Te Akau Wins 3 - the 3rd!

The third winner on the day for Te Akau at Rotorua, and one that brought plenty of reward, was Star of Greenbeel (4 g Savabeel - Greensleeves, by Green Perfume) scoring on debut in the Maiden 1200 metres.

“The horse has been difficult and certainly work in progress, but it was nice to see him cap very good trial form with a first up win,” said trainer Jason Bridgman.

“He came to us with poor racing manners and to the credit of Tommy Hazlett, he has done a fine job in making the horse into what he is now and I'm sure there is further improvement to come.

“It's terrific to have a horse in the stable for these new owners: Siu Cheong Chu & Kwe Sun Yih, who are based in Hong Kong and we think they have a really nice horse on their hands,” said Bridgman.

Thankfully Star of Greenbeel received the scratching he required on the morning of the race to make the field and having exercised his galloping ability in two wins and a second from three trials since joining the stable it was then up to jockey Matt Cameron to plot a path from barrier ten.

Cameron had him on speed from the outset and once crossed down to travel alongside the leader from the 950 metres he appeared to relax quite nicely. He grabbed the bit when the race became serious inside the 600m but turned for home with petrol in the tank and he displayed both good stretch and fight in seeing off a rival.

Te Akau Racing Manager Jamie Richards, who was pivotal in securing the horse, said: “New Zealand Bloodstock sales manager Danny Rolston approached us to train the horse and while not the easiest he is obviously by a very good sire [Savabeel].

“As a four-year-old he is now mature and as you can see from today's win, it won't be his last.  Winning an $8,000 race qualifies him for Hong Kong, and Danny (Rolston) will talk with the owners and they will make a plan for the horse,” said Richards.

Picture credit - www.raceimages.co.nz