000 Guineas winner we had for Tony. 

“They breed good, tough, horses that train on and (triple Group winner) Aromatic we bought from the Milan Park draft as well. 

“So, really thrilled to win the Waikato Guineas and there’s plenty of improvement still to come.”

Purchased as a yearling by Te Akau principal David Ellis CNZM at Karaka, Ascend The Throne subsequently finished fourth in the Avondale Guineas (Gr. 2, 2100m) and third in the NZ Derby (Gr. 1, 2400m), before spelling.

“He’s from the best family in the stud book,” Ellis said. “It’s a great South Island family of the Dennis brothers (Tony, Joe, Martin and Ray Dennis) and they have always bred their mares to the best available stallions.

“We rated him one of the best Savabeel colts in the sale when we bought him. We loved him. Out of an O’Reilly mare, which is an outstanding cross, from mares by Centaine and Grosvenor, and it’s the family of our 1000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m) winner The Perfect Pink.

“It’s a great family from the past and also a great current family with so many of the progeny performing well at stakes levels.”

Currently in training at Matamata, Ascend The Throne is scheduled to trial on 13 August at Avondale. 

Te Akau previous win in the Waikato Guineas (Gr. 2, 2000m):

2010 – Zarzuela (Zabeel) - ridden by James McDonald