Trans Tasman Double - Samudra Superb on Debut

In for the fight, Samudra (2 f Snitzel – Pippie, by Written Tycoon) was a very good debut winner in the A$50,000 2YO 1000 metres on 21 May at Sandown (Melbourne).

Not long after the Gerry Harvey (Westbury Stud) owned debutante Shiatsu (Swiss Ace) won for the stable at Cambridge in New Zealand, Te Akau Racing had smart two-year-old prospect Samudra oblige in Australia.

Trained by Mark Walker at Cranbourne, Samudra had looked above average winning all three jump outs, most recently in classy fashion after racing wide near the pace on 26 April, and she rated a top three chance first-up.

Ridden by Ben Melham, there was some suspicion beforehand, given the pattern in her jump outs, that Samudra would settle off the pace, but she began well to be a somewhat reluctant leader over the sprint trip.

Although gawking around a bit in the role, Samudra railed with conviction turning for home, was seized upon by two challengers at the 200m, but lifted appreciably in defiance and in the end had them beaten.

“She’s a lovely filly and she’s won a two-year-old race that I feel had a bit of depth to it,” Melham said.

“She was a bit lost in front and has plenty of growing up and maturing to do, and I think she will be more than capable of measuring up in the spring. 

“She’s a big baby, but dug deep when it mattered and it was a very tenacious win.”

One of the chasers, notable debutante and second placed I’mateez (Capitalist), also held strong ties to Te Akau, being a half-brother to Imperatriz (I Am Invincible), the David Ellis CNZM Magic Millions' purchased yearling, 10-time Group One winner and current NZ and Australian Sprinter, and NZ Horse of the Year, who had combined earnings and subsequent sale price of $14.5 million. Imperatriz was also officially inducted in to the NZ Racing Hall of Fame last weekend.

In the race sponsored by The Thoroughbred Club of Australia, Samudra was shortened soon after the betting market opened from $2.60 to $1.90 and closed at $1.80 on the NZ TAB tote. 

Owned by TFI & Kia Ora Stud, Samudra was purchased by Ellis for A$775,000 at the 2024 Australian Easter Yearling Sale.  

In the parade video, accompanying the catalogue page on-line, it was clear to see that Samudra had the makings of a smart filly, given the class she exuded. Good-bodied, a smooth walker, and a filly with plenty of substance, all resulted in fetching a fair sum in the auction ring. 

“It was a great first-up win and I loved the way she really dug deep that last 150m, which is the sign of a really high-class filly,” Walker said.

“Dave (Ellis) bought her for Kia Ora and TFI, so I’m really grateful to them for having such a beautiful filly in the stable. 

“Going forward, she’s probably going to be a better chaser, than a leader, and she’s going to be a much nicer three-year-old, that’s for sure. 

“We’ve handled her with kid gloves. She went shin sore in the spring, so Ben (Gleeson, Assistant Trainer) and I thought to be patient with her and we’ve had that support from the owners as well. 

“She’ll go out for a short break, now, and we’ll get her ready for some nice three-year-old fillies’ races in the spring in Melbourne. 

“Our track work rider Laura Winks has been galloping her, and Emma Wilson who strapped her today, are both high-class horsewomen, and the stable is fortunate to have people of their skills in the team.”

Bred in the purple, Samudra is by Snitzel (Redoute’s Choice), who has topped the Australian General Sires’ List four times, out of a mare by nine-time Victorian Champion Sire Written Tycoon (Iglesia).

Adding to that, Samudra is the first foal out of dual Group One winning sprinter Pippie, who in 2020 won both the Oakleigh Plate (Gr. 1, 1100m) and Moir Stakes (Gr. 1, 1000m), also won in track record time (56.4) by Imperatriz (above). 

Shout out also to racing journalist Brad Bishop, who a day before the race coupled together an article about both Samudra and I’mateez. 

Samudra was strapped by Emma Wilson.