Te Akau Te Teko Trials' Report

Te Akau Racing trainers Stephen Autridge & Jamie Richards seized the opportunity to present a good number of horses at the first set of trials for the new season on Tuesday 1 August at Te Teko. The weather was cloudy and generally quite cool, although clear at times overhead.

“Te Teko trials have always been an ideal starting point for the Te Akau horses leading into spring, and most of the horses performed very well on what was quite testing track conditions,” Richards said.

“They were just there for a nice day out; a chance to have a look around and to improve their fitness towards racing, and we are certainly pleased with how all the horses are doing in the early stages of their preparations.”

Track: Heavy10, rail out 7 metres

Heat 2 Open 1000 metres (1 ½ lengths, neck 1:04.5)

Summer Monsoon (3 c Stratum - Princess Narine) - Cameron Lammas; began smartly from barrier seven to lead, travelled comfortably and kept up a strong gallop for second.

A colt with good gate speed, he was very professional through his two-year-old season, winning and finishing second in the Matamata Slipper (Listed, 1200m) from five starts, and looks set for a first-rate campaign.   Owned by the Te Akau 2016 Sydney No. 1 Breeding Syndicate, Summer Monsoon was purchased by Te Akau Principal David Ellis for $200,000, from the draft of Newgate Farm, at the Sydney Easter Yearling Sale.

Griffin (3 g Iffraaj - Double Elle) - Michael McNab; was easy off the outside gate, five lengths from the leader at the 600m and not asked to do much in a quiet outing.

Griffin, the brother to New Zealand Derby (Gr. 1, 2400m) and Rosehill Guineas (Gr. 1, 2000m) winner Gingernuts (Iffraaj), made the best possible commencement to his career when impressively winning his only start as a two-year-old for the The Te Akau Slam Dunk Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis).
He was purchased by David Ellis for $90,000 from the New Zealand Bloodstock online auction site Gavelhouse.

Dame Margo Fonteyn (4 m High Chaparral - Dancing Forever) - Opie Bosson; settled last, as a staying mare over a sprint trip, and rolled home back in the field.

Winner of two and stakes placed when third in the Sunline Vase (Gr. 3, 2100m), she provided Fortuna Syndications with their 100th winner trained by Te Akau in December last year. David Ellis thought that as a yearling filly she was “particularly good buying at the price” when outlaying $80,000 at the 2015 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Sale, from the draft of Cambridge Stud.

Heat 3 Open 1000 metres (neck, 3 lengths 1:05.6)

Beaumarchais (4 g Savabeel - Almaviva) - Michael McNab; was sixth and five lengths off the lead passing the 600m, worked up three wide and sustained a solid finish for third.

The winner of two before a slashing performance for fourth to stable-mate Gingernuts in the New Zealand Derby, 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.

Imperium (6 g Encosta De Lago - Ethereal) - Wiremu Pinn; settled at the rear, as expected by a staying horse over a sprint trip, but improved on the inner and really picked up solidly in the straight to finish just behind the leaders.

A close third in the New Zealand Cup (Gr. 3, 3200m) last November at Riccarton, he will follow a similar path to contesting the race again. From the Melbourne Cup star mare Ethereal (Rhythm), a four-time Group One winner who earned over $6 million in prize money, he was purchased by David Ellis for $425,000, from the draft of Pencarrow Stud, at the 2013 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Yearling Sale.

Gingernuts (4 g Iffraaj - Double Elle) - Opie Bosson; was given time to settle off a wide gate, six lengths astern at the 600m, and without any urging he completed an ideal first up trial performance.

A finalist for Champion Three-Year-Old, Champion Stayer, and Horse of the Year, after winning both the New Zealand Derby at Ellerslie, and Rosehill Guineas in Sydney, Gingernuts was purchased by Te Akau principal David Ellis for $42,500, from the draft of Stainley Park, at the 2015 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale and has won nearly $1.1 million in prize money.

Tiffany's Time (4 m Alamosa - Tinsel Time) - Tegan Newman; was slow to begin and rearward, drawn to the outside in the straight and ran home like a mare looking for much further.

Consistent in four starts before winning her Maiden, she was bred by Greg Tomlinson (Nearco Stud) and offered by Bradbury Park at the 2015 NZB Select Yearling Sale where David Ellis bought her for $55,000.

Heat 4 Open 1000 metres (neck, neck 1:05.8)

Its Our Showtime (5 m Showcasing - Be Inspired) - Opie Bosson; travelled camped on the two leaders throughout, was clear to challenge at will in the straight and never came off the bridle to win very well.

A talented winner of two races, with more to come, she was purchased privately by David Ellis from owner James Chapman, at Jamieson Park, for John Galvin's Fortuna Syndications.

Grazia (5 m Savabeel - Trocair) - Tegan Newman; worked forward off the outside gate to position three wide in fifth, was given plenty of room around the home turn and sustained a terrific run to keep closing for second.

Ending her previous campaign on a high, after winning three of her last five starts, David Ellis purchased Grazia as a yearling for $100,000, from the draft of Little Avondale Stud, at the 2014 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Sale. Bred by Christopher Grace, she is a sister to Te Akau trained Group Three winner Shillelagh and Brisbane Cup (Gr. 2, 2400m) winner Tullamore.

Wide Awake (4 g Savabeel - Kay's Awake) - Dennis Tan; began well, patiently handled in fifth on the inner and he made good inroads, in stylish fashion, looming into third.

A winner at a mile, and just starting to hit his straps, Wide Awake was purchased by David Ellis for $150,000, from the draft of Monovale Farm, at the 2015 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Yearling Sale. Te Akau had already tasted success with his older siblings Alert and Rise ‘N' Shine, both by Zabeel (Sir Tristram).

Cabaret (5 m Showcasing - Something Majic) - Michael McNab; got back on the inner and held together near the rail in the straight.

Bred by Nearco Stud and owned by Stan Painton, she is a mare looking to recapture the form she showed when winning on heavy footing over 1200 metres.

Heat 6 2YO 620 metres (head, ½ a head 38.8)

Quattro Katie (2 f Zoustar - Kakakakatie) - Cameron Lammas (pictured below inside); pushed up from barrier two to hold a leading position on the inner, quickened when asked and showed good competitiveness in her first trial to win nicely.

Quattro Katie was purchased by David Ellis for $150,000, from the draft of Baramul Stud, in January this year at the Gold Coast Yearling Sale. Her sire, Zoustar (Northern Meteor), trained by Chris Waller, was sold to stud for $14 million in the week leading up to his victory in the Coolmore Stud Stakes (Gr. 1, 1200m) at Flemington - providing jockey Jim Cassidy with his 100th Group One winner. Zoustar won 6 of his 9 starts, including two at Group One level and two Group Two.

Avantage (2 f Fastnet Rock - Asavant) - Opie Bosson (pictured below finishing second); settled just in behind the leaders, improved into the clear 250 metres out, showing a good turn of foot to range on the leader and taken a hold of near home to finish on the bridle in second.

David Ellis bought Avantage in January this year for $210,000 at the NZB Premier Yearling Sale, from the Oaks Stud draft. By champion Australian sire Fastnet Rock (Danehill), her dam, Asavant, was a very good filly that won one of the best races in the New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year Series, the Warstep Stakes (Listed, 2000m).

Heat 7 2YO 620 metres (short neck, neck 38.5)

2 f Burgundy - A La Votre - Cameron Lammas; began well to travel handily, ranged to challenge mid-straight and showed plenty of endeavour to finish virtually on terms with the winner.

From the talented three time winning mare A La Votre (Volksraad), already a handy producer, the filly is owned and bred by Aussie & Leslie Browne, Karyn Fenton-Ellis (MNZM), Aaron Jones and Stephen Turner.

Pinulimate (2 f Pins - Lost In Dubai) - Wiremu Pinn; was a touch green in behind the leaders before angling clear, four wide into the straight, and unleashed a strong finish for a close third once balanced up in centre track.

Purchased as yearling for $36,000 by David Ellis, from the draft of Monovale Farm, at the 2017 New Zealand Bloodstock Select Sale, she displayed plenty of heart in her first trial - as did the other three two-year-old debutantes.

Heat 8 Maiden 3YO 820 metres (nose, 2 ½ lengths 52.8)

Heart Of Courage (3 g Fastnet Rock - Myrrh) - Wiremu Pinn (pictured below); worked forward to be three wide near the lead, quickened to a handy advantage at the 200m and remained strong to get the win - providing Apprentice Pinn with his first trial win, one of two on the day.

Owned by the Te Akau 2016 Breeding Syndicate, he is a brother to Heroic Valour who finished Second Top Two-Year-Old in the 2015/16 NZ Free Handicaps after being unbeaten in three starts including the $200,000 Diamond Stakes (Gr. 1, 1200m). Continuing his form at three, Heroic Valour resumed with a listed race win, finished third in the 2000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m), plus three other stakes placed performances and finished a highly creditable fourth in the weight-for-age $200,000 NRM Sprint (Gr. 1, 1400m) in February at Te Rapa. Impressed by the deeds of Heroic Valour, David Ellis purchased Heart of Courage for $510,000 from the draft of Curraghmore Stud at the 2016 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Yearling Sale.

Piper (3 f O'Reilly - Invermoray) - Opie Bosson; began well to position outside the leader and not asked for too much when tying up in the heavy ground over the concluding stages.

Put aside after finishing second on debut as a two-year-old, her owners Shelley Frost and Raywyn Ramage have bred three generations of the family and look to have a very promising filly on their hands.

Witchery (3 f Savabeel - Now The World) - Michael McNab; was posted wide in midfield off the outside gate, five lengths off the lead at the 600m and the rider sat quietly in the straight.

Having her first trial, Witchery is in training for Gerry Harvey (Westbury Stud). Her dam is by Golden Slipper winning Champion sire of 90 stakes' winners Flying Spur (Danehill).

Heat 9 Maiden 3YO 820 metres (½ a length, head 51.9)

Poppin' Bubbles (3 f Rock ‘n' Pop - Princess Caga) - Tegan Newman; got back five lengths off the lead passing the 600m, angled widest on straightening and got home very well for second.

Purchased privately by David Ellis, she is a lovely example of a juvenile filly by this sire, who won the 2000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m) for the Te Akau Rock ‘N' Pop Syndicate. She was a smart trial winner at two, on better ground (Dead4) at Matamata, and put aside after a tidy sixth at her only juvenile start.

Inspire Me (3 f Pour Moi - Be Inspired) - Dennis Tan; made ground wide when looking to secure a better spot from the 600m and tucked in behind runners in the straight, never handling the heavy going.

Bred by Jamieson Park, the half-sister to talented stable-mate Its Our Showtime (Showcasing) was purchased by David Ellis for $170,000 at the 2016 NZB Premier Yearling Sale for the Te Akau Inspired Syndicate. She is out of a Zabeel mare and shapes as a filly to appreciate more distance and better footing.

Heat 10 Maiden 3YO 820 metres (3 ½ lengths, 1 ½ length 52.1)

Jet Set (3 g Savabeel - Society Lady) - Cameron Lammas; began well before steadying for cover and finished off nicely for fifth when angled clear in the straight.

He 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.

Remington (3 g Darci Brahma - Kudamm) - Tegan Newman; got back in running and was given an easy time to work home near the rail.

From the impressive winner Kudamm (Cape Cross), who notched three of her four wins over 1600 metres, he was purchased a yearling by David Ellis for $75,000, from the draft of Pencarrow Stud, at the 2016 New Zealand Bloodstock Select Sale.

Heat 11 Maiden 3YO 820 metres (1 length, 1 ½ lengths 52.5)

Lady Zeraph (3 f Makfi - Zatiger) - Dennis Tan; settled off the pace on the inner, five lengths back at the 600m and got home solidly nearer the rail for fourth.

She was purchased by David Ellis for $120,000 at the 2016 NZB Premier Yearling Sale.  Ellis said: “She is a very athletic filly and being a late foal, with a staying pedigree, will continue to improve as she matures. She strikes us as the type of filly that has the quality to prepare for the 1000 Guineas and train on to an Oaks distance”. From the draft of Wellfield Stud, who raced her dam Zatiger, by Zabeel, she was an impressive three-time winner over a mile and in turn has already left Billy Britain (One Cool Cat) a winner of five races up to 2200 metres in Singapore, and Tiger Tim (Alamosa) who has won four and shapes as a notable staying horse in New Zealand.

3 f Commands - Donna Sienna - Cameron Lammas; was wide in midfield off the outside gate, five lengths astern at the 600m and although not handling the heavy ground she worked home for fifth.

Purchased as a weanling at the 2015 Gold Coast National Weanling Sale, she is in training for owner Tony Rider.

Silver Missile (3 g Smart Missile - Ocelot) - Tegan Newman; got well back in running, ten lengths off the lead at the 600m and made up ground stylishly wide on the track.

He is striking grey in colour and now matured enough to have a promising three-year-old season.
By a champion first season sire in Australia, Smart Missile (Fastnet Rock), he was purchased by David Ellis for $140,000 at the 2016 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, from the draft of Arrowfield Stud, and owned by the Te Akau Silver Missile Syndicate.

Heat 12 Maiden 3YO 820 metres (head, 2 lengths 52.0)

Swing Note (3 f Encosta De Lago - Andallthatjazz) - Michael McNab; settled three wide with cover off a wide gate, swept up quickly nearing the home turn and kept galloping solidly, without serious urging, for fourth.

Earned a start in the Sires' Produce Stakes (Gr. 1, 1400m) won by stable-mate and Champion Two-Year-Old finalist Melody Belle (Commands) and looks to have a good season ahead of her.
She was purchased by David Ellis for $60,000 from the draft of Turangga Farm at the 2016 Gold Coast Yearling Sale, a sale where he also bought Champion Two-Year-Old finalist Gold Fever (Savabeel).

Miss Scandinavia (3 f Smart Missile - Miss Helsinki) - Opie Bosson; was back amongst runners, tracking up behind the leading division in the straight but not really enjoying the heavy ground.

Owned by the 2016 Te Akau Scandinavia Syndicate, she was purchased by David Ellis, from the draft of Arrowfield Stud, at the Sydney Easter Yearling Sale.  She has an exceptional pedigree: her grand-dam Miss Finland (Redoute's Choice) was the Champion 2YO & 3YO Filly in Australia, and winner of five races at Group One level including the Golden Slipper and VRC Oaks.

3 g Azamour - Franny - Wiremu Pinn; got back on the inner, angled wide around the home turn and kept making ground in the straight to be doing his best work through the line.

In training for the Inner Mongolia Horse Industry (NZ), he has a truly international pedigree. His unraced dam is by champion UK miler Selkirk, grand-dam by world champion sire Sadler's Wells (second only in stakes winners (323) to Danehill (349)), and third dam by English Derby winner Shirley Heights.

Heat 13 Maiden 3YO 820 metres (4 lengths, ¾ lengths 51.2)

Te Akau Shark (3 g Rip Van Winkle - Bak Da Chief) - Tegan Newman; worked up camped on the leaders, but steadied after over-racing and ran home solidly for third once balanced in the straight.

Purchased by David Ellis for $230,000 at the New Zealand Bloodstock 2016 Ready to Run Sale, from the draft of Lyndhurst Farm, he displayed precocity for a young horse from a strong staying family when finishing second in his only trial as a two-year-old and shows good competitiveness to race.

Age Of Fire (3 g Fastnet Rock - Dragon's Tail) - Opie Bosson; travelled wide off the outside gate, working home solidly for fifth with plenty of improvement to come.

Owned by the Te Akau 2016 Sydney Breeding Syndicate No. 2, he was purchased by David Ellis for $400,000 at the Sydney Easter Yearling Sale, from Erinvale Thoroughbreds. A brother to stable-mate and race winner Fastnet Fire, he is a cracking colt by a Champion sire, from a daughter of Champion sire Galileo.  Although unraced as a two-year-old, he showed good ability and a powerful action at the trials, and judging by his further strengthening and maturity he looks set for a promising campaign.

Mongolianconqueror (3 g Ocean Park - Queen Rania) - Michael McNab; got back in running, improved quickly nearer the inner around the home turn and not asked for too much more in the testing ground.

Purchased for $130,000 by David Ellis from the draft of Kiltannon Stables at the 2016 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sales, he has continued to improve with the experience of three trials as a two-year-old and appears set to show the benefits as a three-year-old.

Heat 14 Maiden 3YO 820 metres (1 ¼ lengths, 3 ½ lengths 52.0)

Wandering Eye (3 g Commands - Adulterer) - Michael McNab (pictured below); began smartly to lead, bowled along with a distinctive low head carriage, quickened when asked at the 200m to an advantage and won well.

