Te Aroha 2YO Te Akau Trifecta

Trainer Jamie Richards had a great start on Saturday at Te Aroha, producing a trifecta with three well bred horses in $20,000 Maiden 2YO 1100 metres.

After sharing the pace, I Choose You (2 f I Am Invincible - Choose, by Starcraft) held the challenge of Grace ‘N' Grey (2 f Spirit of Boom - Gracious Grey, by Redoute's Choice), with Accidental Tourist (2 g Telperion - Megara, by Encosta de Lago) finishing third.

Purchased in January by Te Akau principal David Ellis CNZM at 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, from draft of Yarraman Park Stud, I Choose You is owned by Te Akau 2021 Fillies' Breeding Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM).

After finding another gear for a strong trials' win on 4 November at Matamata, I Choose You ($2.30) was understandably public elect and while barrier eight can prove awkward, she had the gate speed to overcome it.

Rider Danielle Johnson, who last season brought about her 1000^thcareer win at Te Aroha, pushed the button early in order to work across and lead, with Grace ‘N' Grey following suit from barrier nine to travel on terms for jockey Michael McNab.

Each on the bridle turning for home, the pair quickened clear of their opponents, with I Choose You taking charge over the final stages, and Accidental Tourist staying strongly off the trail for third under Kozzi Asano. It was terrific racing by the three debutantes.

On Dead4 footing, in the race sponsored by Te Aroha Stallion Service Scheme, I Choose You scored by one length and ran 1100 metres in 1:04.9.

“I was really happy with the way she won,” Richards said. “She showed professionalism, found a good kick after working early, pinned her ears back, and I was pleased with the way Danielle (Johnson) rode her.

“She's a really nice filly, selected by Dave (Ellis) with Andy Williams o the ground for us at the Gold Coast, and has plenty of improvement to come. She's by the right stallion and we can look forward to the future with her.

“I was thrilled with the way all three went in the race. Grace ‘N' Grey didn't shirk on the task and ran really well, and so did Accidental Tourist in his first race day outing.”

All three horses were purchased as yearlings this year by Ellis: I Choose You at Gold Coast, the other two at Karaka, and of special note the winner provided back-to-back victories for the Te Akau 2021 Fillies' Breeding Syndicate, following Bright Blue Sky (Fastnet Rock), also bought by Ellis at Gold Coast, won on debut winner last Saturday at Te Rapa.

“Like Bright Blue Sky last week, both I Choose You and Grace ‘N' Grey are from the barn managed by Nicole Shailer, so it's a great result for team at the Middle Barn, and massive result for the owners.

“All these fillies have really good pedigrees, so are valuable, and they are racing so well and winning early in their two-year-old careers so that adds enormously to their residual value, too.

“It's great to see a good track today at Te Aroha. Thankfully, the weather has improved after a frustratingly wet spring, in addition to being unable to race at Ellerslie, and hopefully we can get back to being able to use all racing venues as soon as possible.

“We've got some more nice two-year-olds to race in the next two weeks, including a very nice horse called Insatiable (All Too Hard) that I bought off Windsor Park Stud at the Karaka Sales, and he'll be staking his claim for a berth in the Karaka Million.”

In additional news, Ellis reported that 2000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m) winning colt Noverre (Savabeel) had returned to work.

“Noverre had a week at the water walker and returned to the stable on Monday,” he said. “He went to the track this morning and his preparation will be aimed at the Karaka Million 3YO.”

I Choose You is by Champion Australian Sire I Am Invincible (Invincible Spirit), from six-time winner (1200 - 1400m) Choose, by New Zealand bred stallion Starcraft (Soviet Star), a world-class galloper and five-time Group 1 winner that claimed titles of Champion 3YO in Australia, Champion Sprinter in New Zealand, and Champion Miler in Europe.

There is no doubt I Am Invincible is a phenomenal sire and that Ellis has a very good eye for selecting them. I Am Invincible made history by siring 28 stake winners in a season, and it's no surprise that I Am Invincible was the first sire chosen to serve Winx (Street Cry) in 2019.

At the time of purchase, Ellis said: “She's a beautiful filly with plenty of size, scope, and strength. She has lovely big ears and we thought she was a standout filly by the sire.

“She has a deep pedigree, with a lot of two-year-old winners, and good quality fillies by this sire are not easy to come by, as most are retained, and this filly is from a well performed race mare.”

I Choose You was strapped by Libby Richards.

Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz