Two Te Akau Wins at Rotorua

Te Akau New Zealand trainer Jamie Richards traded up with stable rider Opie Bosson to record a winning double at Rotorua today - the first with debut runner Weaponry ...

Weaponry (3 g Declaration of War - Cat Shmea, by Felix the Cat) made the perfect start to his racing career when winning on debut in the $10,000 Maiden 3YO 1100 metres on 28 November at Rotorua.

In a very competitive finish, Weaponry had a long head margin over She's A Goddess (Tavistock) and a nose to Porshabelle (Shamexpress) in third.

Given a flawless ride by Opie Bosson in the Preakness & Belmont Stakes and Cuba with Wheels sponsored event, Weaponry secured a perfect position in fifth, advanced to fourth at the 600m, travelled up well rounding the home turn and after leading at the 200m he dug deep when challenged.

Having trialled well for second on Slow7 over 1000 metres on 1 November at Te Aroha, Weaponry again struck track conditions rated Slow7, running the 1100 metres in 1:06.5, last 600m in 36, and his best return was $5.00 & $1.70 on the NZ TAB.

“I had the opportunity to put the second horse in a pocket turning in and I thought I'd get going, but I didn't realise he was going to switch off,” Bosson said. “But to his credit, he heard the horses coming and went again.”

Bosson said the track had plenty of give in it, but was drying through the day and playing fairly.

Deputising for trainer Jamie Richards, Paul Richards, said: “He switched off for a time at the trials after getting there a bit soon, but Opie (Bosson) has lifted him.

“We gave him a good chance and he'd improved on what he'd done at Te Aroha. He's been a little bit of a slow learner, but the penny is starting to drop. He's had some variety in his work, including some jumping, is pretty fit, and coming back he hardly looked as though he'd had a race.”

From the draft of Curraghmore Stud, Weaponry was purchased by David Ellis for $140,000 at the 2017 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Yearling Sale, and owned by the Te Akau Weaponry Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM).

“It's a real thrill when you see a horse win their very first start for the owners,” Ellis said. “It means the horse has been properly educated by all the team and Jamie (Richards) has done a great job finding the right race. He waited patiently to get a good barrier, which at times can be frustrating for the owners, but it's the strategically smart thing for a trainer to do. So, I take my hat off to him for showing the patience and getting the result.

“He's a really nice horse that we bought at the Karaka sales off Shelley Frost and her mother, the late Raywyn Ramage of Braided River Thoroughbreds, and through the Curraghmore draft. We love buying horses from breeders that support us and Raywyn and Shelley have always had horses with us and take shares in horses. They are brilliant people to train for.

“We also bought a three-quarter sister to Weaponry at the New Zealand Bloodstock May Sale this year. A Savabeel filly out of a Volksraad daughter of Cat Shmea and she's a two-year-old filly called Tam O'Shanter. Jamie had said to me that he liked the way Weaponry was progressing, thought he had a good future and we think this filly has plenty of potential as well.”

Sporting a Northern Dancer and Nijinsky cross, the dam of Weaponry, Cat Shmea, also won on debut over 1000 metres, and sire Declaration of War (War Front), Joint Champion Older Male in Europe, was a triple Group One winning miler. From his first crop - oldest progeny three - Declaration of War made headlines as a racehorse with a very impressive win in the Queen Anne Stakes (Gr. 1, 1600m) at Royal Ascot.

“Anyone who saw Declaration of War's win at Ascot would have realised what a special horse he was for trainer Aidan O'Brien at Ballydoyle, and he went on to one of the highest rated races in the world - the York International (Gr. 1, 2000m),” said Ellis, who was today inspecting horses spelling at Te Akau Stud with Jamie Richards.

“Jamie and I have just finished inspecting the horses that are having a break here on the farm. We've got quite a few spelling at the moment that just need a little bit of time and we're thrilled with the way they're doing.”

Weaponry was strapped by Chelsea Burdan.

Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz