WINNER: Cool & Commanding

Fresh-up, Cool In Command (3 g Cool Aza Beel – Mountford, by I Am Invincible) won the $20,000 Maiden 1200 metres on 20 August at Riccarton.

A trial winner last season on good ground before having two starts on unsuitable soft and heavy footing, Cool In Command remained under no pressure while sustaining his effort for third when trialling on 11 August at Timaru, and seemed assured of an economical trip from barrier one.

In the hands of Te Akau apprentice Hayley Hassman (a1), who was aboard for that recent trial, Cool In Command box-seated behind the leader, quickened through to lead at the 300m and remained untested as he coasted clear under hands and heels riding.

It was a pretty soft victory in the finish, one that franked his trial win prior to racing with stable rider Opie Bosson ONZM aboard at Avondale, and his way of going reflects a horse of good intent and promise.

Racing on the poly-track, which ensures good footing, Cool In Command ran 1200 metres in 1:10.6, in the race named CJC Feature Race Nominations Close 25 August, and as race favourite paid $2.60 & $1.40 on the NZ TAB tote.

“It was good to see him salute fresh-up, today, and a credit to our team that have all worked hard through the winter months and have been looking forward to spring,” said Mark Walker, training partner with Sam Bergerson, who won both the South Island Training Premiership and NZ Premiership last season – the seventh in a row for Te Akau.

“Hayley (Hassman) is riding in terrific form and once Cool In Command got a gap in the straight, he really accelerated nicely for her.

“I’m very happy for the owners, they’ve been patient with him, he had shown to appreciate the synthetic track in a trial, which is a handy asset, while the rest of the team are awaiting a return to decent ground as we move forward.”

Owned by the Te Akau Cool Rules Racing Partnership (Mgr: Lady Karyn Ellis MNZM), Cool In Command was purchased by Sir David Ellis for A$50,000 at the 2025 Gold Coast Yearling Book 2 Sale, from the draft of Newhaven Park Stud, where former Te Akau Champion Two-Year-Old Cool Aza Beel (Savabeel) stands at stud.

Cool In Command is from the second crop by Cool Aza Beel, winner of the Karaka Million 2YO (Restricted Listed, 1200m) and Group 1 Sistema Stakes (1200m).

From his first crop, Ellis purchased Cool Aza Rene, the winner of five races to 1400 metres, including claiming the stable's ninth Group 3 Barneswood Farm Stakes (1400m) title early last season, while Newhaven Park is also standing Cool Archie, a Group One winning juvenile, also from the first crop of Cool Aza Beel.

Cool In Command is the second foal from Mountford, who is by three-time Australian Champion Sire I Am Invincible (Invincible Spirit), whose star performer Imperatriz was purchased by Ellis and trained by Te Akau to win 10 Group One races. She became New Zealand Horse of the Year, Champion Sprinter in Australia, World Highest Rated Sprinter, and when retired in 2024 was the highest priced (A$6.6 million) filly or mare ever sold in the Southern Hemisphere.

His third dam Beauty Belle (Ideal Planet), is the dam of Group 3 Pago Pago Stakes (1200m) winner Genius And Evil (Marauding), defeating Fastnet Rock (Danehill) in that race. He was renamed Absolute Champion upon being sold to Hong Kong where he became a Group One winner and Champion Sprinter in Hong Kong.

Beauty Belle, who left 10 to race for nine winners, also produced dual Group One winner Wylie Hall (Redoute’s Choice), who included the Group 1 South African Derby (2400m) in his record.

Cool In Command is from the family of Te Akau dual Horse of the Year Melody Belle (Commands), going back to Belle Time (Summertime). Melody Belle was purchased as a yearling for $57,500 by Ellis, and the Champion Two-Year-Old went on to be dual Horse of the Year and the winner of 14 Group One races, a national record – one more than Sunline (Desert Sun) who won 13.

At the time of purchasing Cool In Command, Ellis said: “He is very much in the mould of his sire, Cool Aza Beel, and rich in colour like his sire Savabeel.

“We know plenty about the outstanding Belle family, especially through the deeds of Melody Belle, and it’s such a great pedigree.

“He’s a really good bodied colt, by a sire we’ve already had success with, and great value at the price.”

Cool In Command carries bloodline crosses to Danzig, through the sire line of I Am Invincible and dam line of Cool Aza Beel, along with great sire Bletchingly.

Cool In Command was strapped by Peter Van Rooyen. 

Photo credit - Ajay Berry - www.raceimages.co.nz