Will the Shark Bite?

Date: 11 Nov 2017

Will the Shark Bite?

Ahead of the $500,000 Al Basti Equiworld NZ 2000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m) on Saturday at Riccarton racecourse in Christchurch, News Talk ZB Christchurch interviewed Cronulla Sharks captain Paul Gallen who part owns the highly regarded Te Akau Shark (Rip Van Winkle). He was hugely excited about being involved in one of the favourites for today's iconic event.

Gallen is a professional rugby league player in the National Rugby League (NRL) and a heavy weight boxer. He is also a former captain of the New South Wales State of Origin team.

Te Akau Shark, unbeaten in two starts, was purchased by David Ellis for $230,000 at the New Zealand Bloodstock 2016 Ready to Run Sale, from the draft of Lyndhurst Farm. His dam, Bak da Chief, is a Waikato Cup (Gr. 2, 2400m) winner and he owned by the Te Akau Shark Syndicate - Steve Mace, Paul Gallen, Greg Taylor, Chris Russell, Matt Allenby and Wayne Knight from Australia and Jim and Pauline Hepburn, Donna and Robert Rudd and Ruth Redwood and William Thrupp from New Zealand.

Te Akau Shark is a $5.00 & $1.80 fixed odds second favourite behind his stable-mate Embellish (Savabeel) at $3.20 & $1.50.

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