Triple Te Rapa Treat - Win No.1 Festivity

What proved to be a formality, Festivity  (4 m I Am Invincible - Mabsam, by Stratum) waltzed away with the $30,000 Te Akau Shark Farewell To A Legend Rating 74 1200 metres on Legends Day at Te Rapa.

Never clear when finishing fifth to stable-mate Entriviere (Tavistock) in the Concorde Handicap (Gr. 3, 1200m) on Karaka Million Night (23 Jan.) at Ellerslie, Festivity spotted perfectly in fourth turning for home and gave Opie Bosson an armchair ride drawing clear to win by four lengths.

It was an excellent gallop, under 60.5kg, to clock 1:09.3, last 600m in 34.7, and hotly supported she returned $1.40 on the NZ TAB tote.

“She played up a bit just before the gates opened, but she got into a beautiful spot and travelled comfortably,” Bosson said.

“I was a little bit worried turning in, she took a couple of strides to get going but once she balanced up she put them away quickly. She's definitely a stakes' horse.”

The winner of five from seven, Festivity was purchased by Te Akau principal David Ellis CNZM for $410,000 at the 2018 Karaka Book 1 Sale, from the draft of Windsor Park Stud, and owned by Te Akau 2018 Fabulous Fillies' Breeding Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM).

“She is becoming a very valuable mare, by the leading sire in Australia, and looks to have a big future ahead of her,” Ellis said.

“We did something unique with her today by leaving the ear muffs on for the race. Jamie (Richards) felt that would help her settle and it worked a treat. On that, you'd see her getting 1400m and 1600 metres.

“The track was in beautiful order, which is a real credit to the club, and we love winning races here at Te Rapa.

“Karyn and I decided to sponsor in the name of our great horse Te Akau Shark, who gave us so many thrills. He had a great group of owners and nice to see Jim and Pauline Hepburn and Ruth and Mike Redwood representing here today.  Karyn my wife also had a share in this special horse to everyone.”

Trainer Jamie Richards said Festivity could next be seen racing in the $100,000 Haunui Farm King's Plate (Gr. 3, 1200m) on Derby Day (6 March) at Ellerslie.

“She's very talented and we've taken her along quietly,” Richards said. “Things are starting to fall into place for her now and a little gear change of leaving the ear muffs on allowed her to settle and be more tractable.

“Dave (Ellis) put the syndicate together, to race some beautifully bred fillies, and there is a great team involved in the ownership.”

Reflecting on his favourite victory in the career of Te Akau Shark (Rip Van Winkle), the winner of seven from 14 and $1.5m prize money, Richards said: “I'll never forget, and I don't think Opie (Bosson) will either, the day in Sydney when Probabeel (Savabeel) won the Surround Stakes (Gr. 1, 1400m) and Te Akau Shark won the Chipping Norton (Gr. 1, 1600m).

“That will be forever etched in our memories and he was a wonderful horse. Quite a sad day, but fitting to have won the race named in his honour on a track that provided his first Group One win.”

Progeny by Leading Australian Sire (wins) I Am Invincible (Invincible Spirit), standing for $209,000, have been incredibly well sought after. His yearlings have sold for $2 million, $1.9m, $1.7m, $1.45m, and averaged over $400,000 last year. Mabsam was a debut winner over 1000 metres, winning to a mile, by a Golden Slipper (Gr. 1, 1200m) winning son of Redoute's Choice, Stratum, and doing a great job at stud with three individual winners of 13 races.

Festivity was strapped by Sam Bergerson.

Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz