Te Akau's "Season That Was" continues ...

It's with great pleasure that we reflect on a stellar season of 18 Group/Listed wins for Te Akau New Zealand trainer Jamie Richards and the team - seven of these at Group 1 level! The sixth trophy for the season came at Te Rapa with a slashing win by "the Sword" ...

With a lucrative Hawkes Bay Spring Carnival completed, the sixth stakes' winner for Te Akau trainer Jamie Richards came via Sword of Osman(3 g Savabeel - Bunyah, by Distant View) in the $100,000 James & Annie Sarten Memorial Stakes (Gr. 2, 1400m) on Labour Day, 22 October, at Te Rapa.

A nominee for Champion Two-Year-Old, won by stable-mate Avantage (Fastnet Rock), after winning the Sistema Stakes (Gr. 1, 1200m) and Matamata Slipper (Gr. 3, 1200m), Sword of Osman gained a nose victory over Qiji Express (Shamexpress) in the Sarten, with 4 ¼ lengths to third placed race favourite Madison County (Pins).

“We hadn't been able to fault him at home and it mapped like he might get to lead soft enough,” Richards said. “It was a lovely ride by Opie (Bosson) and he's such an important part of our team. He rides him in all his gallops and I'm really thrilled for him to get this big win when he's worked so hard.

“Also, thanks to Scott Lucock and Mette Mosebo who look after him at home in the colt barn.  They've done a really good job to get him back on track. He took awhile to come out of the winter, but really pleased for everyone involved and a terrific group of owners.”

In the mind of Bosson, the win clinched a 2000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m) start.

“They way he raced, he relaxed beautifully, got a nice soft lead, and quickened up like he'd see a mile out,” he said. “I was really rapt with the way the horse went. He's just turned the corner since his last run, relaxed more in his work and he's looking better in the coat, so he's on the up.”

One of the strongest and precocious sons of champion sire Savabeel (Zabeel), Sword of Osman was bought by David Ellis for $165,000 at the 2017 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Yearling Sale, prepared by Trelawney Stud for breeder Joan Egan, and the win was his fourth from eight starts.

Waikato Racing Club Chairman and manager of the Te Akau Great Sword Syndicate, Karyn Fenton-Ellis (MNZM) said: “The race recognises two very special people in James and Annie Sarten, the parents of our race sponsor Marie Leicester. We celebrate 35 years of the Sarten/Leicester sponsoring relationship and thank Marie and her family for continuing this great gesture and in doing so honouring her parents. 

“Marie is a highly successful breeder, continuing on the wonderful Belle family, and a terrific role model for women. She has bred some stars, including Melody Belle, been club president at Taupo, and an inaugural director of the Hall of Fame board, for which she was recently recognised for her contribution.”

Visiting owner from Hong Kong, Dr. Phillip Mak said: “To have a good horse winning is never simple, so I'm very happy and it was not an easy race. He began from a wide barrier and had a very strong opponent, so it's a big thrill. I know David (Ellis) very well. They are good friends and have had consistent results for 40 years. The communication is very quick and efficient, especially with Jamie training on his own for the first time. I can tell that he is very much on the ball and keeps us informed. The cup is always half-full with horse reports, but with Te Akau they always give a balanced report.”

Sword of Osman was strapped by Mette Mosebo.

Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz

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