Te Akau Te Teko Trials' Report

Te Akau Racing trainers Stephen Autridge & Jamie Richards took horses to trial on Tuesday 26 September at Te Teko.

The weather obliged and no rain fell during the trials, with temperatures rising into the afternoon - ahead of forecast rain - so everybody was happy.

Weather: cloudy Track: Slow8 rail: True

Heat 2 Open 1000 metres (½ a length, ¾ lengths 1:04.2)

Royal Success (5 g Savabeel - Royal Show) - Opie Bosson; began well to lead, joined in front by stable-mate, held advantage in the straight and without being pressured was claimed near the line to finish second.
A winner of four of his eight starts, Royal Success was purchased by David Ellis for the Te Akau Royal Success Syndicate.

Ellis said: “I bought this horse at the [NZB] Ready to Run Sales and on buying him told the owners they would have to be patient, and that he would grow and develop into a really good horse.  Like a lot of Savabeel's he likes the tracks around Dead4, not too hard, or heavy, and the patience shown by the owners has been rewarded.”

Icebomb (3 f Darci Brahma - Snowdonia) - Nik Bakar; went forward outside leading stable-mate, angled wider into the straight and kept up a bold gallop for third.

Third on debut at Trentham, before finishing second in the Phoenix Park Classic (Gr. 3, 1200m) at New Plymouth, Icebomb was purchased privately for $50,000 by David Ellis from Jamieson Park. She is another lovely filly by Darci Brahma (Danehill) and shows the right attributes to make it as a racehorse.

Beaumarchais (4 g Savabeel - Almaviva) - Michael McNab; positioned one off the rail in midfield, improved between his two stable-mates into the straight and without urging was solid in tight quarters for fourth.

The winner of two races before a slashing performance for fourth to stable-mate Gingernuts (Iffraaj) in the New Zealand Derby (Gr. 1, 2400m), he then finished a close second in the Manawatu Classic (Gr. 3, 2000m) to end his three-year-old season.  Purchased as a yearling by David Ellis for $160,000 at the 2015 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Sale, from the draft of Pencarrow Stud, he is owned by the Te Akau Beaumarchais Syndicate.

Heat 3 Open 1000 metres (1 ¼ lengths, 2 lengths 1:03.6)

Vinevale (5 m Flying Spur - Eden Valley) - Opie Bosson; settled back in the field, six lengths astern 600m and closed the margin with a solid finish in the straight for fourth.

Bred by Trelawney Stud and owned by them and connections: Brent & Cherry Taylor, Jans Trust, Jake & Jude Moreland, Faith & Jane Taylor, Jay Benton & Scott Malcolm, Vinevale is a talented winner of three races, acts fresh, and looks set for another good campaign.  Her race winning dam, Eden Valley (Zabeel), is a sister to multiple stakes winner Hill of Grace who won over $2 million in prize money.

Chambord (7 g Zabeel - Miss Montjeu) - Wiremu Pinn; began well to secure a comfortable trip just off the pace and having his first outing for some time he rounded off nicely for fifth.

Off the scene with injury since winning over 1200 metres last December at Awapuni, Chambord was purchased by David Ellis for $200,000 from the draft of Cambridge Stud at the 2012 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Yearling Sale.   Runner-up to Atlante (Fastnet Rock) in the 2013 2000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m), he is a very good quality stakes performing galloper.

Abbey Kay (4 m Keeper - Abbey Tralae) - Michael McNab; travelled at the rear on the inner and after the leaders got a soft time she remained back in a quiet trial.

Abbey Kay is from an above average mare that won seven races, and having won her Maiden over 1200 metres she has the capabilities to win more.

Our Abbadean (5 m Lookin At Lucky - Highland Lights) - Cameron Lammas; tailed the field and a staying mare given a quiet trial she will take plenty of improvement from it.

Spelled after impressively winning the FLAIR Rating 75 2200 metres in April at Te Rapa, Our Abbadean is a four time winner that is developing into an accomplished staying mare for breeder-owner Wentwood Grange.

Heat 4 Open 1000 metres (1 ¾ lengths, neck 1:04.0)

Princess Davone (5 m Iffraaj - Nikey Davone) - Dennis Tan; settled back in the field, improved to fourth nearing the home turn, kept up a bold finish for third and galloped on solidly after the line.

Placed in five stakes races as a three-year-old, behind horses the calibre of Canterbury Belle Stakes (Listed, 1200m) winning stable-mate Windborne (Darci Brahma), Son of Maher (Al Maher), and All In Vogue (Pins), Princess Davone has won three races (rated 73). She was purchased privately as a two-year-old by David Ellis from breeders David & Ione Lees who along with friends remained in the ownership to form the Te Akau Princess Davone Syndicate.

Fashionably (4 m Redoute's Choice - Scarlett Lady) - Michael McNab; was allowed to find her feet at the rear and quickened appreciably on the outside of runners, closing in for fifth and good through the line.

Fashionably was purchased by David Ellis for $240,000 at the 2015 Sydney Easter Yearling Sale, from the draft of Kitchwin Hills, and owned by Waikato Stud (Mark and Garry Chittick). Fashionably is the first foal of dual Group One winner Scarlett Lady (Savabeel), who won the Queensland Oaks, and weight-for-age New Zealand Stakes, at the highest level, among eight victories and $821,000 in prize money.  Fashionably followed two top runs with a win over a mile in January at Te Rapa, and ended her highly promising first campaign finishing fifth in both the Lowland Stakes (Gr. 3, 2100m) and New Zealand Oaks (Gr. 1, 2400m).

Aquilo (3 g Snitzel - My My Maree) - Opie Bosson; led, softened up from the 600m and overhauled at the 100m by horses wider out, but not pressured.

A powerfully built colt, purchased by David Ellis for $200,000 at the 2016 NZB Premier Yearling Sale, Aquilo is a half-brother to Group One winning two-year-old Marky Marky (Makfi).  After beating subsequent three time winner Felton Road (Pins) when trialling in December, Aquilo won his second start as a two-year-old before finishing third in the Waikato Equine Veterinary Centre Stakes (Listed, 1100m) in May at Te Rapa.

Heat 6 2YO 600 metres (2 ½ lengths, 1 ½ lengths 37.0)

Dublin Rose (2 f O'Reilly - Irish Dream) - Cameron Lammas; caught the gates well to lead from barrier one, railed perfectly and kept up a strong gallop, doing it easily, to win well.

Owned by the Te Akau Dublin Rose Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM), Dublin Rose was purchased by David Ellis for $130,000 from the draft of Little Avondale Stud at the 2017 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Yearling Sale.   At sale time, Ellis said: “She had been a standout filly during our inspections. It's a top quality family and we had the budget to pay quite a bit more for her."  Her dam, Irish Dream, by Savabeel (Zabeel), won three races and a sister to Tullamore and the Te Akau trained mares Grazia and Shillelagh.

Heat 7 2YO 600 metres (1 length, 1 ¼ lengths 37.1)

Irish Cream (2 f O'Reilly - Zantelagh) - Opie Bosson (main picture); straight into gear from barrier one to lead, quickened when asked and displayed a good action in a comfortable win.

Owned by the Te Akau Irish Delights Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM), Irish Cream was purchased by David Ellis for $210,000 from the draft of Cambridge Stud at the 2017 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Yearling Sale.  Irish Cream is a filly from the last crop by champion sire O'Reilly, and out of a three time winning mare by Zabeel, she was a highly sought after filly and a classic example of the pairing.

“She is a beautiful filly that just oozes class,” Ellis said. “Her mother was good enough to win in Australia, the first foal was placed at two, and her grand-dam, Dantelah, won two stakes races as a two-year-old and went on to win nearly one-million in prize money.”

Byzantine (2 c Savabeel - Baradevi) - Michael McNab; went forward off the outside gate, caught a touch deep around the home turn and went to the line very well in fourth.

Owned by the Te Akau 2017 Breeding Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM), Byzantine was purchased by David Ellis for $200,000 from the draft of Little Avondale Stud at the 2017 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Yearling Sale.  At sale time, Ellis said: “He is a beautiful colt that we were exceptionally pleased to get for the price, as we had been trying to buy from this family and there is just so much class on the dam side.

“He reminds us of Hall of Fame”, (also by Savabeel and Group One winner of the Levin Classic for Te Akau trainers Stephen Autridge & Jamie Richards).

Heat 9 Maiden 3YO 800 metres (¾ lengths, 1 ¼ lengths 50.9)

Status Symbol (3 c Tavistock - Zsa Zsa Gabeel) - Cameron Lammas; positioned one off the rail in a bunch behind the leading division and although unable to match them, as a staying type over the sprint trip, he gained good education and was solid after the line.

Owned by the Te Akau 2016 Breeding Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM), Status Symbol was purchased by David Ellis for $460,000 from the draft of Cambridge Stud at the 2017 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Yearling Sale.  From a Zabeel mare, the cross with Tavistock has already left Victorian Derby (Gr. 1, 2500m) winner Tarzino and has a high stakes winners to runners ratio, and the further he goes the better he is likely to become.

Heat 10 Maiden 3YO 800 metres (neck, 2 lengths 50.4)

Why Ports (3 f Roc de Cambes - Sweet Torque) - Dennis Tan; co-lead a line of three on the inner and kept up a good gallop in the straight to finish in a photo for third.

Bred and owned by Ian Farrelly, her dam won four times up to 2170 metres and she appears a lovely staying filly in the making.

Heat 11 Maiden 3YO 800 metres (1 ¼ lengths, ½ a length 50.5)

3 g Mastercraftsman - Tenacity - Opie Bosson; posted three wide fifth in the open, sustained his run in the straight, changing stride and quickening late for second.

Bred and owned by Christopher Grace QSM, his dam, Tenacity (Zabeel), won five races to 1400 metres and a half-sister to Wellington Cup (Gr. 2, 2400m) winner Graphic (Volkraad).

Heat 12 Maiden 3YO 800 metres (1 ½ lengths, 1 ½ lengths 50.0)

3 f He's Remarkable - Andra - Michael McNab; worked up handy on a competitive pace and just came to the end of it over the final furlong.

Bred and owned by Mapperley Stud, she is out of the Zedative mare Andra who won two sprint races to 1100 metres in Australia, and already left four individual winners of eight races.
Heat 13 Maiden 3YO 800 metres (neck, 1 ¼ lengths 50.2)

3 f Cape Blanco - Singalong - Michael McNab; settled at the rear, seven lengths 600m and a staying bred filly she was looking for much further than the sprint trip.

Trained for breeder-owner Sir Patrick and Justine, Lady Hogan, Singalong carried their colours to victory in the Hawkes Bay Guineas (Gr. 3, 1400m), Desert Gold Stakes (Gr. 3, 1500m), and Cambridge Stud Sir Tristram Fillies Classic (Gr. 2, 2000m).

Heat 15 Maiden 4YO & Up 800 metres (4 ½ lengths, 2 ½ lengths 50.5)

4 m Pins - Lillet - Cameron Lammas; was back in the rear division and unable to make up leeway over the sprint trip.

In training for owners Francis Cook and Max Whitby, bred by Trelawney Stud, she is from a Zabeel half-sister to dual Group Three winner Martini Red (Red Ranson), who in turn is from Pernod (Centaine) the winner of eight races and $600,000 in Australia.

Heat 16 Maiden 3YO 1000 metres (½ a length, nose 1:05.0)

Jet Set (3 g Savabeel - Society Lady) - Wiremu Pinn; was patiently ridden at the rear, seven lengths 600m, tracked up a wall of horses in the straight and rider reported he would prefer better going to quicken.

Jet Set was purchased by David Ellis for $440,000 at the 2016 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Yearling Sale, from the draft of Blandford Lodge.  Ellis said: “The Savabeel - O'Reilly cross is proving incredibly successful and he fits the mould of a 2000 Guineas/Derby type, with a terrific nature, and although having to stretch a bit we were very pleased to secure him”.

A half-brother to stable-mate and Karaka Million placed colt Kingsman (Darci Brahma), his dam, Society Lady (O'Reilly), was a smart winner as a two-year-old, and grand-dam, Logical Lady (Sound Reason), left champion 3YO Miler Final Destination (O'Reilly), a dual Group One winner of the 1000 Guineas and Bayer Classic.

Heat 19 Maiden 3YO 1000 metres (1 ¼ lengths, 1 ¾ lengths 1:03.9)

3 f Fastnet Rock - Gipsy Countess - Opie Bosson; positioned three wide with cover in the second line, shuffled back and wide around the home turn and ran home in staying fashion for fifth.

In training for breeder-owner Raffles Dancers (NZ), her Sadler's Wells dam won over 2400 metres in the UK, and she has the attributes of a filly that in time will appreciate getting over ground.

Heat 20 Maiden 3YO 1000 metres (long head, ¾ lengths 1:04.5)

Full of Grace (3 g O'Reilly - Tuesday's Child) - Opie Bosson; travelled in a line of four contesting the pace, outsprinted on straightening but fought solidly for fifth and carried on in staying fashion after the line.

David Ellis purchased Full of Grace as a yearling for $110,000 at the 2016 NZB Premier Sale. Both Ellis and Cambridge Stud master Sir Patrick Hogan, who offered the colt for sale, loved him as a type and being out of a Zabeel (Sir Tristram) mare felt he had the makings to train on as a three-year-old and older horse.  He is bred on the same cross as champion mare Silent Achiever (O'Reilly), and from the family of champion stallion Redoute's Choice (Danehill).

Heat 21 Maiden 4YO & Up 1000 metres (½ a head, ¾ lengths 1:04.2)

Madam Monica (4 m Mastercraftsman - Lynisky) - Cameron Lammas; settled in the rearward division and kept improving wide from four lengths off the pace at the 600m, sustaining her run into fourth.

Bred and owned by Gavin & Shane Wealleans, Madam Monica was a touch unlucky not to record a victory in her first campaign, with two seconds and a third, and now back in work as a stronger and more mature mare.

Heat 22 Maiden 4YO & Up 1000 metres (¾ lengths, ¾ lengths 1:04.3)

Lucy Wyldstyle (4 m Savabeel - Lego) - Dennis Tan; worked forward into fourth on the outer, pushed down into the worst of the going on the inside in the straight but kept giving and finished in a photo for fourth.

Lucy Wyldstyle was purchased by David Ellis for $200,000 from the draft of Waikato Stud at the 2015 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Yearling Sale. She won her trial here in August, has matured into a lovely looking mare, and having dual Group One winner Legs (Pins) as her second dam ensures plenty of residual value.