WINNER: Hakkinen Flies Home

After giving indication of his readiness in a trial at Ashburton, Hakkinen (5 g Savabeel – Miss Scandinavia, by Smart Missile) won the $40,000 Racecourse Hotel and Motor Lodge Rating 75 1400 metres on Saturday at Riccarton.

A stylish Maiden winner over 1600 metres and fourth in both the Listed Gingernuts Salver (2100m) and Group 2 Avondale Guineas (2100m) as a three-year-old, Hakkinen had placed three times in good fields last season without being able to break through, but looked ready to resume when finishing strongly for a smart trial win on 25 August at Ashburton.

Drawn the outside gate (12) and ridden back in the field, as he was in the trial, Hakkinen tracked up widest inside the 600m, changed stride and quickened when asked at the 300m, and exuded a terrific action while stylishly rounding up the leaders.

It was a terrific effort by a horse that has always appeared capable of reaching Open company, and completed a good day for former Te Akau apprentice Wiremu Pinn, who also rode stable-mate Sweetest Thing (Hello Youmzain) to record a sixth win for Te Akau in the Listed Canterbury Belle Stakes. 

On footing that remained Heavy8 throughout the day, yet one which saw horses quicken more so than the previous meeting on 29 August at Riccarton, Hakkinen ran 1400 metres in 1:25.4 and paid $2.80 & $1.50 on the NZ TAB tote.

“It was great to see him back in winning form,” said Mark Walker, training partner with Sam Bergerson. 

“He relaxed beautifully for Wiremu, was aided by a strong tempo, and it was good to see him power home down the outside.

“It was also great to see Wiremu ride a couple of winners for us, today. He’s been riding track work for us at Matamata, has ridden a Group One winner for us, and he’s a valuable member in the jockey ranks.

“Hakkinen is a big horse, and he's been a slower maturing type, but off the back of his trial win he looked ready to step up. Hopefully we can now see him grow in confidence to be competitive up in grade. 

“There are plenty of nice races available to him, he can get over more distance, too, and it was very satisfying for everyone to see him deliver like he did.”

Owned by the Te Akau Flying Finn Racing Partnership (Mgr: Lady Karyn Ellis MNZM), Hakkinen was bred by the 2016 Te Akau Scandinavia Syndicate and purchased by Sir David Ellis for $250,000, from the draft of Phoenix Park, at the 2023 Karaka Book 1 Sale. 

By Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) winning three-year-old and 10-time Champion Sire Savabeel (Zabeel), Hakkinen is from a mare by terrific sire Smart Missile (Fastnet Rock), a Group Two winner and Group One placed sprinter, the sire of over 1700 winners.

“I thought Hakkinen was impressive winning the last race at Riccarton, because he was back and wide all the way and got home really well,” Ellis said. 

Ellis knows the family well, having purchased Miss Scandinavia as a yearling in Australia, and she won twice to 1600 metres. 

After winning his first race, Ellis said: “Hakkinen is her first foal, it’s a great pedigree, and we’ve had so much success with buying first foals from good quality mares like Miss Scandinavia.”

Miss Scandinavia has an exceptional pedigree. Her grand-dam Miss Finland (Redoute’s Choice) was Champion 2YO & 3YO Filly in Australia, and winner of five Group One races including the Golden Slipper (1200m) and VRC Oaks (2500m). Her progeny sold for $500,000, $750,000, and $900,000, as indication of her quality.

Miss Scandinavia has also produced a three year old full brother to Hakkinen who races as Raikkonen; a two-year-old filly by Noverre (Savabeel); a yearling filly by Sword Of State (Snitzel), and is due to foal to Hello Youmzain (Kodiac). 

Hakkinen was strapped by Pieter Van Rooyen.