Te Akau Season - Stakes' Win 3 (NZ) of 30
Date: 3 Jul 2024
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.
The first Group 1 victory, and the third stakes' win in our 'season of black type success', also came in September at Hastings as Skew Wiff in the famous Waikato Stud colours, flew home to upset some highly regarded favourites! She would of course go on to win at Group 3 level at Flemington on Melbourne Cup Day 2023!
Getting her time in the sun over a star-studded field, Skew Wiff (4 m Savabeel – Starvoia, by Starcraft) won the $400,000 Westbury Stud Tarzino Trophy (Gr. 1, 1400m) on 9 September at Hastings.
Having ended her previous campaign finishing runner-up in both the Levin Classic (Gr. 1, 1600m), won by stable-mate Romancing The Moon (El Roca), and NZ Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (Gr. 1, 1600m), Skew Wiff resumed with a terrific effort for second in the Foxbridge Plate (Gr. 2, 1200m) on 26 August at Te Rapa and given her great natural talent, she rated a top three chance in the smart field.
Widely considered the strongest field assembled for a Tarzino in recent years, which included nine Group One winners, four of whom won Group One races last year in Australia, Skew Wiff had to be at her very best and together with jockey Opie Bosson ONZM, they combined for a first-class victory.
Now accomplished at dispatching the gates, after proving difficult early on, Skew Wiff began well to be in the van (fourth/fifth), received a beautiful split two off the rail turning for home, cruised up 150m and found a length advantage before withstanding late challengers.
“She was in the zone today and her mind was on the job – the brain was good,” Bosson said.
Te Akau previously won the race consecutively in 2018 and 2019 with dual Horse of the Year Melody Belle (Commands), who eclipsed the national record with 14 Group One wins.
At home on Waikato Stud, entertaining stud clients and celebrating the win, owner Mark Chittick was taken with the win on so many different levels.
“Te Akau deserves so much praise,” he said. “Jamie (Richards), into Mark (Walker) and now with the addition of Sam (Bergerson).
“It’s sentimental being involved in the Sam’s first Group One winner. He’s a bit younger than me, but we’re from the same village in Longburn, Palmerston North.
“I love Sam’s passion and he’s such a contributor to the community, being so involved in the Matamata Rugby Club, because he’s an exceptional rugby player, and those sorts of things are dear to my heart.
“Te Akau is a world-class team and I thank them for persevering with Skew Wiff because she’s not easy. 12 months ago at Taupo, she pulled all her tricks out of the bag and we wondered whether we would ever see her full potential.
“They have a special management team and I’d particularly like to thank Tayla Melvin for all the work she does with her, and also Opie Bosson who has a special relationship with her.”
The Group One winning Skew Wiff (4 m Savabeel – Starvoia, by Starcraft) also made a splash on Melbourne Cup Day at Flemington, when victorious in the $200,000 The Hong Kong Jockey Club Stakes (Gr. 3, 1400m).
Currently in training at Matamata, Skew Wiff is scheduled to trial on 6 August at Te Rapa.
Te Akau previous wins in the Tarzino Trophy (Gr. 1, 1400m):
2018 – Melody Belle (Commands)
2019 – Melody Belle (Commands)