Te Akau Waipa Trials' Report

Te Akau trialled horses at Waipa on Thursday 18 October -

Weather: cloudy, track: Good3, rail: out 9 metres

Heat 1 2YO 650 metres (¾ lengths, 2 ¼ lengths 39.4)

Cisjurane (2 f Burgundy - Femmebot) - Danielle Johnson; worked forward into second, levelled on straightening and remained on terms in second.

Purchased as weanling for $20,000 at the 2017 New Zealand Bloodstock May Sale, from the draft of Wentwood Grange, she is owned by the Te Akau Cisjurane Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM). From three named foals, her dam Femmebot (Stravinsky) has left three individual winners of 11 races.

Miss Showtime (2 f Showcasing - Colombelle) - Shafiq Rusof; was a stride slow from barrier one, settled third on the inner, railed well to finish third and good through the line.

Owned by the Te Akau Showtime Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM), purchased by David Ellis for $180,000 from the 2018 Karaka Book 1 Sale, from the draft of Haunui Farm, the same vendors from which he purchased Champion Two-Year-Old Melody Belle (Commands).

From a Zabeel (Sir Tristram) mare, and fantastic female family, this filly has a multitude of class performers around her. Horses the calibre of Valpolicella, dam of Te Akau trained Catalonia (Vilanova (Aust.)), Vavasour, and Pussy Willow, while her third dam Dopff (Tights) is renowned for leaving quality thoroughbreds.  Respected as an up-grader of progeny, sire Showcasing (Oasis Dream) is already a multiple Group One producing stallion, carving a reputation through siring 24 stakes winners in two hemispheres.

Heat 2 2YO 650 metres (dead-heat, 2 ½ lengths 38.7)

Burgundy Rose (2 f Burgundy - Paraiba) - Danielle Johnson; worked across to lead on the rail, cornered professionally and kept up a strong gallop for first equal.

Bred by David Ellis and owned by the Te Akau Roses Are Red Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM), she carries a Danehill cross through Redoute's Choice, the sire of Burgundy, and grand-dam Turtle Bay (Danehill). She is a sister to Singapore winner Hallelujah.

Exaltation (2 f Not a Single Doubt - Meleka Belle) - Opie Bosson (main picture); camped on the two leaders, angled three wide on straightening, quickened and kept winding up to finish first equal.

A half-sister to Champion Two-Year-Old and three time Group One winning stable-mate Melody Belle (Commands), owned by the 2018 Fabulous Fillies Breeding Syndicate, purchased by David Ellis for $900,000 from Haunui Farm draft at the 2018 Karaka Book1 Sale.  By top sire Not A Single Doubt, a son of the undisputed king of Australian sires, Redoute's Choice, she registered the highest price ever paid for a filly by this sire.

Heat 3 2YO 850 metres (neck, ¾ lengths 51.1)

Zouluminous (2 f Zoustar - Luminous Harmony) - Danielle Johnson; began well to settle third, presented into the clear on straightening and finished off strongly for third.

Purchased by David Ellis for $230,000, from the draft of Rosemont Stud, at the 2018 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, her dam, Luminous Harmony (Fastnet Rock), won four races to 1400 metres in Australia, and a sister to highly talented dual Group Three winner Neena Rock.

At the corresponding sale in 2017, Zoustar (Northern Meteor) sired a $1m yearling filly from his first crop. Having won six of his nine starts, including two Group Ones and a Group Two, Zoustar has become one of the most sought after stallions in Australia, following the premature demise of his sire Northern Meteor (Encosta De Lago) who had been Champion First Season Sire.

2 c Dundeel - Miss Zapper - Shafiq Rusof; showed no early pace, settling at the rear, but picked up nicely between horses in the straight and kept closing for fifth.

By the Champion Three-Year-Old and Horse of the Year in New Zealand, Dundeel (High Chaparral), who was also Champion Middle Distance Male in Australia, he is from the Red Ransom mare Miss Zapper, a winner of three races from 1200m to 1900m in Australia.

Lethal (2 c Savabeel - Katie Lee) - Opie Bosson; was urged along over the sprint trip into fourth approaching the 400m and just peaked on his run in the straight.

Owned by the 2018 Colt Breeding Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM), purchased by David Ellis for just over $1m at the Karaka Book 1 Sale, from the draft of Cambridge Stud.

He is the result of a mating between the most heralded champion stallion in New Zealand, Cox Plate winner as a three-year-old, Savabeel (Zabeel), and Katie Lee (Pins), the first horse in history to win both the 2000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m) and 1000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m).  Savabeel was recently crowned Champion Stallion for the fourth time in New Zealand, sired 17 Group One winners and 76 stakes winners, while Champion 3YO Katie Lee won over $1m in stakes and hails from a sensational family.

