Te Akau's Ready to Run
11 November, 2022
Te Akau principal David Ellis CNZM has a wonderful record buying horses at the New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale and is getting ready for action on 16 & 17 November at Karaka.
The RTR Sale has provided Te Akau and its owners with some terrific winners in the past, including Group One winners Gingernuts (Iffraaj), Hall of Fame (Savabeel) and Te Akau Shark (Rip Van Winkle), along with stakes' winners Amalfi Prince (Sebring), Brando (Savabeel), Star of Bombay (Atlante), Royal Success (Savabeel), and other multiple winners Burgundy Rose (Burgundy), Ragamuffin (Belardo), Shezathinka (So You Think), and Phantom Witness (Star Witness), to name a few.
The David Ellis-purchased, Te Akau trained Flying Fulton also won the Group 3 Great Northern Foal Stakes before heading to Te Akau's Singapore stable where he won 13 times, earning over $1.4 million - and the honour of being named "Singapore Polytrack Horse of the Year".
In a standout feat, Ellis purchased only two at the 2015 RTR Sale and quite incredibly both become Group One winners.
Gaining cult status, Gingernuts (Iffraaj) was known to all that followed racing and many on the periphery too. At three, the horse lovingly known as 'Jerry' to his fans, was herculean winning the Avondale Guineas (Gr. 2, 2100m) and topped that in the New Zealand Derby (Gr. 1, 2400m).
At his next start, he won the Rosehill Guineas (Gr. 1, 2000m) and recorded his third Group One in the Windsor Park Horlicks Plate (Gr. 1, 1600m). Unfortunately, injury curtailed his career after winning six of 12 starts, but he still enjoys the life of Riley at Te Akau Stud.
Hall Of Fame (Savabeel) was also bought by Ellis in 2015 and made his mark winning the Levin Classic (Gr. 1, 1600m). Sold to Hong Kong, where winning the Premier Plate (Gr. 3, 1800m), his 11 career wins amassed over NZ$2.1 million.
At the 2016 RTR Sale another star emerged when Ellis purchased Te Akau Shark (Rip Van Winkle).
After winning the Coupland's Bakeries Mile (Gr. 2, 1600m) by six lengths, he finishing second in the Epsom Handicap (Gr. 1, 1600m) and a terrific third in the $5m Cox Plate (Gr. 1, 2040m).
He was in another league and took his earnings over one-million dollars when producing a stunning performance to win the BCD Group Sprint (Gr. 1, 1400m) and ramped it up a notch to win his next start in the Chipping Norton Stakes (Gr. 1, 1600m), a race in which Verry Elleegant (Zed) finished second.
Te Akau Shark recorded seven wins from 14 and amassed $1.5 million prize money.
A really good crop came from the 2017 RTR Sale, including winner of seven Axel (Darci Brahma), six-time winner Broadway Success (Alamosa), dual winners Total Excess (Delargo Deluxe) and Shezathinka (So You Think), who stakes' placed, Spirit Of Galway (Rip Van Winkle), You're Welcome (Camelot) and the white horse Luminous (Reliable Man).
Ellis bought impressive four-time winner Star Of Bombay (Atlante) in 2018, who included the Mufhasa Stakes (Listed, 1300m), along with dual winners Phantom Witness (Star Witness) and Super Sid (Rip Van Winkle).
The following year, 2019, gave rise to (pictured below) Brando (Savabeel), winner of five to date including the Uncle Remus Stakes (Listed, 1300m) and twice Group One placed. Talented galloper Maasir (Proisir) won three and dual winner Our Secret Weapon (Outreach) currently races in Singapore.
More recently, Amalfi Prince (Sebring) won the Manawatu Classic (Gr. 3, 2000m) in April this year after being bought by Ellis in 2020. Zeitaku (Savabeel) has won twice, along with Pure Imagination (Darci Brahma), staying prospect Fierce Flight (Flying Artie), and Ragamuffin (Belardo).
With nine-time Champion Trainer Mark Walker back in the fold, Te Akau is casting a close eye on the upcoming offerings.
“I'm currently doing work on the Breeze-ups and Dave (Ellis) is doing the pedigrees,†Walker said. “We'll establish a shortlist, meet up and work it out with the vets etc.
“Much of the buying depends on how strong the market is and whether or not we can buy horses for what we're prepared to pay. There are always plenty of variables to factor in at the sales, but we'll certainly be trying.â€
If you are keen to be involved with a horse from the Ready to Run Sale, register your interest with Karyn now as shares always sell super quickly - [email protected]
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