Two Group Races, Two Te Akau Quinellas

Date: 23 Feb 2020

Two Group Races, Two Te Akau Quinellas










It was a huge Saturday of racing for Jamie Richards and the Te Akau New Zealand team with two Group race quinellas - all four horses purchased by David Ellis at Karaka.





The first line honours went to Need I Say More, giving Te Akau yet another Group 3 Matamata Slipper title, ahead of stablemate, Karaka Million winner Cool Ama Beel ...









While it may not have gone the way some expected, Te Akau still notched their eighth victory in the $70,000 Waikato Stud Slipper (Gr. 3, 1200m) with a powerful display by Need I Say More  (2 g No Nay Never - Bo Bardi, by Fastnet Rock) on Saturday at Matamata.





A strong young galloper that impressed in his debut victory on the course earlier in February, Need I Say More started a clear second favourite behind hot-pot stable-mate and recent Karaka Million (Restricted Listed, 1200m) winner Cool Aza Beel (Savabeel), but relished the downgraded footing (Slow7) to win by two and a half lengths. 





Ridden by Craig Grylls, Need I Say More took over at the 300m after settling outside race leader Snapper (Power) and drew clear, while Cool Aza Beel, who never appeared overly comfortable in the going, worked off the trail into second, ahead of Snapper. 





He ran the 1200 metres in 1:12.8, last 600m in 36.0, and paid $4.10 & $1.70 on the NZ TAB tote.





Owned by the Te Akau Never Say Die Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis), Need I Say More was purchased by David Ellis for $130,000, from the draft of Kilgravin Lodge, at the 2019 Karaka Book 1 Sale.





“He was passed in at the sales, but I really loved the horse and came home and couldn't sleep knowing I didn't have him,” Ellis said. “I rang the vendor, Eion Kemp, who stayed in for a share because he loved him too. 





“We have some new owners in the horse, which we're thrilled about and it's a great way for them to start. I was very impressed with his debut win, when he looked like he wanted to just keep running, and even more impressed with his effort today.





“To win a Group Three with your first horse that you've had with Te Akau, and he's now had two from two, is not an easy thing to do. Not many horses win a Group Three at just their second start. 





“That was Jamie's 14thstakes' winner this season and the third time in a row we've won the Slipper. 





“On such a big day, in one way I'm disappointed that I can't be at Matamata, Otaki, or Melbourne, but it's a very happy week for Karyn and me because the last of our daughters is getting married this week. I'm at Jamie's stag do, which we're having at the Viaduct Basin, at Headquarters, and Karyn is at Lydia's hen's do. We've got a huge TV just by our table and we all got so excited because a quinella in a Group Three race is not an easy thing to do. 





“I thought that Cool Aza Beel went a super race, obviously didn't handle the track, but he's going to be a massive chance in the Sistema Stakes (Gr. 1, 1200m) back at Ellerslie.”





Ellis also emphasised how difficult it is to select and train horses of such calibre.





“These sorts of results are not easy to achieve,” he said. “There are so many good buyers out there and so many good trainers. It only comes about through our buying processes and Jamie (Richards) and our team are doing such an unbelievably good job training these horses. 





“He's surrounded himself with absolutely fantastic staff and I'm just so proud of them all. It was our 85thwin for the season and we're only in mid-February, which is incredible, really.”





Race sponsor Mark Chittick said: “It's our family's favourite race day and a time-honoured race. Congratulations to Jamie, Karyn, and David, and everyone at Te Akau. 





“It's fantastic to see a few usual suspects in the ownership and also the new owners, congratulations to you all.





“Well done to Craig Grylls, too. He made the most of a good strong front-running horse and a great ride.”





Accepting on behalf of the owners, Jim Hepburn said: “Thank you to Waikato Stud, and to Jamie, who is doing a fantastic job, and also to Craig (Grylls). 





“Ever since I first saw this horse I've loved him. He's the spitting image of Justify, the Triple Crown winner, except he had a white blaze on him. I think he's a serious horse and don't think we've seen the best of him yet.”





Trainer Jamie Richards said: “It's always a great pleasure to win a race here on the home track. Matamata has been home to me for five or six years and when I first moved to Matamata I worked with Mark & Lisa at Waikato Stud. 





“It's a big thrill to win this race again and we look forward to seeing these two boys in better races to come. Congratulations to all the owners and especially to Robyn Bregmen, our office manager, because this is her first horse.





“Also, thank you to Graeme Styles and his track team here at Matamata.”





Craig Grylls said: “I've been lucky enough to win this race three times, now. Thank you to the team at Waikato Stud for their sponsorship, especially now it's a Group Three. And to Jamie, all his team, and all the owners, thank you for putting me on.”





Previous Te Akau winners in the race: Cosma D'ior (Dieu D'or) scored first in 1995. Five-time Group One winning Champion Stallion Darci Brahma (Danehill) won in 2005, stallion Minstrel Court (Danehill Dancer) in 2008, King's Ransom (King's Chapel) in 2009, Group One winning stallion Heroic Valour (Fastnet Rock) in 2016, Sword of Osman (Savabeel) in 2018, and Yourdeel (Dundeel) last year.





Need I Say More was strapped by Reece Trumper. 







Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz


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