Te Akau Season - Stakes' Win 25 (NZ) of 30

Date: 25 Jul 2024

Te Akau Season - Stakes' Win 25 (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 is proud to train for a number of private individuals and stud - there is some misconception the stable is a 'closed book' only training our syndicated horses - this is absolutely not the case as was again evidenced when we celebrated yet another Group winner for the season in the famous Waikato Stud colours of the Chittick family.  

Following on from Skew Wiff's New Zealand Group 1 earlier in the season, and her Group 3 glory at Flemington on Melbourne Cup Day, it was time for her stable/stud mate Certainly to shine ...

With a big performance to justify favouritism, Certainly (3 f Savabeel – Frankly, by Pins) won the $150,000 Mainstream Plumbing Mufhasa Stakes (Gr. 3, 1400m) on Derby Day (2 March) at Ellerslie.

Impressive winning her Maiden over 1400 metres in December at Matamata, Certainly ran fastest last 600m (34.0) for close sixth to stable-mate Quintessa (Shamus Award) in the Levin Classic (Gr. 1, 1600m) on 13 January at Trentham, and was strong late for third when dropping back in the Special Conditions 1200 metres on 10 February at Te Rapa. 

In the Waikato Stud colours (white, royal blue & emerald green stylized logo), with Te Akau stable rider Opie Bosson ONZM aboard, Certainly was midfield inner before tracking second placed Moet Down (Pierro) through at the 200m and she kept on quickening to gain her measure near the line. 

“She travelled beautifully throughout and I had the right horse in front of me to take me into the race,” Bosson said.

“We had to find a bit of room in the straight, but she just kept coming up underneath me. She’s really willing and I think stepping up to a mile is going to be ideal for her.

“It’s my first win on the StrathAyr track, but the track is riding well should suit most horses.”

By Waikato Stud eight-time Champion Sire Savabeel (Zabeel), Certainly was the fourth individual winner from Frankly (Pins), the winner of four races to 1600 metres, and from the family of New Zealand Horse of the Year and Waikato Stud Champion Sire O’Reilly (Last Tycoon), along with dual Group One winner Madison County (Pins). 

As the most successful buyer of Savabeel (Zabeel) progeny, Te Akau principal David Ellis CNZM said: 

“We love training horses for Waikato Stud and to have a winner for them on Derby Day is fantastic. 

“They are really supportive of Te Akau, give us these lovely fillies to train, and every time you’ve got a Savbeel that comes into the stable it’s an exciting day because he’s just such a great sire.

“With our stable now in Australia, it’s exciting for owners like Garry and Mary and Mark and Pippa (Chittick) to keep fillies like Certainly and Skew Wiff within the Te Akau system and try and compete for black type in Australia, because it means so much for their futures in the Waikato Stud broodmare band.”

In work at Matamata, Certainly is scheduled to trial on 6 August at Te Rapa. 


Te Akau previous wins in the Mufhasa Stakes (Gr. 3, 1400m):

2022 – On The Bubbles (Brazen Beau) 

2021 – Need I Say More (No Excuse Needed) 

2020 – Star Of Bombay (Atlante) 


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