Te Akau's Hayley Honoured

Te Akau apprentice Hayley Hassman (a2), whose burgeoning career continues to flourish, was awarded the Zilco Race Saddle Package for her winning ride aboard Bolli Belle (3 f Shamus Award – Fille Champagne, by Sebring) in the $40,000 Price Racing Special Conditions Maiden 1400 metres last Saturday at Matamata.

Selected by commentator George Simon for the best ride on the day by an apprentice, the saddle package ($1,200 value) was sponsored with the generous support of Bill’s Racing Mates.

On course and doing their best to increase turnover, Bill’s Racing Mates was instigated by Bill Shilton and a group of his friends that had a share in Champion Two-Year-Old Il Quello Veloce, a high-quality filly trained locally by John Sargent at Matamata.

Il Quello Veloce won the Group 1 Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) and finished second in the Group 2 Matamata Breeders’ Stakes (1200m).

Although Bill ‘a champion bloke’ has passed, his mates, largely from Canterbury, gather as they have done for over 20 years at the Matamata Breeders’ Stakes meeting, and chip in for the prize in which Hassman received a Zilco race day saddle, breastplate, girth strap, surcingle, goggles, and whip.

Purchased by David Ellis CNZM for $75,000 at the 2024 Karaka Book 1 Sale, from the draft of Westbury Stud, and owned by Te Akau Victory Veuve Racing Partnership (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM), Bolli Belle was ridden by Hassman to a stylish debut victory in the NZB Mega Maiden Series 1340 metres on 19 January at Wanganui, where in addition to the winning stake ($10,360), the owners won an extra $20,000 and trainers received $5,000, as part of the NZB Mega Maiden Series.

In making it two from two, Bolli Belle soon recovered after being a touch slow to begin and Hassman was certainly instrumental inwinning.

“She jumped a bit slow, but that was no worries, and she recovered quite quickly to put herself right there,” Hassman said. “We were able to get a good run through and she hunted down the leader.

“The leader did sneak away, so it was a good effort for her to pick up like she did in that kind of track (Heavy9) and run her down. I thought she might run second at the 200m, but she’s tough and she keeps on lifting.

“It’s paid off for the owners because she’s been a work in progress. At this stage she’s quite lightly framed and Mark (Walker) and Sam (Bergerson) have taken it easy with her. They’ve started her racing career at the right time.

“She stepped up again and had come on from the win at Wanganui, where she got quite a bit of confidence. It will be exciting to see where she could get to in this prep, as there’s a lot of three-year-old races around at the moment.”

Hassman was at Christchurch midweek where she rode another winner for the stable - and in doing so, the owners of Satono Aladdin filly Aishiteru She will also be riding for the team at Ashburton on Friday.

“I’m really happy working and riding for Te Akau,” she said. “It’s good to be on such quality horses, as well. It makes a huge difference.

“I’m on (Group Three winner, five wins) Cool Aza Rene (Cool Aza Beel) in the 3YO 1200 metres on Friday at Ashburton, and that will be pretty sweet. I won on her at Riccarton, and I’m looking forward to getting back aboard.”

David Ellis CNZM said: “I’m very proud of Hayley (Hassman) to be awarded with the Zilco prize after her win on Bolli Belle.

“She’s a top young lady, Hayley, a pleasure to have in the team, always has a smile, and Karyn and I are really proud of how hard she’s working and what she’s achieving.

“She’s a got a great head on her shoulders, has won some really good races for our owners, and that’s going to continue.

“Like a lot of people, we weren’t sure how the day would go after all the rain, but it turned out to be a special day, winning our fifth Matamata Breeders’ Stakes in a row, with Lara Antipova (our 11th title in total), and the Listed Lisa Chittick Champagne Stakes with My Lips Are Sealed.

“They’re a very special family in New Zealand racing, the Chittick’s, and it’s an emotional day for everyone connected to them.” 

Hayley Hassman has won 22 races this season (with 23 runner up placings) - already eclipsing her total of 20 for the 2025/25 season.