The Informant's View on Te Akau's Success

By Dennis Ryan - The Informant -

Matamata fillies dominated today's New Zealand Bloodstock 1000 Guineas but not in the order anticipated by punters.

In what amounted to a minor upset, the hot favourite had to bow to Costa Viva, with fellow Jason Bridgman-trained Spellbinder in third place.

There was nothing wrong with Costa Viva's form leading into the three-year-old fillies' classic, it was just that Bounding's was a notch better and pundits had labelled her the winner.

The factor they hadn't counted on, however, was luck - or rather the lack of it. Boundless had none from the time she got a hind leg hooked up on the side of her starting stall and had to undergo a veterinary inspection.

Once cleared to start and the race was underway, she was left parked three-wide as rivals kicked up inside her. Rider Mark Du Plessis was powerless as he attempted to find cover and then had little option but to sit and wait to make his final move.

Meantime Leith Innes was able to give Costa Viva a cosy trip tucked away back in the field while Silhouette Noire set the pace from Spellbinder and second fancy Miss Foxwood.

Nearing the home turn Boundless ranged up to lodge her claim but Costa Viva was on her back set to pounce and did so with 250 metres to run. She quickly asserted herself and brave as Bounding was, she couldn't bridge the gap.

At the line Costa Viva had three-quarters of a length to spare over Bounding, with two and a quarter lengths to Spellbinder and a length and a half to Miss Foxwood.

Today's win was ample compensation for what Bridgman considered a desperately unlucky first day second with Chambord in the Sothys New Zealand 2000 Guineas.

“The race today panned out well for her with a bit of early tempo,” said Bridgman, whose first Group One success had come in the same race three years ago with King's Rose. “That set her up for the last shot and she made the most of the opportunity presented.

“Going into the spring I thought these two fillies (Costa Viva and Spellbinder) were our best two since King's Rose. As the race got closer I thought Costa Viva was my best chance.

“Matt (Cameron, stable jockey) thought otherwise, but it's been his choice since the Sarten Memorial to ride Spellbinder. Personally, both fillies have gone huge and it's a very satisfying result all round.”

The win by Costa Viva, a $100,000 Gold Coast yearling purchase by David Ellis, took Te Akau's Racing 1000 Guineas tally to three and its overall Riccarton Guineas tally to seven in the past decade.