Two Starters, Two Winners

Debutante Grand Ariana (2 f Snitzel - Enduja, by Encosta De Lago) made up a lot of ground to win the $10,000 Congratulations Avantage Maiden 2YO 1200 metres on 3 April at Waipukurau.

It was fitting for Grand Ariana to win the race named after her stable-mate Avantage (Fastnet Rock): in line for Champion Two-Year-Old honours following her wins in the Karaka Million (Listed, 1200m) and Sires' Produce Stakes (Gr. 1, 1400m), a second in the Sistema Stakes (Gr. 1, 1200m) and five wins from six starts.

Settling off a solid pace, in sixth of seven runners and chasing along throughout, six lengths astern at the 600m and still five lengths at the 200m, Grand Ariana kept reeling in the leaders on the upward incline.

Commentator Tony Lee said: “Grand Ariana is starting to wind up on the outside for Shafiq and perfectly timed. She really made up a lot of ground, out of the Autridge/Richards stable, and Shafiq Rusof is creating a wonderful impression in NZ, with timing here”.

On footing downgraded to Slow8 after race 1, Grand Ariana had displayed plenty of determination for a close third when trialling on 17 April at Waipa, on similar ground, following a good second in her first trial in March at Cambridge. She ran the 1200 metres in 1:16.0 and paid $3.50 & $2.00 on the NZ TAB tote.

Failing to meet her reserve at the 2017 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Yearling Sale, she was purchased privately by Te Akau principal David Ellis and owned by the Fortuna Miss Ariana Syndicate (Mgr: John Galvin).

“I liked her at the sales,” Ellis said. “Once we'd sold all the yearlings we bought, I thought I'd go back through all the lots I liked that were passed in. So, I bought this filly, in the paddock at Windsor Park Stud, for $70,000 and being by Snitzel, who stands at $220,000, she's a great buy.

“She's from a really good nursery and any horse you buy from Windsor Park always has a good chance because they're so well fed and looked after on such good country.

“John (Galvin) does a great job with his clients and it's a pleasure to have them in the team and to work with as partners.”

Following the recent success by Total Excess (Delago Deluxe) on Saturday at Hastings, Grand Ariana became the 11^th individual two-year-old winner this season for Te Akau Racing.

“It's quite incredible and you only get this number of two-year-old winners with every part of the stable going well,” Ellis said. “They're educating these horses superbly and it's just a great achievement.”

Snitzel (Redoute's Choice) is one of three in the trilogy of breed shaping champion stallions in Australia, alongside Danehill (Danzig) and Redoute's Choice (Danehill), and Snitzel produced a record number (35) of two-year-old winners last season in Australia.

The filly also has greatness in bloodlines on her dam side. Dam sire Encosta De Lago (Fairy King) is a Champion broodmare sire, setting an Australian record last year for progeny earnings in a single season, and his influence in any pedigree is excellent.

“It was a very good win,” said Richards, of the performance by Grand Ariana. “I thought we were in a bit of trouble at the top of the straight but she finished off very well.

“She's still physically quite immature, but we thought she'd handle a bit of give in the ground and she'd trialled okay. A bit of a lazy track worker at home, it was hard to get a line on her and Shafiq said she didn't really like the kick back (turf) but when he got to the outside she really charged.

“She's a filly that can improve more as a three-year-old and has a few things going for her. It was really nice to get another win for John Galvin and his owners. John is actually in Paris at the moment, having been with Mark (Walker) for a few days in Singapore, and he's a big supporter.

“Obviously, Shafiq is riding in outstanding form and it was a good effort by the team to get her ready to win first up.”

Te Akau achieved another milestone a day earlier with the success by Torcedor (Fastnet Rock) in the Longines Sagaro Stakes (Gr. 3, 3200m) at Royal Ascot. Purchased by David Ellis for 70,000 Euro (NZ$115,000) at the 2013 Deauville Yearling Sales in France, and trained by Jessica Harrington in Ireland, Torcedor has now won five races and earned NZ$691,854 in prize money for owners Sir Patrick Hogan, Sir Peter Vela, Mohammed Moussa, and Laurie Laxon.

“To have won Group races in three different countries (New Zealand, Singapore, and England) in the past five days is one of the greatest achievements Te Akau Racing has ever had,” Ellis said.

“To win from the front over two-miles was a remarkable achievement by Torcedor, and he's one of the best stayers in Europe. He's finished second in two Group Ones behind Order of St George, one only by half a head - he only got him in the last stride - and he's beat that horse in a Group Three in Ireland.

“It was a remarkable day. The first time we'd won a race in England, and I was so thrilled that Karyn and Lydia were there because they got such a buzz out of it.”

Grand Ariana was strapped by Meg Lambert.

Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz