Te Akau Te Teko Trials' Report

Te Akau trialled horses at Te Teko on Tuesday 25 September -

Weather: fine, track: Dead6, rail: out 7 metres

Heat 1 Open 820 metres (1 length, 5 ½ lengths 48.3)

Pinot Grey (3 f Burgundy - Streaming) - Chelsea Burdan; bobbled as the gates opened, got back on the inner as a result and just out for a quiet trial she did everything else fine.

From the draft of Cambridge Stud at the 2017 New Zealand Bloodstock Select Yearling Sale, purchased by David Ellis for $145,000 and owned by the Te Akau Pinot Grey Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM).  By the five time stakes winning stallion Burgundy (Redoute's Choice), trained by Te Akau, a three-quarter brother to Darci Brahma (Danehill), this filly is the first foal of an unraced Stravinsky mare, from a family that has produced plenty of two-year-old winners.

Pinot Grey won her only trial before scoring impressively on debut as a two-year-old. Her subsequent three starts were highly commendable: finishing fourth in the Ashford Lodge Stakes (Listed, 1100m), then third and fifth respectively to stable-mate and Champion Two-Year-Old Avantage (Fastnet Rock), the latter in the $1m Karaka Million (Listed, 1200m).
Heat 2 Open 820 metres (5 ¾ lengths, head 49.1)

She's Not Bad (4 m He's Remarkable - Andra) - Opie Bosson; was easy off the outside gate, improved to fourth but never really let down and the rider suggested she was not happy on the shifty ground.

She showed to be an improving filly at the trials before a stylish win on debut in March at Avondale, and then spelled.  Bred at Mapperley Stud, in training for Simms Davison (Mapperley Stud) and Chittick Investments, She's Not Bad is out of the Zedative mare Andra that won two sprint races to 1100 metres in Australia, and already left five individual winners of nine races.
Heat 3 Open 1010 metres (1 ¾ lengths, head 1:02.1)

Beaumarchais (5 g Savabeel - Almaviva) - Opie Bosson; settled beyond mid on the inner, seventh and five lengths 600m, he picked up nicely in the straight to finish close up in fifth.

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. Up in ratings following his Derby performance, he placed twice in a handful of starts at four and getting ready to resume.

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 (Mgr: DC Ellis).
Heat 4 Open 1010 metres (½ a head, 1 ¼ lengths 1:02.3)

Elegant D'oro (5 m Medaglia d'Oro - Elegant Fashion) - Nik Bakar; began well before easing back in seventh, eight lengths 600m, and held together she picked up nicely for sixth in a quiet trial outing.

Twice a winner to 2100 metres in her last campaign, she is owned and bred by Dr. Gene Tsoi, for whom Te Akau trained New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year King's Rose (Redoute's Choice), a multiple Group One performer and winner who accumulated $1.3m in prize money.   Her dam is the 2003 Hong Kong Derby winner Elegant Fashion (Danewin). As a three-year-old in Australia, Elegant Fashion recorded four of her eight career wins including the Moonee Valley Oaks (Gr. 2, 1600m). In Hong Kong, she also won the Group Two International Cup and Group Two Chairman's Trophy for total stake earnings of $A6.6m.
Heat 5 Open 1010 metres (½ a length, 2 ½ lengths 1:01.2)

Motivation (4 g Mastercraftsman - Tenacity) - Opie Bosson; was handily placed, improved to third at the 400m and kept up a solid gallop for third, pleasing the rider.

A winner on debut and fourth next time out in the Trevor Eagle Memorial (Listed, 1500m) at Ellerslie, he was 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 7 2YO 610 metres (nose, 1 ½ lengths 35.8)

Boutonniere (2 g Burgundy - Bouquet) - Opie Bosson; began well to position handy, clear on straightening and pleased the rider stretching out very well for second.

It was a very good first trial. His sire, Burgundy (Redoute's Choice), was bought by David Ellis, won five stakes races and his first three two-year-olds to race all won on debut. Dam, Bouquet (My Halo), showed good speed when winning and had three to race for three winners.

From the draft of Phoenix Park at the 2018 Karaka Book 1 Sale, purchased by Ellis for $80,000, and owned by the Te Akau Buttonhole Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM).

Xplosion (2 f Showcasing - Xpress) - Jordan Nason; missed the start, got back as a result, worked through between horses to finish off well for fourth and was strong through the line.

Another very good first trial, Xplosion was purchased by David Ellis for $115,000 at the 2018 Karaka Book 2 Sale, from the draft of Nala Park, and owned by Te Akau Xplosive Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM).

She is the year younger sister of Wakefield Stakes (Gr. 2, 1200m) winner Xpression, who, in an exciting tussle, pushed the Te Akau Champion Two-Year-Old Avantage (Fastnet Rock) to a short head in the Gold Trail Stakes (Gr. 3, 1200m) last Saturday at Hastings. The breeding cross certainly is a good one.
Heat 8 2YO 610 metres (1 ½ lengths, ½ a length 35.7)

2 g Burgundy - Tad Infinitum - Jordan Nason; put himself right there from barrier one, balanced up in the straight and never out of second gear to record a smart win.

A big horse, he showed raw ability in an eye-catching first trial. Bred and raced by the Te Akau Infinitum Syndicate, dam Tad Infinitum (Traditionally), from the family of New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year Justa Tad (Istidaad), winner of the 1000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m) and NZ Oaks (Gr. 1, 2400m), was purchased by David Ellis as a yearling for $20,000.

Lightning Field (2 g Deep Field - Claudine) - Opie Bosson; got back in running, travelled up well wide out around the home turn and sustained a strong finish for second.

Another very good first trial, Lightning Field was purchased by David Ellis for $95,000 at the 2018 Karaka Book 1 Sale, from the draft of Henley Park, and owned by the Te Akau Fine Field Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM).

His sire, Deep Field, was a highly regarded Group Two winner in the Australia, by the ill-fated emerging stallion Northern Meteor (Encosta De Lago) who has since proved a huge loss to the Australian stallion ranks. Lightning Field is line-bred to some terrific sires: Sir Tristram, Mr. Prospector, and Northern Dancer.

At the time of purchase, Ellis said: “He's a very good walking, athletic, horse from a good two-year-old family. The sort we can break in nice and early, trial in August/September, and prepare for two-year-old racing. He's a horse we considered very good buying at $95,000.”
Heat 10 Maiden 3YO 820 metres (nose, nose 49.3)

Irish Heart (3 f O'Reilly - Rehab) - Nik Bakar; ridden very quietly and a clear last early, she picked up widest with a strong finish to get her nose in front on the line. It was a very good first trial.

From the draft of Waikato Stud at the 2017 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Yearling Sale, purchased by David Ellis for $135,000, she is owned by the Te Akau Irish Heart Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM).

The first foal from an unraced mare, her grand-dam, Prickle (Pins), was not only an impressive winner but also a terrific producer, while O'Reilly (Last Tycoon) was a multiple award winning champion stallion.  Rehab (Fast ‘N' Famous) is a half-sister to Queensland Derby (Gr. 1, 2400m) winner Brambles (Savabeel), a winner of six races from 1600m to 2400m, and Lopov (Savabeel), a stakes winner of the Kalgoorlie Cup and seven races from 1300m to 2500m.
Heat 11 Maiden 3YO 820 metres (neck, ¾ lengths 49.6)

Mongolian Angel (3 f I Am Invincible - Pipette) - Opie Bosson; began well to situate handily and kept giving in a genuine manner to finish close up.

Purchased as a yearling by David Ellis for $150,000 at the New Zealand Bloodstock 2017 Premier Sale, from the draft of Windsor Park, she is owned by the Inner Mongolia Rider Horse Industry and the Te Akau Angel Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis).

I Am Invincible was leading first season sire in Australia, by winners and earnings, and early in his stallion career has sired over 60 stakes winners.  Her dam Pipette (Pivotal) won five races in Europe, and grand-dam Amaryllis, by legendary stallion Sadler's Wells, was a three time winner in Europe.
Heat 13 Maiden 3YO 820 metres (½ head, 1 ¾ lengths 49.3)

3 g Epaulette - Highlight - Chelsea Burdan; was handy but coursed wide from an outside gate and kept up a big run to claim them on the line. It was a sizeable performance to win.

By the multiple Group One winning sprinter Epaulette (Commands), standing at Darley in Australia, he is the first foal of a High Chaparral (Sadler's Wells) mare that won five races from 1400m - 1900m, from a good producing dam line that includes talented third dam Superjet (Jetball).
Heat 14 Maiden 3YO 820 metres (½ a head, 1 ¾ lengths 49.3)

Faltonius (3 g High Chaparral - Fontonia) - Jordan Nason; got back in the field, second last and eight lengths 600m, and a type looking for further he worked home nicely on the inside of runners. It was an encouraging first trial.

From the draft of Lyndhurst Farm at the 2017 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Sale, purchased by David Ellis for $230,000, and owned by the Te Akau Poetic Justice Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis).

By High Chaparral (Sadler's Wells), a horse that won 10 of his 13 starts and became somewhat of a sire sensation when he stood in New Zealand, the sire of So You Think, Dundeel, Tivaci, and a multitude of Group One winners, Faltonius is the first foal of Hussonet mare Fontonia, a daughter of Doomben Cup (Gr. 1, 2020m) winner Cinque Cento (Nothin' Leica Dane).
Heat 21 Maiden 4YO & Up 1010 metres (¾ lengths, 1 ¼ lengths 1:02.5)

Jet Set (4 g Savabeel - Society Lady) - Opie Bosson; was patiently ridden back in the field, six lengths 600m, and tracked up behind runners in the straight to finish close at the line.

From the draft of Blandford Lodge at the 2016 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Yearling, purchased by David Ellis for the Te Akau Jet Set Syndicate.

A half-brother to Karaka Million placed colt Kingsman (Darci Brahma), also Group One placed in Singapore, 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 (1600m) and Bayer Classic (1600m).

Heat 24 Maiden 1200 metres (1 ¾ lengths, 2 ¼ lengths 1:15.3)

3 f Burgundy - Trove - Opie Bosson; was held together three wide in the open, fifth, and stuck on gamely in the run home to finish fourth.

Bred and owned by Ken Browne, she is a half-sister to Thrive (Colombia) which he raced with Te Akau principal David Ellis to win five races including the Merial Ancare Metric Mile (Gr. 3, 1600m). A mare that appreciated yielding ground.