Te Akau's Historic Guineas/Cup Double

Te Akau trainers Mark Walker & Sam Bergerson created a piece of history on Saturday at Riccarton, becoming the first trainers to complete the Group 1 NZ 1000 Guineas and Group 3 New Zealand Cup double.

The win by Champion Two-Year-Old finalist Captured By Love in the Group 1 NZ 1000 Guineas levelled up the Guineas' winners at seven apiece for Te Akau, namely both the 2000 and 1000 Guineas - while Mehzebeen (Almanzor) provided the first NZ Cup win. 

Te Akau last won the 1000 Guineas in 2021 with The Perfect Pink (Savabeel), and previously with Kahma Lass (Darci Brahma), Risque (Darci Brahma), Costa Viva (Encosta De Lago), King’s Rose (Redoute’s Choice) and Insouciant (Keeper) – the latter three also being crowned New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year, among the eight titles for Filly of the Year won by the stable. 

Noverre (Savabeel) provided the seventh 2000 Guineas win for Te Akau in 2021, and he joined other winners for the stable that have subsequently gone to stud: King’s Chapel (King Of Kings), Darci Brahma (Danehill), Rock ‘n’ Pop (Fastnet Rock), Xtravagant (Pentire), and Embellish (Savabeel), while the stable also won with gelding Tell A Tale (Tale Of The Cat).  

Te Akau recorded Guineas' doubles in 2015 with Risque (Darci Brahma) and Xtravagant (Pentire) and again in 2021 with The Perfect Pink (Savabeel) and Noverre (Savabeel).

When winning in 2008, Tell A Tale (Tale Of The Cat) was the last winner of the 2000 Guineas when it was held on the traditional middle day (Wednesday) of the three-day Cup Week Carnival, before the race was shifted in 2009 to the first day, while the 1000 Guineas has remained on New Zealand Cup Day. 

Te Akau principal David Ellis CNZM purchased 11 of the individual Guineas winners as yearlings in either New Zealand or Australia, and the other three: The Perfect Pink, Risque and Insouciant, were entrusted by their breeders to be trained by Te Akau.