Te Akau's Incredible Year in Review - October 2019

It's been an amazing season for Te Akau in New Zealand - with Jamie Richards and the team leading the way - in coming weeks, join us on our reflection of every remarkable month ....

5 October - History awaited Melody Belle (5 m Commands - Meleka Belle, by Iffraaj) at Hastings, having defended her titles in the Tarzino Trophy (Gr. 1, 1400m) and Windsor Park Plate (Gr. 1, 1600m) on the first two days of the Bostock New Zealand Spring Carnival. What seemed inevitable came to fruition for the Queen of the Turf as she bolted home by three and a half lengths in the Livamol Classic (Gr. 1, 2040m) to become the first Triple Crown winner.

“She's achieved what no other
horse in history has been able to do,” said trainer Jamie Richards. “She's had
a great preparation and I thought it was a terrific ride by Opie (Bosson),
getting her out at the right time and, yes, she did the rest.”

David Ellis purchased the
reigning Horse of the Year as a yearling for $57,500 at the 2016 New Zealand
Bloodstock Premier Sale, from the draft of Haunui Farm, on the account of
breeder Marie Leicester, for owners in the Fortuna Melody Belle Syndicate (Mgr:
John Galvin). She took her record to 14 wins from 24 starts and $2 million in
prize money - currently 15 from 30 and $3.5 million.

“It's the thrill of a lifetime to buy a mare that won the Karaka Million as a two-year-old filly and trained on to keep getting better and better,” Ellis said. “We bought her at New Zealand Bloodstock's Premier Sale and it's just great the way it's worked out.”

5 October - At the same meeting, Aotea Lad (3 g Savabeel - Corsage, by Volksraad), a Champion Two-Year-Old nominee (won by stable-mate Yourdeel (Dundeel), staged a big effort for third to subsequent 2000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m) winner Catalyst (Darci Brahma) in the Hawkes Bay Guineas (Gr. 2, 1400m).

5 October - On the same day, Probabeel (3 f Savabeel - Far Fetched, by Pins) continued her terrific form during the Princess Series at Royal Randwick. Having resumed on the course with a meritorious fourth in the Darley Furious Stakes (Gr. 2, 1200m) before charging home within a lip of victory in the Darley Tea Rose Stakes (Gr. 2, 1400m), she capped the series with another second in the Darley Flight Stakes (Gr. 1, 1600m).

5 October - While Te Akau Shark (5 g Rip Van Winkle - Bak da Chief, by Chief Bearhart), ridden by Opie Bosson, ran a cracking race for second in the Epsom Handicap (Gr. 1, 1600m) at Royal Randwick.

6 October - Following a fresh-up third and on his way to five consecutive victories, Prise De Fer (4 g Savabeel - Foiled, by Snippets) justified his favouritism in an even field for the Rating 72 1400 metres at Te Teko.

“Speaking with Opie (Bosson) this
morning, he was very confident of winning on Prise De Fer,” said Te Akau
principal David Ellis. “It's such an advantage in our stable to have him riding
work and races because he's an incredible judge.”

Owned by the Te Akau En Guarde Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM), Prise De Fer was purchased by David Ellis for $100,000, from the draft of Trelawney Stud (for Raffles Farm), at the 2017 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Yearling Sale. He raced well in the $1m Karaka Million 3YO Classic, Avondale Guineas (Gr. 2, 2100m), and culminated his three-year-old campaign with an unlucky eighth in the NZ Derby (Gr. 1, 2400m), before flourishing as a four-year-old.

9 October - Following a second and third in her first campaign, Kylie Bax (4 m Pentire - Platinum Blond, by Kaapstad) resumed with an emphatic victory in the Maiden 1200 metres at Taupo.

In training for Windsor Park Stud, Kylie Bax ran the 1200 metres in 1:12.2, last 600m in 34.8 - times that indicated she controlled terms - winning by three and a quarter lengths for rider Danielle Johnson.

9 October - In the very next race, Top Brass (4 g Epaulette - Highlight, by High Chaparral), who made a winning debut on the course in September, emulated the performance with victory in the Rating 65 1200 metres.

Owned by Terry Archer, Mike
Beazley, Howard Perry, Stu Graham, Murray Darroch, Marcelle Douglas, Stuart
Gladding & A-Dime-A-Dozen Syndicate, Top Brass is by a multiple
Group One winning sprinter Epaulette (Commands).

Accepting on behalf of the owners, Beazley said: “It's always good to win, but two in a row is very special.”

