Te Akau TV - Melbourne Cup Week Preview

A new Group 3 winner, a special milestone for rider Michael McNab and five victories across four tracks made Labour Weekend one to celebrate for Team Te Akau. Now we look ahead to I Am Aria and Geegees Mistruth at Group 3 level on Derby Day at Flemington, our Saturday runners at Tauranga and the final preparations for New Zealand Cup Week.

Sword Of Stars and Queen’s Evidence delivered a Riccarton double, Top Shelf brought up Michael’s 1,000th New Zealand winner at Ellerslie, and Girt By Sea added an Australian victory at St Arnaud. Stella Ma Bella then made it five with a successful return at Te Rapa on Monday. Congratulations to all our winning owners!

In this week’s Te Akau TV, we catch up with our New Zealand Racing Manager Tom Murphy and Ben Gleeson from our Australian team as we look ahead to the weekend. Ben previews I Am Aria and Geegees Mistruth as they step out at Group 3 level at Flemington on Derby Day, while Tom brings us the latest from New Zealand. Tune in for the horses to follow and the weekend’s best bets.

SWORD OF STARS SHINES AT RICCARTON

Sword Of Stars took another important step in her spring preparation when winning the $100,000 Group 3 War Decree Stakes over 1400 metres at Riccarton.

Wiremu Pinn gave the daughter of Sword Of State a patient ride, settling her behind the leaders before finding clear running in the straight. Once the gap arrived, she accelerated strongly and had the race in hand before the winning post. The victory followed her Canterbury Belle Stakes placing and Timaru maiden win as she became Te Akau’s ninth winner of the War Decree Stakes.

Purchased by Sir David Ellis for $350,000 from Windsor Park Stud at Karaka, Sword Of Stars races for the Te Akau Stately Hall Racing Partnership. It was another exciting result for her owners, and particularly satisfying to see a daughter of our former Champion Two-Year-Old Sword Of State succeeding at stakes level.

Well done to Mark, Sam, Hunter and our Riccarton team. She holds nominations for both Guineas races, giving the team options as they consider her next assignment.

TOP SHELF DELIVERS A SPECIAL THOUSAND

Top Shelf’s victory at Ellerslie was memorable for more than one reason.

The Savabeel mare produced an impressive finish to win the $65,000 Elsdon Park Open Handicap over 1600 metres, giving jockey Michael McNab his 1,000th New Zealand winner.

Michael settled the mare comfortably behind the pace before bringing her into the clear. She moved up strongly in the straight and raced away, continuing a preparation that has already included another Ellerslie win and a Listed placing at Matamata.

It was a proud moment for Michael, and lovely to see him reach such a significant milestone aboard a Te Akau-trained horse. He has been a familiar face at our Matamata trackwork and an important part of many winning days for our owners.

Congratulations, Michael, and to the Fell family and Top Shelf’s fellow owners. Their patience with this mare is being rewarded, with further stakes opportunities firmly on the agenda.

QUEEN’S EVIDENCE COMPLETES A SOUTHERN DOUBLE

Queen’s Evidence also rewarded a patient ride from Wiremu at Riccarton, winning the Rating 65 over 1200 metres.

From the inside draw, the King’s Legacy mare enjoyed an economical run behind a strong pace. Wiremu waited until the closing stages to ask for her effort, and she finished decisively to score by a length.

The win was an encouraging second-up performance for her Te Akau Lineage Racing Partnership owners. With suitable races available during Cup Week, she heads towards November with winning form and the benefit of settling into our southern stable early.

GIRT BY SEA’S FIRST WIN

Across the Tasman, Girt By Sea broke through at just her second start, winning the Maiden 1550 metres at St Arnaud.

Rider Linda Meech made good use of the Ocean Park mare’s early speed, working across from her draw to take the lead. When challenged, Girt By Sea found enough to hold her advantage and finish the job. A sister to four-time Group 1 winner Tofane and a half-sister to Group 1 winner No Compromise, she had started her career with a second placing at Kilmore.

Congratulations to her Glentree Racing owners, Mark, Ben and the Cranbourne team, including strapper Hayley Morton. It was pleasing to see the work put into her education rewarded so early in her racing career.

STELLA MA BELLA RETURNS IN STYLE

Stella Ma Bella kept the winners coming on Labour Weekend, resuming with success in the $40,000 NZB Ready to Run Trainers’ Series Rating 65 over 1300 metres at Te Rapa.

Michael McNab settled the Contributer mare midfield before bringing her into contention on the turn. She kept finding in the straight, finishing strongly to record her second win from five starts. A full sister to our Group 1 winner Campionessa, Stella Ma Bella was bred and is raced by Simms Davison. The team believes she will continue to improve with time and appreciate further ground as her preparation progresses.

TWO GROUP 3 ASSIGNMENTS AT FLEMINGTON

Saturday brings an important afternoon for our Cranbourne team, with I Am Aria and Geegees Mistruth representing the stable on Derby Day.

I Am Aria contests the A$240,000 Group 3 TAB ONE POOL Vanity Stakes over 1400 metres. Blake Shinn takes the ride from barrier 11, carrying 56kg. It is another opportunity for the filly in stakes company, and we look forward to hearing Ben’s assessment of her preparation and the Flemington assignment.

Geegees Mistruth lines up in the A$240,000 Group 3 Asahi Super Dry Sprint over 1100 metres, with William Pike aboard from barrier 14, carrying 59kg.

Our Group 1-winning mare tackles the Flemington straight as Melbourne’s biggest week of racing begins. Best of luck to the connections of both horses, and to Mark, Ben and our Cranbourne team.

SATURDAY RACING AT TAURANGA

Saturday’s Tauranga runners are She Suits Herself in the Rating 65 over 2100 metres and Emma Twigg in the Rating 65 over 1300 metres. Hayley Hassman rides both.

ELSEWHERE IN VICTORIA

Friday’s entries include Golden Pulse and Precambrian at Kilmore, with Shemesh and Berardo at Pakenham.

Opunake holds an entry at Traralgon on Saturday. Sunday’s Mornington nominations include Kiss Me In Paris, Berardo, Lyrics ’N’ Song and Precambrian.

Looking ahead to Melbourne Cup Day, Tolaga Bay takes on the Listed Crown Amanda Elliott over 1400 metres at Flemington.

Several horses are dual nominated at this point, with final plans to be determined.

THE COUNTDOWN TO NZ CUP WEEK

Sword Of Stars’ victory has added to the anticipation as we head into New Zealand Cup Week. With nominations in both the Group 1 Barneswood Farm New Zealand 1000 Guineas on 7 November and the Group 1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand 2000 Guineas on 14 November, her final target remains a decision for the team.

System Of Play finished sixth in Monday’s Group 2 Sarten Memorial at Te Rapa. He will contest the Group 1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai NZ 2000 Guineas on NZ Cup Day, while Asturia and Sweetest Thing are confirmed for the Group 1 Barneswood Farm NZ 1000 Guineas.

With Melbourne Cup Week beginning and Riccarton’s feature meetings just around the corner, there is plenty of racing ahead for our owners to enjoy.

Thank you for your continued support. Congratulations again to our winning connections, and best of luck to everyone with a runner this weekend.

Go the tangerine!