Purchased by David Ellis for $130,000 from the draft of Woodside Park Stud at the 2016 Gold Coast Yearling Sale, he is a horse that continues to improve at each time of asking through the trials stage and now looking to transfer the ability on race day.

Coup Bradman (3 g Darci Brahma - Bosphorus) - Opie Bosson; jumped well to sit outside the leader and never had it out of his sights in a good performance for second.

Purchased by David Ellis for $47,500 at the 2016 NZB Select Yearling Sale, from the draft of Wentwood Grange, and raced by himself, Ray Coupland, and breeder Greg Jones.  His dam, Bosphorus (Encosta De Lago), also trained by Te Akau, is a half-sister to Futurity Stakes (Gr. 1, 1600m) winner Aqua D'Amore (Danehill) who scored nine times from 1200 to 2400 metres with over NZ$2m in stakes, and her first foal (Coup Bradman) also shapes to make his mark over ground.

Organza (3 g Pentire - Organdy) - Tegan Newman; got across to a nice position in fourth and ran home solidly, wide on the track for third.

Purchased by David Ellis for $60,000 at the 2016 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Yearling Sale, from the draft of Rich Hill Stud, he is owned by the Te Akau Organza Syndicate. A half-brother to Easter Handicap (Gr. 1, 1600m) winner Time Keeper (Stravinsky), he is from a family that appreciates longer distances and continues to improve as they mature, and he showed the benefit of time at his first trial outing as a three-year-old.

Heat 15 Maiden 4YO & Up 820 metres (1 length, dead-heat 52.4)

Zavistic (4 g Zacinto - Miss Avalon) - Tegan Newman; went forward from a wide gate to race three wide on the pace, held a good line around the home turn and kept up a resilient gallop to win well - the first trial win for new Te Akau apprentice Newman.

By the sire of 2000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m) winner Ugo Foscolo (Zacinto), he is a half-brother to Champion Two-Year-Old Vespa (Elusive City) and from the draft of Valachi Downs he was purchased for $100,000 by David Ellis at the 2015 NZB Premier Yearling Sale. He campaigned very consistently to record four thirds in as many starts as a two-year-old, was pretty quiet through his three-year-old year after a mishap, but certainly showed he is back in the groove and ready to race.

More Than Fast (5 g Fastnet Rock - Morgalicious) - Dennis Tan; was a stride slow on the inner, but kept improving throughout and sustained a strong finish to dead-heat for second.

Surely the most consistent Maiden galloper in the country, with four seconds from as many starts, he looks even stronger this time in and ready to break through. A lovely type of horse bought by David Ellis for $200,000 at the 2014 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Yearling Sale, from the draft of Curraghmore Stud, he has experienced his share of setbacks along the way but keeps giving indication of good things to come.

Heat 16 Maiden 4YO & Up 820 metres (1 ¼ lengths, 3 ½ lengths 52.2)

Epic Tale (4 g Snitzel - Mini Tales) - Wiremu Pinn (pictured below); was on speed outside the leader, advantage 200m and drew clear over the concluding stages for a dominant win, the second for the Te Akau apprentice..

Owned by the Te Akau 2015 Breeding Syndicate, along with Second Top Two-Year-Old in the 2015/16 NZ Free Handicaps Heroic Valour (Fastnet Rock), his sire Snitzel (Redoute's Choice) is “the sire on fire”. His progeny set a record (35) for individual two-year-old winners last season in Australia, and he led the general and 3YO premierships as well as setting a new prize money record. Epic Tale was purchased for $400,000 by David Ellis, from the draft of Lyndhurst Farm, at Karaka, and while unraced until three years old he still shapes as a horse to reward his owners with wins.

Winehouse (4 m No Excuse Needed - Singing Star) - Cameron Lammas; settled off the pace in fifth and not comfortable to quicken in the heavy ground she was held together just off the leaders.

Purchased from the Mapperley Stud draft by David Ellis for $100,000 at the 2015 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Yearling Sale, she is shared in ownership by Waikato Stud and Vermair Racing (former NZ cricket caption Brendon McCullum).  Her dam, Singing Star, was prepared by ‘Hall of Fame' trainer Jim Gibbs. She displayed an impressive turn of foot in winning eight times, from 1400m and included her richest prize in the Waikato Cup (Gr. 2, 2400m). Winehouse has taken time to mature, but now has the makings to emulate her dam by getting over ground on reasonable footing.

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