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

We look back now on the 8th of 18 Group/Listed races claimed by Te Akau NZ trainer Jamie Richards and our team in 2018/19 - quite a season it was too with seven of these trophies at Group 1 level ... this time the Shark proved it wasn't safe to be in Canterbury Group 2 waters with him ...

Looking every bit a potential Group One contender, both in NZ and Australia, Te Akau Shark(4 g Rip Van Winkle - Bak da Chief, by Chief Bearhart) was in a league of his own when crossing the line six lengths clear in the $230,000 Coupland's Bakeries Mile (Gr. 2, 1600m) on the middle day (Nov. 14) of Cup Week at Riccarton.

“He has to have been the most impressive winner of the race,” said sponsor Ray Coupland. “He's a very classy horse, that will have to go to Australia, and I think he'll give them a bit of a shake up too.”

Loving the expansive surrounds and genuine galloping track at Riccarton, Te Akau Shark got into a nice rhythm for rider Opie Bosson, settling ninth on the outer, and once presented on straightening he breezed by untouched in a breathtaking performance. His big strides raking in the ground was pretty to see.

“He came back to me nicely and was pretty relaxed in the run,” Bosson said. “He could be a very exciting horse to take to Australia. He has all the talents of a Group One horse, and more,” 

An obvious favourite for the Coupland's after his phenomenal three-length win in Red Badge Spring Sprint (Gr. 3, 1400m) on 6 October at Hastings, Te Akau Shark ran the 1600 metres in 1:36.3, and a scintillating last 600m in 32.3 seconds. 

Time Keeper Nigel Marks said in his lengthy tenure he had only clocked a handful of horses running 32 seconds for the last 600 metres and that was generally down the chute from the 1000 or 1200-metre marks, and with a wind behind him. 

At his only previous course attempt, Te Akau Shark almost provided a stable trifecta when finishing fourth to stable-mates Embellish (Savabeel) and subsequent Group One winner Age of Fire (Fastnet Rock) in the 2000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m) during Cup Week last year. 

Purchased by David Ellis for $230,000 at the New Zealand Bloodstock 2016 Ready to Run Sale, from the draft of Lyndhurst Farm, Te Akau Shark is from Waikato Cup (Gr. 2, 2400m) winner Bak da Chief, and recorded his fifth win from six starts for owners Steve Mace, David Ellis, Paul Gallen, Greg Taylor, Chris Russell, Matt Allenby, Wayne Knight, Ruth Redwood, William Thrupp, Jim & Pauline Hepburn, and Donna & Robert Rudd.  

“He's a really exciting horse and Jamie (Richards) has done an absolutely incredible job in managing and training him, and I'm so thrilled for the owners who are having the thrill of a lifetime with this horse,” Ellis said.

“He went up five and half kilos off his last win, so to win like he did by six lengths, carrying 58.5 kilos is a pretty big performance.”

“I'd like to give Dave (Ellis) big thanks, because he bought him and syndicated amongst these boys and a great group of owners,” Richards said. “He met Steve Mace beside the pool in Hawaii, so it's quite an incredible story and amazing to be a part of it.

Through that poolside meeting, and a as friend of Mace, Cronulla Sharks rugby league legend Paul Gallen also joined the ownership and the former N.S.W. State of Origin captain was on hand to see the victory.

“Hopefully he'll be running around in Sydney, so I won't have to travel so far,” Gallen said. “He's the first horse I've been involved in and to actually come and watch the race live, and meet the horse, was real highlight of mine. I can't wait until he comes to Sydney, and fingers crossed the result's the same.”

Te Akau Shark was strapped by Mason Stevens.

Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz

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