Yearling Spotlight: Lot 270 In the Congo (AUS) - Anaween (AUS) Chestnut Filly
26 June, 2026
Spotlight On Our Yearlings: In The Congo Filly Impresses During First Preparation
Our Spotlight on Yearlings series continues this week with one of the standout fillies from our 2026 Karaka Book 1 purchases – the exciting In The Congo – Anaween (More Than Ready) filly.
Purchased by David Ellis CNZM for $400,000 from Little Avondale Stud, the daughter of first-season sire In The Congo has recently completed her first educational preparation at Te Akau's Matamata stable and has already left a lasting impression on the team.
After being broken in, she progressed through to a jump out on 14 May before returning to Te Akau Stud for a four-week spell. Described as a really nice, big filly, she handled every aspect of her education with maturity and confidence and is due back in the stable on 14 June to begin preparations towards an early trial next season.
Assistant trainer Reece Trumper, who has been closely involved in Te Akau's yearling selection process over the past three years, couldn't have been happier with what he saw.
"She's got such a good temperament, moves well and really enjoyed her work.
"She's really well put together physically and nothing is a bother to her. She walked straight into the equine swimming pool and she's a filly that does everything to please you.
"She wants to do things right, licked the feed bowl clean every day and she's been a pleasure to have in the stable from day one.
"She's got a lovely demeanour about her and I personally think that In The Congo, being a quick son of Snitzel, will leave them early. Kit Brooks broke her in for us and he gave her a really good rap too."
The filly boasts an outstanding pedigree.
Her sire, In The Congo, was a brilliant racehorse, winning the Golden Rose (Gr. 1, 1400m) against Australia's best three-year-olds. Alongside his Group One victory, he was Group One placed, won at Group Three level and finished runner-up in two Group Two races.
A son of four-time Champion Sire Snitzel, In The Congo has been strongly supported by breeders, with his first crop of yearlings selling for up to $625,000 and consistently making between $200,000 and $300,000 at this year's Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
His dam, Via Africa, was Champion Sprinter in South Africa, winning 10 races including three at Group One level. She is by Var, the Joint Champion Male Sprinter in Europe and sire of 61 stakes winners.
The filly also comes from a family Te Akau knows exceptionally well.
She is from the family of New Zealand Oaks (Gr. 1, 2400m) winner Amarelinha (Savabeel), who was also purchased by David Ellis as a Karaka yearling before becoming the sixth of Te Akau's eight New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year winners.
The family also includes outstanding sire and broodmare sire Keeper (Danehill), a son of the third dam Nuwirah (Pleasant Colony).
Speaking after purchasing the filly at Karaka, Ellis believed she had all the attributes he looks for in a future racehorse.
"She's by the first-season sire In The Congo, a magnificent racehorse, very fast, who developed into a good three-year-old and looks to be another very promising sire by Snitzel.
"She's a quality filly, well built, looks terrific and has a lot of class and athleticism about her. She's a beautiful mover.
"We've had a lot of luck with the family already, having bought Amarelinha as a yearling at Karaka and also Kiwi Raider.
"She was a standout filly that was hotly contested in the auction ring and we're thrilled to have secured her."
Adding further appeal, she carries a beautifully balanced cross of the breed-shaping champion sire Danehill (Danzig) through both the sire line of In The Congo and the dam line of Anaween.
Trumper also provided an update on the Stay Inside – Galway Girl (I Am Invincible) colt who we will touch on next week.
"He's developed incredibly well during his four-week break at Te Akau Stud," Trumper said.
"He looks magnificent and very promising."
Te Akau Racing continues to offer owners unrivalled opportunities across Australasia, with stables in Matamata, Riccarton and Cranbourne (Melbourne).
As Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson chase a seventh consecutive New Zealand Trainers' Premiership, the stable currently holds a 40-win lead after recording 131 wins and more than $8.1 million in prize money this season, following last year's record-breaking campaign of 131 wins and $9.2 million in stakes.
The stable's record speaks for itself:
• 16 Champion Trainer titles, including the last six consecutively
• Approaching 3,000 domestic wins
• 429 stakes victories, including 106 Group One wins
• David Ellis CNZM has purchased 42 individual Group One winners that have won 90 Group One races
• Fourteen New Zealand Guineas winners (seven 2000 Guineas and seven 1000 Guineas)
• Eight Karaka Million 2YO winners, including seven consecutive victories (2017–2023)
• The only stable to win the Karaka Million 2YO and Karaka Million 3YO double in 2020, 2022 and 2025
• Purchased, syndicated and trained inaugural $3.5 million Kiwi winner Damask Rose
• Eight New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year winners
• Since 2017, 34 Australian stakes victories, including 15 Group One wins
One owner, who enjoyed 35 wins in a season with Te Akau, recently summed up his experience.
"They run a business how I like a business run and as an owner, while you do your due diligence, you also need some luck, but you've got to be in to win.
"I've been lucky, had ownership in some very good horses with Te Akau, including Avantage with her nine Group One wins, and many of the horses have been sold on for big money.
"David Ellis and Te Akau have an incredible record buying, training and selling horses. They buy well-bred horses that they think are capable of winning good races. They are people that are very successful and I've never had any issues with them.
"They buy at the top end because that's where the most success comes from in horse racing, so it's logical that they do it that way.
"The stallion syndicates are always sold because they've got the best breeding and the same with the fillies' syndicates.
"I've taken a few shares in yearlings this year that have been sold and also took a punt on the Pinatubo colt out of a Darci Brahma mare (Darook Park)."
Shares remain available in this filly, along with a number of exciting yearlings purchased in New Zealand and Australia this season.
SHARE OPTIONS AVAILABLE:
* 2.5% – NZD$10,300
* 5% – NZD$20,600
* 7.5% – NZD$30,900
* 10% – NZD$41,200
* 20% – NZD$82,400
PLEASE NOTE: Share price includes pedigree research/analysis & sale expenses at cost, as well as full pre purchase veterinary inspection & x-ray examination. Your share of post-sale transport, Karaka Millions' Series and Pearl Bonus Series (fillies only) entry, insurance, post-sale shoe removal & drench additional - as are breaking in and training costs to date of purchase. Ongoing costs per month approx. $600 +GST per 10% share. Full disclosure document available on request. Note - share prices stated are NZD and GST exclusive.