9 October - After bagging four wins during the September meeting at Taupo, trainer Jamie Richards recorded a hat-trick when Burgundy Rose (3 f Burgundy - Paraiba, by Faltaat), who was denied in a close finish by stable-mate Top Brass (Epaulette) in September, made amends in no uncertain terms when annihilating her rivals by six and a quarter lengths 3YO 1100 metres. She was ridden by Te Akau apprentice Chelsea Burdan.

“Burgundy Rose is a filly that I bred and Karyn (Fenton-Ellis MNZM) syndicated,” said David Ellis. “It was an incredible win, the most impressive of the day.”

10 October - A hat-trick was followed by a double at Tauherenikau, when Pokuru's Gift (4 g Rock ‘n' Pop - Pokuru Boxer, by Stravinsky), bred and owned by Ian Farrelly, pulled away to score untroubled by two and a half lengths in the Maiden 1000 metres, and Vino Bella (3 f Burgundy - Pinstinct, by Pins) won the New Zealand Bloodstock Insurance Pearl Series Maiden 1000 metres, where she also collected an $11,500 bonus.

Strengthened following two thirds from four starts last season, Vino Bella broke through at her fifth attempt. She was bred and managed by Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM for the Te Akau Vino Bella Syndicate.

19 October - Another double, when Equinox (3 c Exceed and Excel - Our Ella Belle, by Encosta De Lago) delivered as expected in the 3YO 1215 metres at Rotorua, having been freshened since finishing second to Catalyst (Darci Brahma) in the El Roca - Sir Colin Meads Trophy (Listed, 1200m) at Hastings, and Al Haram (7 g Sea the Stars - En Public, by Rainbow Quest), backing up his win in August at Matamata, delivered with a tough performance in the 82 2200 metres at Ashburton.

“It was a great way to start the day with the first two horses winning,” Ellis said. “The colt, Equinox, got the job done, then Al Haram, and they were both given a peach of a ride by Opie (Bosson) and Michael (McNab), [respectively].”

19 October - In training for Coolmore Australia, Folk Dress (3 f Pierro - Gypsy Chimes, by Snow Ridge), an impressive dual winner during her two-year-old season, finished third in the Barneswood Farm Stakes (Gr. 3, 1400m) at Ashburton.

26 October - An extremely well related half-sister to Melody Belle (Commands), Exaltation (3 f Not A Single Doubt - Meleka Belle, by Iffraaj) made a winning debut in the Maiden 1200 metres at Riccarton.

Chris Johnson, master at holding
horses up for a finish, navigated a path for the big filly to power home and
win by nearly two lengths easing down.

Te Akau principal David Ellis had the distinction of buying Melody Belle as a yearling at Karaka, and following inspections was keen to purchase her half-sister, from the draft of Haunui Farm, at the 2018 New Zealand Bloodstock Book 1 Sale. Both bred by Marie Leicester, she is owned by the Te Akau 2018 Fabulous Fillies' Breeding Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM).

“I'm absolutely thrilled for the people that invested in my fillies' syndicate,” Ellis said. “Since we bought this filly, Melody Belle has won eight Group Ones. So, as you can imagine she's got fantastic residual value. But, it's a hell of a bonus to see her come out and win under a stranglehold.”

26 October - Also at Riccarton, international recruit Leaderboard (5 g Street Cry - Flower Fairy, by Dynaformer) won the Rating 65 1600 metres under a confident ride by Troy Harris, for the Fortuna Leaderboard Syndicate (Mgr: John Galvin).

“I asked (bloodstock agent) Hubie de Burgh to find a European bred stayer that had a typical pedigree and the type that could turn into a cups horse down here (New Zealand),” said David Ellis. “He went to last year's Tattersalls Horses in Training Sale and picked him out. We had a budget of 70 to 80,000 Guineas and we got him for the budget.”

26 October - Later in the day, the eyes of a nation locked in for the $5 million Ladbrokes Cox Plate (Gr. 1, 2040m) at Moonee Valley, where Te Akau Shark (5 g Rip Van Winkle - Bak da Chief, by Chief Bearhart) ($17.00) came from last, saving ground on the inside, with an outstanding performance for third.

28 October - Derby runner-up In A Twinkling (4 g Fastnet Rock - Moment in Time, by Archway) caught punter's napping ($13.00 & $3.70) on Labour Day at Te Rapa, winning the Rating 82 2100 metres with a defiant performance.

Beaten a nostril in the NZ Derby (Gr. 1, 2400m) before finishing fifth in both the Tulloch Stakes (Gr. 2, 2000m) at Rosehill, and ATC Derby (Gr. 1, 2400m) at Randwick, he was purchased by David Ellis for $250,000, from the draft of Curraghmore Stud, at the 2017 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Yearling Sale, for the Te Akau Fastnet Moment Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis), and now won $383,651 in prize money.

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