Te Akau TV - Weekend Preview
3 October, 2025
LEGACY CONTINUES AS MELODY BELLE’S FIRST FOAL LYRICS ’N’ SONG DEBUTS, WITH ANOTHER BLACK-TYPE WEEKEND OF HEADLINERS AHEAD!
This week on Te Akau TV we catch up with New Zealand Racing Manager Michael Gray and Luvabeel, along with Australian Assistant Trainer Ben Gleeson, as one of our first Australian 2YOs of the season, Harry Met Sally, steps out at Flemington and we look ahead to another cracking weekend of racing for Te Akau!
Before we deep dive into the weekend ahead it has been another successful week for the stable and we begin by celebrating our latest winners. At Riccarton last Saturday it was a tangerine treble - Origin Of Love produced a commanding performance, Out Of The Blue made the perfect debut for the Tangerine Army Syndicate, and Stonybreck stormed home to add yet another victory to his tally.
It was especially exciting to see the Tangerine Army experience its very first runner and its very first winner - proof that small ownership can deliver some of the biggest thrills in racing.
In a very poignant victory midweek, we celebrated and also deeply sympathised with Tony Rider as his game, grey mare Vickezzlastcall saluted the judge. It has been a tough week for Tony and his team with Aromatic, who we all remember with such fondness, passing away during her first foaling. Our thoughts are with Tony and all the Milan Park team.
The weekend gets underway tonight - the spotlight will shine particularly brightly on the debut of Written Tycoon filly Lyrics ’N’ Song on at Moonee Valley this evening.
She is the well-named daughter of our 14-time Group 1 winner Melody Belle (national record holder for Group 1 titles), who was entrusted to us by owner Yulong Investments. Stepping out over 1200m, she has drawn ideally in barrier one and will be ridden by former Te Akau apprentice Michael Dee. This filly has shown real promise in her work and it will be somewhat emotional for us all to welcome her daughter to the track - the legacy lives on!
Saturday it's stakes' racing on both sides of the Tasman for the Te Akau team!
"At home" at Matamata, a strong team of runners is engaged across the programme, headed by My Lips Are Sealed who is out to add to her black type record, with the $80,000 Listed Team Wealleans Matamata Cup in her sights.
Luvabeel will kick start our day in the Maiden 1400m, Age Of Discovery takes his place in the Benchmark 75 1200m, and Hakkinen resumes in the Benchmark 65 over 1400m. The day concludes with a strong hand in the Benchmark 75 1600m, where Balance Of Power, Accidental Tourist and El Viento all represent the stable in what promises to be a competitive race.
Meanwhile at Flemington, our Australian stable is poised for another exciting afternoon. Flash Of Class and Harry Met Sally will both contest the A$175,000 Listed Darley Maribyrnong Trial over 1000m, the first Victorian two-year-old stakes' race of the season. Both are on debut so we cannot wait to see them kick start their racing careers.
Keeping with the black type theme, one race later Azazel lines up in the A$175,000 Listed Super Impose Stakes 1800m. A progressive gelding who is 'one start for one win', he will be testing himself against quality opposition on one of the great racing stages.
The weekend doesn't stop there with Murtoa also in action on Saturday in Victoria, and then Timaru on Sunday where we will be sending a 'fab five' to race.
From Flemington to Moonee Valley, Murtoa to Matamata, the Tangerine will once again be in full force this weekend and we look forward to what promises to be another thrilling few days of racing.
Best of luck to all our owners and connections - GO THE TANGERINE!