DAMASK ROSE

Damask Rose was one of the very last yearlings to sell in her year - however the daughter of Savabeel quickly showed that should never have been the case when winning stylishly on debut on 27 December 2023, one month out from the $1 million Karaka Millions 2YO event.

Te Akau has a policy of never putting undue pressure on any young horse, so her chances of earning sufficient prize money to make the field for the star feature at the end of January the ensuing year looked slim.  In fact she did not race again before the Karaka Millions in 2024, where she landed the position of first emergency.

As luck would have it for her connections (and disappointment for others) there was a scratching in the Karaka 2YO Millions on 27 January 2024, and Damask Rose took her place in the event, ridden by champion Australian jockey Blake Shinn.  

In a strategic ride, she followed the winner and tried her best to overhaul her, but had to settle for second - a brilliant effort at just her second race day appearance - winning her connections $170,000 in prize money too - almost paying for herself!

Unfortunately for the filly and her owners, she suffered an injury during the running of the Millions, and was sidelined for months of rehabilitation due to the removal of a bone chip.

Damask Rose was next to appear on race day in September 2024, and answered many questions about her recovery with a stirring run for third behind Alabama Lass and Captured By Love in the $120,000 Group 3 Gold Trail Stakes at Hastings, with Wiremu Pinn in the saddle.

Back in the winner's circle in definitive fashion on Waikato Cup Day at Te Rapa for Opie Bosson in December 2024, she was then named as the horse to fill Te Akau's slot for the inaugural running of the NZB Kiwi in March 2025 at Ellerslie.

Her next start was on Boxing Day at Ellerslie in the $270,000 Group 2 Shaws Wire Ropes Auckland Guineas over 1600m where not much went her way from her wide alley (11 of 11) but the team pressed on.

After trialling on 14 January 2025, Damask Rose went straight in to the $1,500,000 Listed Karaka Millions 3YO Sec 1200m as race favourite, despite drawing yet another wide gate (12) - nothing was to stand in her way as Champion Australian jockey Blake Shinn ensured the filly went one better than the previous year - and Karaka Millions' glory was hers.

Damask Rose be came Te Akau's third Karaka Millions 3YO winner in the past six years, the stable having won six in total.  The stable thus recorded the Karaka Millions' Double - winning both the 2YO and 3YO Millions on the same night - no other stable has ever achieved this feat and Te Akau has now done this three times!

Earlier in December 2024, Te Akau Racing had identified and nominated Damask Rose as it's horse for its slot in the inaugural $3.5 million NZB Kiwi.  She did not race following her Karaka Millions' 3YO victory - with the NZB Kiwi in her sights, she was expertly trained with that goal.

Winning a star-studded back type trial on 26 February at Taupo had her primsed and ready for her assault on New Zealand's richest ever race - the NZB Kiwi - on Champion's Day, 8 March 2025 at Ellerslie. Also the richest race on turf for 3YOs globally, this inaugural race was an industry talking point.

Te Akau's Marketing and Social Media Manager Julia-Rose Hayes 'cracked the golden egg' at the draw, with barrier 8 being the result.  

On Champion's Day, the filly flopped out of the gates and to everyone's dismay, settled a clear last in the running.  Once again in charge, Blake Shinn did not panic, and you would not ever see more magic unfold on a racecourse.  Hard up against the inside rail, rider and filly did not flinch as the drove through minuscule gaps to seize the lead and go on to win comfortably by 1.5 lengths.

To say scenes with her ownership group and the Te Akau team erupted, would be a major understatement.  Aside from winning the country's richest race, Damask Rose also earned her connections $700,000 in bonuses, and has automatic entry to the A$10 million Golden Eagle in Sydney on 1 November.

Damask Rose was purchased by David Ellis CNZM for $200,000 from the Karaka sale Book 1 - she is raced by the Te Akau Coming Up Roses Racing Partnership (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM) and has now raced seven times for four wins and two places, earning $2,228,335 (not including bonuses) to date.