Te Akau TV - First Group 1 of the NZ Season!
Date: 6 Sep 2024
Saddle up Team Te Akau fans! The first Group 1 of the NZ season is here!
Spring is in the air, and the Tarzino Trophy, the first Group 1 of the new season is upon us! Team Tangerine is ready for another action-packed weekend of racing, and there’s a whole lot to be excited about.
Our team has already hit the ground running with some outstanding performances, including a five-win Saturday last weekend. The highlight of the day was seeing our Group 1 Kiwi girl Quintessa win the Group 3 Cockram Stakes in Melbourne, a race we have won previously, with Probabeel (2021). She now heads to the Group 2 Let's Elope Stakes at Flemington on Saturday week. We also celebrated a Riccarton treble with The Victress (stable quinella with About Last Night), Fellini and Kabugee.
To Bravery Born got through a heavy track not really to his liking to score an impressive debut victory at Wanganui. His win continued Te Akau's success in the first 2YO race in Australasia for the season, and he's earned valuable prize money as a Karaka Millions' target beckons.
Midweek it was the turn of My Lips Are Sealed - she's our 14th winner for the season and what a strike rate for the team too - 4.21!
Now for the new weekend galloping our way:
The Hawkes Bay Spring Carnival, comprising three race days, is always eagerly awaited. This first day is traditionally Daffodil Day and is a fund raiser for the Cancer Society which Te Akau has supported every year since its inception.
It's a treat of a programme and our runners look strong in the three features:
- Move To Strike contests the Listed El Roca - Sir Colin Meads Trophy
- Captured By Love and Damask Rose line up in the Group 3 HB Thoroughbred Breeders Gold Trail Stakes
- All eyes will be on Skew Wiff, back to defend her Group 1 Westbury Stud Tarzino crown after her brave run in the Group 2 Waikato Stud Foxbridge Plate
Te Akau won all three features last year, and four races on the day, giving co-trainer Sam Bergerson his first Group 1 as a trainer. A clean sweep is a tough challenge on such a competitive day, but we will be doing our very best for a repeat.
Last year we donated $500 for each Te Akau winner on the day - so with the four winners, namely Tokyo Tycoon, Fashion Shoot, Quintessa and Skew Wiff - we were able to donate $2,000 to this wonderful organisation. We feel privileged to be able to contribute as the Cancer Society plays a vital role in the well-being and education of New Zealanders - and last year we challenged other stables to do likewise.
The TAB/Entain has thrown its considerable weight behind this wonderful initiative again. One horse in each race at Hastings will carry the daffodil colours and we have been asked if Damask Rose can don these for this event. If she wins, $2,000 will be donated to the Cancer Society. We have agreed to this request as we are sure every one of us knows someone, or has a family member, that has been, or is, impacted by cancer.
On the international front, our Melbourne stable has welcomed some new arrivals: travelling tourists It’s Business Time, Truth or Dare, and Stage ‘N’ Screen - all primed for their spring campaigns which we eagerly await.
This Sunday, we’ll be celebrating at the New Zealand Thoroughbred Horse of the Year Awards in Hamilton. With eight finalists across multiple categories, we're excited and hopeful to bring home awards that recognise the exceptional efforts of our team last season!
Good luck to all our owners and connections this weekend! As always, we’ll be cheering loudly for Team Tangerine as we chase more top results for our owners!