COOL AZA RENE

Cool Aza Rene showed early in her career that she was a force to be reckoned with. Winning on debut in October 2024 was a signal of a wonderful juvenile season for the filly, who went on to win four of her five 2YO starts and be named Champion South Island 2YO of the Year.

Her debut had come at Otaki in the North Island but she then transferred to Te Akau South Island stable at Riccarton, Christchurch and continued to develop and flourish.

Her second career win came at Riccarton during Cup Week in a $60,000 event which until the year previously, had held Listed status.  En route to her North island base in Matamata, she contested the Group 2 Wakefield Challenge Stakes in December 2024, her only loss in her juvenile season. Jumping awkwardly, she had a post race slow recovery and was given a long and patient break.

Cool Aza Rene was not to be seen again until 1 June 2025 when returned South with an eye on a possible Group 1 NZ 1000 Guineas' tilt.  She won fresh up at Otago in June 2025 over 820m, and again at Riccarton on 21 June 2025.  

A further break, and a then a trial win at Ashburton in August 2025 saw her return to action at the end of August being narrowly beaten by only a half neck by stablemate Belle Du Monde.  

Nothing went right in the $80,000 Listed Canterbury Belle Stakes 1200m for the filly in mid September 2025 - she had difficulty finding clear running in the final straight, having to be steadied to avoid heels at the 100m.

A line went through that start, and despite a school of thought she might be an out-and-out sprinter, Cool Aza Rene contested the $100,000 Group 3 Barneswood Stakes in early October 2025 - a race won eight times previously by the stable.

Drawn well, she was intelligently ridden by Brazilian jockey Bruno Queiroz, who celebrated his second stakes' win for the stable, urging Cool Aza Rene home to a .75 length victory.

A real 'Te Akau product', Cool Aza Rene is the daughter of Group 1 and Karaka Million 2YO winner Cool Aza Beel - he was purchased by David Ellis CNZM and trained by Te Akau to become Champion 2YO of the Year. She becomes her sire's first New Zealand black type winner - Group 1 winner Cool Archie being the first in Australia last season.

Her damsire is Xtravagant, who was also purchased by David and trained by Te Akau to win two Group 1 races by over eight lengths apiece. He went on to be named Champion 3YO of the Year - he and Cool Aza Rene both stand at Newhaven Park in NSW.

Cool Aza Rene was purchased by David Ellis CNZM at the Magic Millions' Sale Book 2 for A$55,000 and is raced by the Te Akau One Cool Beel Racing Partnership (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis).

She has had nine starts, recoding five wins and one placing for stakes' earnings of $180,100 to date.