Te Akau TV Weekend Preview
Date: 25 Oct 2024
The Stakes Are High This Long Weekend!
It’s that time of year as the Te Akau team continues to build momentum across our New Zealand and Australian stables – there are plenty of horses you know, and some you don't know of yet, that are standing by, almost ready to get their new campaigns underway. Training horses is all about precision timing and having them peak just at the right time – it's an art as well as a science – with huge racing assignments coming our way.
Last week brought plenty of reasons to celebrate. Although the racing weather gods were not on our side in Australia, we still had some fantastic performances on Kiwi soil. At Ellerslie, Legally Binding delivered a commanding win, while at Otaki, yet another of our 'babies' continued our phenomenal run of success with 2YOs. The highly anticipated debut of Cool Aza Rene did not disappoint, as the filly cruised to an easy victory, just like her dad did!
We are very chuffed that a Te Akau purchased and trained 2YO has become her sire Cool Aza Beel's first winner – we knew Cool Aza Beel as 'Sammy', and he, of course, was also selected and trained by Te Akau to be the Karaka Million 2YO and Group 1 winner, before being crowned Champion 2YO of the Year. Then on Sunday, homebred Embellish gelding Class lived up to his name, notching another impressive win for our stable – with a name like that, what else could we expect?
It wasn’t just in NZ that we tasted success. In Australia, we were thrilled with Gruzamba’s win at Kyneton. Tipped by our very own Ben Gleeson on Te Akau TV last week, Gruzamba showed why he was one to watch, adding yet another win to our impressive Australian season tally. Our other runner on the day is a black booker for sure – Scottie's Legacy had been off the scene for some time and resumed at that same meeting with an inspired finish for runner-up.
Last week, we also received some heartbreaking news as we all mourned the passing of Johnathan Parkes.
Johnathan enjoyed remarkable success with the Te Akau team, including his victories aboard On The Bubbles in both the Group 1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes and the Karaka Million 2YO. More recently, he achieved his 1000th career win aboard Fellini in May last year. We are lost for words as we send our deepest condolences to his family, friends, and the wider racing community – to everyone whose lives he touched, he will be sorely missed.
As we head into another big weekend of racing, and remember it's a long weekend in New Zealand too, all eyes will be peeled on multiple venues over the coming three days. On Saturday, we return to Ellerslie for another weekend of racing – isn’t it great being back at HQ! We have some exciting horses primed to perform, including a couple of juveniles on debut, amongst a team of nine we are taking north.
In the south at Riccarton, it's a Saturday team of eight headed by When Stars Align in the Group 3 War Decree Stakes, always a race to watch as the Guineas loom. This colt, known for his tenacity, will be looking to go two better and add a Group victory to his record after running third in the Group 3 Barnswood Farm Stakes last start. Last start's Ashburton Cup winner Fellini joins Fierce Flight contesting the Listed Sothys Spring Classic. Both have been in strong form, and we’re hopeful they will put in bold performances against some tough competition.
The capital beckons on Sunday, where My Lips Are Sealed and Cognito do battle in the Group 3 Gee & Hickton Funeral Directors Thompson Handicap. While this step up in grade may test them, Cognito did win a Group 2 Wellington Guineas here, and My Lips Are Sealed was runner-up in a Group 3 Eulogy Stakes on this course too.
Meanwhile, we are off to Te Rapa on Labour Day Monday! Last-start stunner Captured By Love will contest the Group 2 James and Annie Sarten Memorial. This exciting filly is set to face some of the best 3YOs in the country, and we’re confident she can give it her all, and turn the tables on what could have been last start. She will be joined by last-start winners Wild Night and Inspired By Art, also contesting other races on the programme.
It's a big day at Te Rapa on Monday too, as the NZB Kiwi Slot race team is out and about, hosting the slot-holders' charities to a special day – we look forward to welcoming 10 guests on course from our nominated charity, the amazing team at EquiPotential NZ, who do such brilliant work!
On the horizon, we’re set for Derby Day at Flemington, one of the highlights of the Australian racing calendar, and New Zealand's Melbourne Cup week is unmissable. Back home, we’ll be sending runners to Tauranga and Trentham, where we’re confident they will continue to showcase the strength of our stable. We’re set for Cup Week in Christchurch, which is just around the corner too, and we’re looking forward to catching up with our South Island owners when we are in the Garden City!
As always, we’d like to extend a massive thank you to our owners, supporters, and connections. We’re excited to see what the rest of the season holds – best of luck to all our runners this weekend!