Te Akau Te Rapa Trials' Report

Te Akau trialled horses at Te Rapa on Tuesday 15 October 

Weather: showery, track: Slow7, rail: true

Heat 1 2YO 650 metres (2 lengths, 2 ½ lengths 39.0)

Bordeaux Le Rouge (2 g Burgundy - De La Vere) - Troy Harris; began well from the outside to lead and quickened appreciably under a hand ride to win handsomely. 

Owned by the Te Akau Fine Red Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM), he was exceptional buying when purchased by David Ellis for $20,000 at the NZB 2019 Karaka Book 1 Sale, from the Phoenix Park draft. From a well performed family, he is a half-brother to Royal Stakes (Gr. 2, 2000m) runner-up Adis (Mastercraftsman).

Heat 2 2YO 650 metres (1 ¾ lengths, 1 length 38.7)

Image of You (2 f Pins - Exactly Like You) - Troy Harris; bobbled in barrier one as the gates opened, recovered to trail, and quickened well to finish third.

Purchased by David Ellis for $300,000 at the NZB 2019 Karaka Book 1 Sale, from the draft of Waikato Stud, and owned by the Te Akau Mirror Image Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM). By Champion sire Pins (Snippets), sire of nineteen individual Group One winners, 134 stakes winners, and a phenomenal attribute to Waikato Stud and the New Zealand breeding industry. She is out of young mare by five-time Champion sire Savabeel (Zabeel). 

2 c Bullpoint - Dollhouse-  Opie Bosson; was fourth of four in running, angled clear in the straight and finished strongly under little urging for second.

In training for Chris Rutten, who raced Champion Two-Year-Old nominee and stable-mate Yourdeel (Dundeel): winner of both juvenile Group Ones last season: Sistema Stakes (Gr. 1, 1200m) and Sires' Produce Stakes (Gr. 1, 1400m). By a son of Champion sire Fastnet Rock (Danehill), his dam, Dollhouse, by Snitzel (Redoute's Choice), won three races to 1200 metres in Australia, from the family of NZ Breeders' Stakes (Gr. 1, 1600m) winner Rockabubble (Bubble Gum Fellow).

Heat 3 2YO 650 metres (1 ¾ lengths, 1 ¼ lengths 38.5)

Press Baron (2 c Written Tycoon - Into the Groove) - Opie Bosson; was a stride slow from barrier one, worked through to co-lead, cornered well, and showed a good action in winning without being extended. 

Owned by the Te Akau 2019 Breeding Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM) and purchased by David Ellis from the Hallmark Stud draft at the 2019 Karaka Book 1 Sale. Written Tycoon (Iglesia) stands for $110,000 and right at the top of the Australian stallion ranks, as a leading First Season Sire and Champion Two-Year-Old sire, with six individual Group One winners and yearlings sold up to $900,000. Press Baron is the first foal from a winning mare by Redoute's Choice, a son of Danehill (Danzig) the most successful all-time sire.

2 g Per Incanto - Saint Martins-  Troy Harris; travelled outside the leader and got into his work nicely in the straight to finish second.  

In training for Aquis Farm, having his first trial, dam Saint Martins (Darci Brahma) won twice to 1600 metres, from a strong international family with Sadler's Wells siring multiple stakes producing grand-dam Jeanetta Cochrane.

The Panther  (2 c Iffraaj - La Panthere) - Craig Grylls; steadied behind the first two runners, finished solidly and good through the line.

Owned by the Te Akau Fiery Red Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM), purchased by David Ellis for $60,000 from the Wentwood Grange draft at the 2019 Karaka Book 1 Sale. Bred on the same cross as Gingernuts - by Iffraaj, out of a Generous mare - trained by Te Akau to win the NZ Derby (Gr. 1, 2400m), Rosehill Guineas (Gr. 1, 2000m), and Windsor Park Plate (Gr. 1, 1600m). Iffraaj (Zafonic) is also the dam sire of stable star and Horse of the Year Melody Belle (Commands), winner of nine Group One races and recent history maker in the Hawkes Bay Triple Crown.

Heat 4 2YO 650 metres (3 ½ lengths, 20 lengths 38.2)

2 f Darci Brahma - Quintette- Troy Harris; tracked along boldly outside the leader and kept up a strong gallop for second.

Bred and owned by Karyn Fenton-Ellis (MNZM), Greg Tomlinson, David and Matt Peacocke, and Oliver Saxton, she was having her first trial. She is a three-quarter sister to stable-mate 3 f Redoute's Choice - Everswindell (below). Grand-dam Everswindell (Align) is the dam of Te Akau trained stakes placed filly Quintette (Alamosa).

Heat 5 Open 880 metres (neck, ¾ lengths 52.9)

She's Not Bad(5 m He's Not Bad - Andra) - Joe Kamaruddin; settled back from a wide draw, six lengths 600m, and finished solidly for fifth on footing a bit beyond her liking.

She is the winner of four starts from nine races for breeder Simms Davison, at Mapperley Stud, who race the mare with Garry Chittick.

Heat 6 Open 880 metres (1 ¾ lengths, 1 length 53.4)

Byzantine(4 g Savabeel - Baradevi) - Opie Bosson; out well to travel held outside the leader, he led on straightening and fought hard for third. 

Purchased by David Ellis for the Te Akau 2017 Breeding Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM) at the 2017 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Yearling Sale, from the draft of Little Avondale Stud, he was a stakes performed winning two-year-old that dominantly won in May at Pukekohe, and readying to race again.

Heat 7 Open 880 metres (1 ¾ lengths, dead-heat 54.2)

Kingsguard(7 g Rip Van Winkle - Her Royal Highness) - Joe Kamaruddin; was caught wide near the pace and kept up a strong gallop under little urging for fourth.

In the Windsor Park Stud colours, he resumed with a win over 1200 metres in March at Ellerslie, at his first start for the stable, having won five races, including the Hawkesbury Cup (Gr. 3, 1600m) and stakes of $457,000 in Australia. Also raced by Windsor Park, his dam, Her Royal Highness (Volksraad), was an impressive stakes winning mare up to a mile. 

Heat 8 Open 880 metres (neck, 1 ¾ lengths 54.0)

Scott Base(5 g Dalghar - Extra Celestial) - Opie Bosson; was let find his feet off the pace, five lengths 600m, and kept winding up in the straight to photo-finish for third.

A newcomer to the stable, owned by Chris Rutten, John Norwood, and Joanna & John Frew, he finished third in the Champagne Stakes (Listed, 1600m) as a two-year-old, sprang to light winning the $1m 2018 Karaka Million 3YO Classic (Restricted Listed, 1600m), and since won the Wellington Guineas (Gr. 2, 1400m) and finished fourth in the Livamol Classic (Gr. 1, 2040m) last season.

Heat 9 2YO 880 metres (2 ¼ lengths, head 55.3)

Cool Aza Beel(2 c Savabeel - Cool ‘N' Sassy) - Opie Bosson; steadied off the pace but towed up wide to the 400m and won as he liked without being extended.

Owned by the Te Akau Sassy Beel Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM), he took out the first two-year-old race of the season with a professional display in the 2YO 800 metres on 7 September at Wanganui, and freshened since. Purchased by David Ellis for $150,000 at the 2019 Karaka Book 1 Sale, from the draft of Fairdale Stud, the first foal from three-time winner to 1200 metres in Australia, Cool ‘N' Sassy (Testa Rossa), he is line bred to immortal sire Northern Dancer and blueblood producing mare Special, the dam of 2000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m) winner and champion sire Nureyev.

Heat 12 Maiden 3YO 880 metres (1 length, 2 ½ lengths 54.3)

3 f Redoute's Choice - Everswindell- Opie Bosson; camped behind the leaders on the inner, she pushed through nicely in the straight, not asked for much, and good after the line.

In training for Greg Tomlinson (Nearco Stud), she was bred in conjunction with Bill Gleeson (Wellfield Lodge). By the undisputed king of Australian sires, Redoute's Choice, a son of the most successful sire of all time, Danehill (Danzig), her dam, Everswindell (Align), was a New Zealand Cup (Gr. 2, 3200m) winner who subsequently left the Te Akau trained stakes placed filly Quintette (Alamosa).

Heat 13 Maiden 3YO 880 metres (½ a length, 1 length 55.3)

3 f Atlante - Tristachine- Troy Harris; travelled well behind the leaders and held her position over a sprint trip on ground that appeared a touch beyond her.

In the colours of Mapperley Stud, by their ill-fated 2000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m) winning stallion Atlante (Fastnet Rock), that finished Second Top Colt on the NZ 3YO Free Handicaps, and already sired a stakes winner from his first crop three-year-olds. Her dam, Tristachine (Sir Tristram), was an impressive stakes winner over 1000 metres and left seven individual winners of 15 races.

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