Heat 4 2YO 850 metres (1 ½ lengths, 4 lengths 50.7)

Probabeel (2 f Savabeel - Far Fetched) - Opie Bosson; began well from barrier one to lead, joined to her outer, cornered well, gained an advantage and impressed the rider in winning.

Owned by Brendan Lindsay MNZM & Jo Lindsay at Cambridge Stud, she was purchased by David Ellis for $380,000, from the draft of Waikato Stud, at the Karaka Book 1 Sale in January this year.

Te Akau has had enormous success with the progeny of champion sire Savabeel (Zabeel), including Group One winners Hall of Fame and Embellish, along with Splurge, Royal Success, Shillelagh, Grazia, Wide Awake, and Sword of Osman to name a few.  She is from a very current Waikato Stud family, one that continues to leave quality performers and the fillies in the family have enormous residual value.

Combat Queen (2 f Pierro - Missy Cummings) - Shafiq Rusof; worked forward off the outside gate to sit three wide in third and kept up a good gallop for fourth.

Purchased by David Ellis for $135,000, from the draft of Segenhoe Stud, at the 2018 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, after his sire Pierro (Lonhro) had sired $2m Australian Derby (Gr. 1, 2400m) winner Levendi and $1m VRC Oaks (Gr. 1, 2500m) winner Pinot.

She is out of stakes' winning mare by Magnus, a son of Golden Slipper winner Flying Spur (Danehill).  Magnus was a hardy Group One winning sprinter that also finished second to Takeover Target in the Group One Krisflyer in Singapore, and second to Miss Andretti in the Group Two King's Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot in England.

Heat 5 Open 850 metres (1 ½ lengths, ½ a head 49.7

Paulownia (4 m Fastnet Rock - Forest Native) - Opie Bosson; settled back off the outside gate, three wide with cover, ranged widest around the home turn and quickened nicely into second.

Impressive winning on debut over 1200 metres in February, she was beaten a whisker in the Wellington Guineas (Gr. 2, 1400m) at her second start and spelled in April.

Patiently handled, she is a filly that harbours considerable talent.  In training for thoroughbred powerhouse Coolmore, breeders and owners of the filly, she is a sister to Newgate Farm foundation sire Foxwedge, Champion 2^nd Season Sire in Australia, including Group One winner and multiple Group Two winner Foxplay ($1m ATC Coolmore Legacy Queen of the Turf Stakes (1600m), and Group One winner Volpe Veloce and Urban Fox.

Heat 6 Maiden 3YO 850 metres (dead-heat, 2 ¼ lengths 52.7)

3 f Cape Blanco - My Fiancée - Chelsea Burdan; travelled comfortably fifth on the inner, but a bit out-paced over a sprint trip when they quickened in the straight.

Bred and owned by Gavin & Shane Wealleans, she is the first foal of a mare by Snitzel (Redoute's Choice). Her grand-dam, Meet My Sis (Prized), is a half-sister to Sandown Guineas (Gr. 2, 1600m) winner Schilling (Bianconi).

Heat 11 Open 1000 metres (3 lengths, ¾ lengths 58.8)

Total Excess (3 g Delargo Deluxe - Avail) - Shafiq Rusof; sat off the leader, three lengths second, cornered beautifully and galloped home strongly for second.

Looked good in three trials without being extended, before becoming the 10^th of 12^th individual two-year-old winners for Te Akau last season: winning on debut over 1200 metres in April at Hastings, for the Te Akau Total Excess Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM).

Purchased for $200,000 by David Ellis at the 2017 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale, from the draft of Regal Farm, he is beautifully balanced, athletic, and very much in the mould of his sire Delago Deluxe (Encosta De Lago). By champion sire Encosta De Lago, Delago Deluxe was sold as a yearling in Australia, becoming an unbeaten Champion 2YO in South Africa, and a Group One winner at two and three years of age. His yearlings have sold up to $250,000.  The first foal from Avail (Exceed and Excel), in turn from the Zabeel mare Avabelle, his third dam, Eye Full (Palatable), was a highly regarded winner of 11 races including the Hawkes Bay Cup (Gr. 3, 2200m) and finished second in what was then the Group One New Zealand Cup (3200m).

Pinot Grey (3 f Burgundy - Streaming) - Opie Bosson; began well to position in third and maintained a good gallop, just being grabbed on the line to finish fourth.

From the draft of Cambridge Stud at the 2017 New Zealand Bloodstock Select Yearling Sale, purchased by David Ellis for $145,000 and owned by the Te Akau Pinot Grey Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM).

By the five time stakes winning stallion Burgundy (Redoute's Choice), trained by Te Akau, a three-quarter brother to Darci Brahma (Danehill), this filly is the first foal of an unraced Stravinsky mare, from a family that has produced plenty of two-year-old winners.  Pinot Grey won her only trial before scoring impressively on debut as a two-year-old. Her subsequent three starts were highly commendable: finishing fourth in the Ashford Lodge Stakes (Listed, 1100m), then third and fifth respectively to stable-mate and Champion Two-Year-Old Avantage (Fastnet Rock), the latter in the $1m Karaka Million (Listed, 1200m).

Heat 12 Maiden 3YO 1000 metres (head, 2 ½ lengths 1:00.5)

3 g Epaulette - Highlight - Shafiq Rusof (below); was a distant fourth behind a competitive pace, tightened in the straight, but kept going strongly for fourth.

By the multiple Group One winning sprinter Epaulette (Commands), standing at Darley in Australia, he is the first foal of a High Chaparral (Sadler's Wells) mare that won five races from 1400m - 1900m, from a good producing dam line that includes talented third dam Superjet (Jetball).

Heat 13 Maiden 3YO 1000 metres (1 ½ lengths, ½ lengths 1:00.0)

3 g Rock ‘N' Pop - Pokuru Boxer - Shafiq Rusof; steadied off them in fifth, five lengths 600m, angled wide turn and looked good making ground into fourth.

Bred and owned by Ian Farrelly, from the second crop of Waikato Stud stallion Rock ‘N' Pop (Fastnet Rock), who was purchased by David Ellis and won the 2000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m) for the Te Akau Rock ‘N' Pop Syndicate.  The second foal from a Stravinsky (Nureyev) mare, his grand-dam, Pokuru Star (O'Reilly), has left two individual winners of four races.

Heat 14 Maiden 3YO 1000 metres (1 length, 2 ½ lengths 59.8)

Dublin Rose (3 f O'Reilly - Irish Dream) - Nik Bakar; was patiently ridden off the pace, five lengths 600m, widest into the straight and although not making a lot of ground she finished off well in a pleasing trial.

She won a trial in July and given time since her fresh-up fourth in early August at Ruakaka.  A first up trial winner and second and third from three starts as a two-year-old, Dublin Rose was purchased by David Ellis for $130,000 from the draft of Little Avondale Stud at the 2017 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Yearling Sale.

Owned by the Te Akau Dublin Rose Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM), her dam Irish Dream, by Savabeel (Zabeel), won three races and is a sister to Group One winner Shillelagh, Brisbane Cup (Gr. 2, 2400m) winner Tullamore, and the Te Akau trained stakes winning mare Grazia.

Heat 15 Maiden 3YO 1000 metres (½ a length, 1 ¾ lengths 59.8)

Live Wire (3 f Power - Jewels Gift) - Shafiq Rusof; raced keenly between runners in fifth, tracked up in the straight and angled across heels late she quickened appreciably to finish close in a good educational trial.

Purchased by David Ellis for $77,500 at the 2017 New Zealand Bloodstock Select Yearling Sale, from the draft of Cambridge Stud, and owned by the Te Akau Live Wire Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM).

A filly with a magnificent pedigree, Te Akau had first-hand knowledge having trained her dam Jewels Gift.  The filly has a lovely cross of both Danzig and Blushing Groom in her bloodlines and in appearance suggests she has inherited plenty of quality.

Heat 20 Open 1150 metres (½ a head, 2 lengths 1:09.4)

Elegant D'oro (5 m Medaglia d'Oro - Elegant Fashion) - Nik Bakar; patiently ridden at the tail of the field, 10 lengths 600m, looked to improved along the rail in the straight but the gap closed and she went through the line well held.

Twice a winner to 2100 metres in her last campaign, she is owned and bred by Dr. Gene Tsoi, for whom Te Akau trained New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year King's Rose (Redoute's Choice), a multiple Group One performer and winner who accumulated $1.3m in prize money.  Her dam is the 2003 Hong Kong Derby winner Elegant Fashion (Danewin). As a three-year-old in Australia, Elegant Fashion recorded four of her eight career wins including the Moonee Valley Oaks (Gr. 2, 1600m). In Hong Kong, she also won the Group Two International Cup and Group Two Chairman's Trophy for total stake earnings of $A6.6m.

Heat 21 Open 1150 metres (¾ lengths, 1 ¼ lengths 1.08.9)

Embellish (4 h Savabeel - Bling) - Opie Bosson (below); jumped well to lead, travelled boldly on the bridle, well rated and won nicely in the fastest of three open 1150-metre heats.

Owned by the Te Akau 2016 Breeding Syndicate and Cambridge Stud proprietors Brendan Lindsay MNZM and Jo Lindsay, the brother to Group One winner Diademe, who sold when retired for $740,000 and then sold on for $1.7m, Embellish was bought by David Ellis for $775,000 (record price for a son of Savabeel, at the time), from the draft of Waikato Stud, at the New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Yearling Sale.

Following his 2000 Guineas win, and second en route in the $1m Karaka Million 3YO Classic at Ellerslie, Embellish targeted the $1m Australian Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m) at Flemington, where he was blocked for a run before finishing strongly behind dual Group One winner Grunt (O'Reilly).