Te Akau TV - Weekend Preview

NINE WINNERS TO CELEBRATE AS TE AKAU QUARTET EYES WEEKEND STAKES GLORY!

From a winning week across five tracks to Black Type ambitions on both sides of the Tasman, we’ve certainly got a spring in our step!

This week on Te Akau TV, Sam Bergerson previews our New Zealand runners, including Asturia in the Group 2 Soliloquy Stakes, while Ben Gleeson catches up with our Cranbourne stars ahead of Caulfield Cup Day, headlined by Lara Antipova's tilt at the Group 1 Thousand Guineas.

There’s plenty to celebrate from the week just gone, with a Taupo treble, an Ashburton double, victories at Hastings and Rotorua, and two more winners at Tauranga on Wednesday. Congratulations to all our winning owners!

A FRIDAY TREBLE TO START THE CELEBRATIONS

Last weekend began with three winners at Taupo, setting up a run of seven victories in just 48 hours.

King’s English returned with a smart win in the Rating 75 over 1000 metres. Opie Bosson ONZM settled him behind the speed before timing his challenge, taking the son of Snitzel’s record to four wins from eight starts. The Listed Legacy Lodge Sprint at Te Rapa is among the targets being considered for him.

Petite Rocher followed with a deserved maiden victory over 1200 metres. Hayley Hassman secured a good position from an awkward draw, and the mare fought off a late challenge to reward her Te Akau Little Rock Racing Partnership owners.

Geneva Queen completed the treble for her Fortuna Racing owners, making it back-to-back wins. Despite being checked approaching the turn, she balanced up under Hayley and finished strongly down the outside to take the Rating 65 over 1100 metres.

ZANARDI MAKES A WINNING FIRST IMPRESSION

Our first two-year-old runner of the season, in the season's first juvenile race, made the perfect start at Hastings on Saturday.

Zanardi won on debut over 800 metres with Michael McNab aboard, showing plenty of raw ability while still learning what racing is all about.

Purchased by Sir David Ellis for $280,000 from Cambridge Stud at Karaka, the Spirit Of Boom colt is out of Pazienza, who also won on debut as a two-year-old when trained by Te Akau. It was a lovely result for his Te Akau Title Holder Racing Partnership owners and Cambridge Stud, who retained a share.

With his first prize money secured, Zanardi can enjoy a short break before the team plots his path towards the Karaka Millions. An exciting start for a colt we look forward to following through the season.

HAYLEY ADDS AN ASHBURTON DOUBLE

Bellish Boy and Charmrose kept the winners coming for assistant trainer Hunter and our southern team, giving Hayley four winning rides across Friday and Saturday.

Bellish Boy put his rivals away by four and a half lengths in the maiden 1400 metres. With blinkers added and a good run behind the speed, the son of Embellish delivered an emphatic first win for his Inspire Racing owners.

Charmrose then made an immediate impression at her first South Island start, winning the open 1200 metres. Hayley used her early speed to cross from a wide draw, gave her a breather and had enough left to hold off the challenge.

Congratulations to Dave and Nicky Hurst, who bred and race Charmrose. With potential stakes' opportunities during Cup Week, her southern campaign is off to a strong start.

CONCURRENCE CAPS THE WINNING WEEKEND

Concurrence rounded out the weekend with victory in Sunday’s maiden 1400 metres at Rotorua.

Michael McNab took the initiative aboard the Tagaloa colt, finding the lead before gradually increasing the pressure. Concurrence responded well, winning at just his second start.

Bred and owned by Yulong, he is out of Group 1 winner Consensus. We expect him to appreciate more ground as he develops, making this an encouraging early result.

Passion ’N’ Pride and Altari then added a Tauranga double on Wednesday, taking our tally to nine winners across five tracks. Seven over the weekend and two more midweek - congratulations to our winning owners, Mark, Sam and the team.

LARA ANTIPOVA’S THOUSAND GUINEAS CHALLENGE

Saturday brings an exciting occasion for Lara Antipova and her Fortuna Racing owners as she lines up in the A$1.5 million Group 1 Stow Storage Thousand Guineas over 1600 metres at Caulfield. Craig Williams takes the ride from barrier nine.

Our New Zealand Champion Two-Year-Old gave her owners an outstanding first season, winning all four starts, including the Group 1 Sistema Stakes. She has already added an Australian stakes' victory this Spring, beating the boys in the inaugural Listed Michael Moroney at Flemington.

The Thousand Guineas has been the target through her Australian preparation. Now that race is here, and we wish her Fortuna owners, together with Mark, Ben and our Cranbourne team every success.

Lara completed her Tuesday work at Caulfield over 1200 metres, bringing another week of preparation towards Saturday’s feature. We will be cheering her home!

THREE STAKES RUNNERS AT CAULFIELD

Lara is one of three horses representing the stable in black-type races on Caulfield Cup Day.

Geegees Mistruth contests the Listed Manhari Alinghi Stakes, for which she is favourite, over 1100 metres with Blake Shinn aboard. I Am Aria follows in the Listed Quayclean Gothic Stakes over 1400 metres, partnered by our former apprentice Michael Dee. Both worked together at Caulfield in eye-catching fashion on Tuesday ahead of their assignments.

ASTURIA HEADS TO THE SOLILOQUY

This weekend in New Zealand, Asturia contests Saturday’s Group 2 Windsor Park Stud Soliloquy Stakes over 1400 metres at Ellerslie, with Michael McNab engaged. She caught the eye in Tuesday’s trackwork alongside Bolli Belle, and Saturday presents another important test against her own age and sex as Spring racing progresses. We look forward to hearing more from the team in this week’s preview.

With New Zealand Cup Week fast approaching, there are more important races ahead as the team works through each horse’s programme.

Whether you are joining us on course or watching from home, thank you for your support. Best of luck to all our runners and their connections! Go the Tangerine!