Te Akau Taupo Treble - Balance of Power Beautiful

Confidently bet, Balance Of Power (3 g Almanzor – Respin, by Power) easily won the $18,500 Maiden 1400 metres on 9 November at Taupo.

Backed in from $5.00 into $3.30 & $1.60 in the last remaining minutes, Balance Of Power justified his support with a polished performance.

Able to display natural talent last season as a two-year-old, when finishing second in the Challenge Stakes (Listed, 1100m), and then a notable fifth to stable-mate Trobriand (Kermadec) in the Eclipse Stakes (Gr. 2, 1200m), Balance Of Power was a $21.00 chance in the Karaka Million 2YO (Restricted Listed, 1200m), won by stable-mate and subsequent Champion Two-Year-Old Tokyo Tycoon (Satono Aladdin), where after drawing the outside (14) he ran on from last.  

He closed well for fourth when resuming in the Maiden 3YO 1300 metres on 15 September at Taupo, was given time (55 days) by the team and, despite drawing the outside gate (12), benefitted from the services of stable rider Opie Bosson - he fresh from guiding stable-mate Skew Wiff (Savabeel) to victory in The Hong Kong Jockey Club Stakes (Gr. 3, 1400m) on Melbourne Cup Day at Flemington.

Although beginning well, Balance Of Power was steadied to last while seeking cover and after tracking up ominously inside the 500m he swept to the front and quickly distanced his rivals.

It was the ride of man in peak form and the performance from a horse destined for higher honours. 

On Soft6 footing, in the race sponsored by Darrell@YoungNails Taupo, Balance Of Power won by two and a quarter lengths and ran 1400 metres in 1:26.9. 

“He’s just starting to mature now and he’s only going to keep getting better with age, as all the stock of Almanzor do,” said co-trainer Mark Walker.

“It was good to see him win over 1400 metres because he’s bred to get a lot further in distance. 

“He had to do tough from the wide barrier draw and I think he’s a got a good future when we get him to a mile and beyond. 

“We’ve always loved the stock of Almanzor and you just know they’re going to keep maturing, getting stronger, and improving as older horses.  So we’re really looking forward to the progress of this horse as he steps in distance, perhaps even the Derby.”

Owned by J O Anderson, Brendan Lindsay MNZM & Mrs J E A Lindsay, DJ Bloodstock Partnership, M K Durling, GN & CM Bloodstock Ltd, J F & Mrs P L Hepburn, B Kwok, R Lau, T N Simpson & Westonlea Bloodstock, he was bought by David Ellis CNZM for $300,000 at the 2022 Karaka Book 1 Sale from the draft of Cambridge Stud. 

By one of the best credentialed stallions shuttled to New Zealand in the last decade, Almanzor (Wotton Bassett) was European Champion Three-Year-Old and claimed the same titles in Ireland and France.

From his first crop of yearlings, in 2021 at Karaka, Te Akau principal David Ellis CNZM purchased Dynastic for Te Akau 2021 Stallion Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM), rewarding everyone at his second start when becoming the sixth of seven Karaka Million 2YO (Restricted Listed, 1200m) winners in a row for the stable.

In addition, Dynastic provided the first Southern Hemisphere victory of Cambridge Stud stallion Almanzor (Wootton Bassett).

Dam Respin, by talented sire Power (Oasis Dream), displayed very good racing attributes in a short career, winning the NZB Insurance Stakes (Listed, 1600m). She is a half-sister to Dame Margo Fonteyn (High Chaparral), trained by Te Akau and she was a mare with good ability. 

His third dam, Dancing Forever, impressed winning four times up to 2000 metres and showed plenty of athleticism and a great turn of foot. Proving herself as a broodmare, she left six individual winners of 13 races. 

At the time of purchasing Balance Of Power, Ellis said: “We thought he was as good an Almanzor colt as there was in the sale. We fell in love with him and he’s out of stakes winning mare.

“He’s athletic, good mover, correct, and just has plenty of substance and quality about him. He ticked all the boxes and looks to have an X factor.

“We thought he was very similar to our Karaka Million 2YO winning colt Dynastic, also by Almanzor.”

Balance Of Power was strapped by Kohen Collett. 

Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz