Viva Vienna Goes Voom

Te Akau trainer Mark Walker made the perfect start to Saturday racing when Viva Vienna (2 f All Too Hard - Anna of Austria, by Snitzel) won the $30,000 SVS Starting Gates 2YO 1000 metres at Te Rapa.

Viva Vienna won her solitary trial before fighting well for third when debuting in the Maiden 2YO 800 metres on 24 September at Ruakaka, and proved too good after dictating terms in front.

She was ridden by visiting South African jockey Warren Kennedy, currently reigning Champion in his homeland, who has looked good in the saddle since arriving and has quickly racked up five wins.

On Good4 footing, Viva Vienna ran 1000 metres in 59.0 and paid $3.30 & $2.00 on the NZ TAB tote.

“She's a very professional filly and it was a good win,” Walker said. “She's natural type of two-year-old and should develop into a nice Karaka Million chance.”

Purchased by Te Akau principal David Ellis CNZM for $100,000 in March at the 2022 Karaka Book 1 Sale, from the draft of Westbury Stud, and owned by the Te Akau Empress of Austria Racing Partnership (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM), Viva Vienna provided the sixth two-year-old win this season for Te Akau, following recent debut winners Believe In Magic (Not A Single Doubt) and Trobriand (Kermadec).

Three other juvenile campaigners: Rhetorical (Snitzel), Rubicon Crossing (Rubick) and Sky On Fire (Exceed And Excel) are set to do battle in the $80,000 Welcome Stakes (Listed, 1000m) on Wednesday at Riccarton, with Te Akau seeking its eighth win in the race.

“Viva Vienna had the gate speed to work across and lead and pretty impressive, I thought,” Ellis said.

“Along with Believe In Magic, she's the second two-year-old winner this week that we've bought from Westbury Farm, which is brilliantly run for Gerry Harvey by his manager Russell Warwick.

“The prize money from that race will qualify her for the Karaka Million and she looks an exciting prospect.

“We've got another nice three-year-old in the stable by All Too Hard (Casino Prince), named Insatiable, and he's a proven sire that is really well related.

“That was Mark's 56^thwin for the season, an incredible effort and I'd like to thank the team for all the hard work they're doing.”

All Too Hard (Casino Prince) is a half-brother to the unbeaten champion Black Caviar (Bel Esprit), winner of all 25 of starts, including 15 Group Ones, and sire of Queensland Horse of the Year Alligator Blood.

Winning three times as a two-year-old, All Too Hard won three Group One races over 1400 metres in Australia: All Aged Stakes, Futurity Stakes, C. F. Orr Stakes, and made his mark as a sire in Australia with 1200 winners, including 52 stakes winners.

Dam-sire Snitzel (Redoute's Choice) is one of three in the trilogy of breed-shaping champion stallions in Australia, along with forefathers Danehill (Danzig), and Redoute's Choice (Danehill).

A two-time Champion Sire of Two-Year-Olds in Australia, Snitzel equalled, and then surpassed, Danehill with his record number of individual two-year-old winners in a season - a mark that now stands at 35. He has also headed the General Sires' List twice and Australian Champion Sire in 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020.

Not stopping there, Snitzel has also left 18 stakes' winners as a broodmare sire.

The filly carries bloodline crosses of Danehill and Snippets, while Anna of Austria has a Canny Lad cross, which overall suggests speed influence.

Viva Vienna was strapped by Ashley Handley.

Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz