Te Akau Taupo Trials' Report

Te Akau trialled horses at Taupo on Tuesday 27 April 2021 -

Weather: showery, track: Dead6, rail: true.

Heat 8 Open 1025 metres (1 ¼ lengths, 2 lengths 59.9)

Fashion Shoot (3 f Savabeel - High Fashion) - Niranjan Pamar; was mid inner, got back to last inside 600m, and she finished strongly on the bridle for third (pictured below as a yearling).

She lengthened to win easily during her first campaign, culminating with a start in the 1000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m) won by stable-mate Kahma Lass (Darci Brahma). Owned by the Te Akau In Vogue Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn-Fenton Ellis), she was purchased by David Ellis CNZM for $320,000, from the draft of Waikato Stud, at the NZB 2019 Karaka Book 1 Sale. By six-time Champion Sire Savabeel (Zabeel), her dam, High Fashion (O'Reilly), was an immensely talented race mare with a terrific turn of foot, winning four races including victory in the prestigious Desert Gold Stakes (Gr. 3, 1600m) and Lowland Stakes (Gr. 3, 2100m).

Heat 10 2YO 1025 metres (short neck, 1 ¼ lengths 1:01.1)

2 g Shooting to Win - Moment of Choice - Joe Kamaruddin; worked hard to lead, buttoned off, and he pinned his ears back in the straight to win.

Owned by Mr. Edmund Wong, he was purchased as a weanling by David Ellis for $30,000 at the 2019 Karaka May Sale, from the draft of Monovale Farm. Young Darley stallion Shooting to Win (Northern Meteor), already the sire of 199 winners from his first three crops and touted by some highly respected judges in the New Zealand breeding industry. His dam-sire Choisir (Danehill Dancer), a history making racehorse when winning Group One sprints in both hemispheres, is also the sire of Leading Second Season stallion Proisir. It is the family of smart staying horse Kapitain Kash (Kaapstad), a Counties' Cup (Gr.2, 2100m) winner, as well as Champion Hong Kong Sprinter Aerovelocity (Pins).

Heat 13 2YO 1025 metres (¾ lengths, ¾ lengths 1:02.2)

2 g Burgundy - Lucrative - Danielle Johnson; sprang out to lead from barrier two, joined 400m, but found plenty to draw clear under his own steam and win.

Owned and bred by Group 1 Developments, by five-time stakes' winning stallion Burgundy (Redoute's Choice), a three-quarter brother to Darci Brahma, both bought as yearlings by David Ellis, his dam was a consistent performer that won three times to 1400 metres. He carries bloodline crosses to influential stallions Northern Dancer, Nijinsky, Bletchingly, and Nureyev.

Heat 14 2YO 1025 metres (1 ¼ lengths, head 1:09.9)

2 g Darci Brahma - Distinctive Lass - Opie Bosson; raced keenly behind the leaders and he finished strongly for a close fourth.

Owned and bred by Greg Tomlinson (Nearco Stud), he is the year-younger brother to stable-mate and 1000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m) winner Kahma Lass. By five-time Group One winner and Champion Sire Darci Brahma (Danehill), purchased as a yearling by David Ellis, his dam, Distinctive Lass (Orientate), has left nine-time winner Distinctive Darci (Darci Brahma), a Group Two winner with over NZ$1 million prize money, Kuro (Denman), winner of five stakes' races in a total of eight wins, and Southern Lad (Ocean Park) has won five in Australia. It is a very good family.

Heat 17 Maiden 1025 metres (½ a length, neck 1:01.4)

3 f Iffraaj - Opulent - Joe Kamaruddin; got back last from a wide draw, six lengths 600m, and she remained held while running home nicely for fourth.

Owned by the Te Akau Opulent Syndicate, by high-quality stallion Iffraaj (Zafonic), with 20 Group One winners and 133 stakes winners worldwide, from a beautifully bred Keeper (Danehill) mare that Te Akau trained to win three races and finish fifth at Group Three level.

Heat 18 Maiden 1025 metres (2 ¼ lengths, 1 ¼ lengths 1:00.8)

Highborn (3 f Savabeel - Tempo Manor) - Opie Bosson; tracked a compact field, improved to 600m, and she sustained a solid finish widest on the track for fourth.

In training for Nelson and Meagan Schick (Windsor Park Stud), by six-time Champion Sire Savabeel (Zabeel), from a General Nediym mare that won four times to 1300 metres in Australia, she was purchased by David Ellis for $95,000, from the draft of Westbury Stud, at the 2019 Karaka Book 1 Sale.

Heat 20 2YO 850 metres (head, 6 ½ lengths 51.3)

Fierce Flight (2 g Flying Artie - First Bloom) - Opie Bosson; was pushed up from a wide draw, fifth of six and seven lengths 600m, improved wide and he sustained a good gallop for third (pictured below).

Having his first trial for Te Akau Out of Bounds Racing Partnership (Mgr: Karyn-Fenton Ellis), purchased by David Ellis for $45,000 at the 2020 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale, from the draft of Kilgravin Lodge. His sire, Flying Artie (Artie Schiller), a World Champion Three-Year-Old Sprinter, headed the three-year-old Timeform Ratings (127) and the young sire has already left Group One winner Artorius in the Blue Diamond Stakes (Gr. 1, 1200m).

Heat 21 2YO 850 metres (1 ¾ lengths, head 52.0)

Noverre (2 c Savabeel - Magic Dancer) - Opie Bosson; began well to secure a handy position and after changing ground in the straight he ran home solidly for second (below).

He won both trials before running home in the fastest last 600m (35.1) on the day, finishing second, on debut over 1200 metres in January at Matamata, and duly delivered second-up over 1200 metres in February at Wanganui. Purchased by David Ellis in January at the 2020 Karaka Book 1 Sale, from the draft of Waikato Stud, owned by Te Akau 2020 Breeding Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM). By six-time Champion Sire Savabeel (Zabeel), he is the first foal from Magic Dancer (Rip Van Winkle), who figured among the top echelon of two-year-olds when racing in 2014-15. As a two-year-old, Magic Dancer coasted home to win the Phoenix Park Classic (Gr. 3, 1200m).

Heat 22 2YO 850 metres (¾ lengths, 4 ½ lengths 51.4)

Synchronize (2 f Savabeel - Splits) - Danielle Johnson; got back last of five, camped turn, and she quickened strongly on the inner for second (below as a yearling).

She was unbeaten in three trials before being untroubled to win the NZB Insurance Pearl Series Maiden 2YO 1050 metres on 31 March at Matamata. Owned by the Te Akau Flexibeel Racing Partnership (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM), purchased by David Ellis at the 2020 Karaka Book 1 Sale, from the draft of Waikato Stud, by six-time Champion Sire Savabeel (Zabeel). Although unraced, her dam, Splits (O'Reilly), is a sister to Te Akau trained Spring Classic (Listed, 2000m) winner Wolfwhistle, and blood sister to Group One winner Tiptronic (O'Reilly). Grand-dam Legs (Pins - River Century, by Centaine) was Joint top filly on the 2005-06 NZ 3YO Free Handicaps. It is the family of Te Akau trained 2000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m) winner Xtravagant (Pentire), now standing at Newhaven Park, N.S.W.

Heat 23 2YO 850 metres (½ a length, 1 length 51.7)

Tuahine (2 f Iffraaj - Talaria) - Opie Bosson; began well to race in a line of three on pace and she quickened well for second.

In training for Brendan Lindsay MNZM & Jo Lindsay (Cambridge Stud), by high-quality proven International Group One stallion and sire of sires Iffraaj (Zafonic), she is the first foal from O'Reilly (Last Tycoon) mare Talaria, a stakes winning two-year-old and half-sister to Group One winner Brutal, now standing at Newgate Farm Stud. She is from the very good colonial bred Alberton family.

Heat 25 2YO 850 metres (1 ¼ lengths, neck 53.5)

2 g Burgundy - Scicolone - Niranjan Pamar; found a nice spot from the outside gate, switched ground turn and not far away at the line.

Bred and owned by David Ellis CNZM and Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM, by five-time stakes' winning stallion Burgundy (Redoute's Choice), a three-quarter brother to five-time Group One winner and champion stallion Darci Brahma (Danehill), both purchased as yearlings by Ellis. From a lightly raced mare, who placed twice over 2000 metres, Scicolone is a half-sister to Group Two placed Prosperous Bid (Carnegie), dual stakes placed Canny Princess (Canny Lad), and more recently Group Three winner and dual Group Two placed Sleeping Beauty (Rip Van Winkle) (10 wins). Grand-dam Kailey Princess (Danehill) left eight individual winners of 22 races.

Heat 26 2YO 850 metres (long head, 2 lengths 52.4)

2 f Ocean Park - Brilliant Blush - Danielle Johnson; was fourth of five, improved to third 600m, levelled turn and held together once up and travelling she finished nicely for second.

In training for Jamie and Chanel Beatson (Ohukia Lodge), by Ocean Park (Thorn Park), who won five Group One races, including the Cox Plate (Gr. 1, 2040m), and going great guns at stud. He has already sired 446 winners, 26 stakes winners, including five at Group One level. Most recently, Kolding became number five in the All Aged Stakes (Gr. 1, 1400m) last Saturday at Randwick.

Heat 27 2YO 850 metres (¾ lengths, 2 ½ lengths 52.8)

2 f Astern - Demilune - Danielle Johnson; trailed from barrier one and she finished strongly on the inside of runners for second.

Having her first trial, she is from the first crop of Group One winner Astern (Medaglia d'Oro). Her dam, Demilune (Domesday), is a half-sister to multiple winners Farolitos (Medaglia d'Oro), five wins and Group Three placed, and Sculptures (Exceed and Excel) six wins.

Heat 30 Maiden 850 metres (¾ lengths, neck 51.5)

Image of You (3 f Pins - Exactly Like You) - Niranjan Pamar; was instructed to be given a quiet trial and she did so finishing fourth.

At her second start, in December at New Plymouth, she finished second to subsequent three-time winner Puntura (Vespa). Owned by the Te Akau Mirror Image Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM), she was bought by David Ellis from the draft of Waikato Stud at the NZB 2019 Karaka Book 1 Sale. By Champion sire Pins (Snippets), sire of 19 individual Group 1 winners, 136 stakes winners, and a phenomenal attribute to Waikato Stud and the New Zealand breeding industry. She is out of young mare by six-time Champion Sire and emerging broodmare sire Savabeel (Zabeel).