Te Akau Wins 3 - the 2nd!

The second of Te Akau's Saturday Rotorua wins ...

Similarities surrounded the second of three Te Akau winners on December 27 at Rotorua.

Like Arpeggio (Tavistock), who won earlier on the card, La Adelita
(4 m High Chaparral - Romantic Liaisons, by Danasinga) features Sir Peter Vela among the ownership dignitaries, along with her breeder Justice Dame Lowell Goddard and Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM.

And also like Arpeggio, the form on paper for La Adelita read worse than it was. Resuming last month at Woodville, La Adelita finished eleventh but had little chance from the rear in a leader dominated race.

More in keeping with her abilities, she came out of midfield to win untouched over 1400 metres at Matamata, on debut in March, and only having her fifth start it was a performance of similar ilk that saw her boom home to win the Rating 65 1560 metres.

Jockey Matt Cameron had La Adelita in ninth position and seven lengths from the pacemaker at the 600 metres. She still had five lengths to make up on straightening but flew home to win easily in the end, going away by three-quarters of a length.

“It was nice to see La Adelita return to the winner's enclosure, second up in this preparation,” said trainer Jason Bridgman.

“She was slow coming to hand through a wet spring but has really picked up in the warmer weather and as a consequence has begun to thrive.   She possesses a brilliant turn of foot and appreciated getting back on a good surface at Rotorua, while stepping up in distance was also a big assist.

“With another run under her belt, she shapes as an exciting middle distance prospect and once through the grades we would like to aim for some black type,” said Bridgman.

While Dame Lowell has unfortunately lost the services of Romantic Liaisons, she foaled down a filly by Per Incanto (Street Cry) which she will keep. Now a yearling, the filly is a sister to Rocanto who made a perfect start to his career when winning on debut as a two-year-old recently at Te Rapa.

Picture credit - www.raceimages.co.nz