Two more for Te Akau
In what is a familiar sight this season, the tangerine-and-blue colours of Te Akau Racing were at the head of affairs once again as the Matamata operation made it consecutive Group I victories at Ellerslie on Saturday.
Quality mare Avantage gave punters another taste of her versatility and class as she took out the Group I Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes (2000m) in her first start beyond 1600m, barely an hour after Cool Aza Beel had taken out the Group I Sistema Stakes (1200m) two races earlier for Matamata trainer Jamie Richards.
The Fastnet Rock four-year-old had won one of New Zealand’s premier sprint contests just three starts ago when taking out the Group I Telegraph (1200m) at Trentham while last start she scored her third career Group One victory in the Haunui Farm WFA Group One Classic (1600m).
Some pundits felt a step up to 2000m could find her out but the distance challenge never looked a factor once regular pilot Opie Bosson found clear air in the home straight as Avantage dashed away from a quality lineup to record career Group I win number four to go with her Karaka Million 2YO (1200m) title as a two-year-old.
Trainer Jamie Richards is running out of superlatives for the mare purchased by Te Akau boss David Ellis for $210,000 from The Oaks Stud draft at the 2017 Karaka Premier Yearling sale.
‘‘She is just tough, isn’t she,’’ Richards said. ‘‘We’ve always spoken about her constitution and her strength. These are the type of horses that Dave goes to the sales to try and buy and the results are there to see.’’
The win made it consecutive victories in the event for Te Akau Racing after Melody Belle triumphed in 2019.
Richards believes that Avantage may well go on to match the deeds of the reigning New Zealand Horse of the Year and ten-time Group One winner as he looks to plot a path for Avantage to her next Group One assignment, the Fiber Fresh NZ Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m) at Te Aroha .
It was win number 91 for the season for Richards, who leads the national trainers’ premiership by a margin of 20 victories from nearest rival Stephen Marsh and stakes victory number 16 in New Zealand to go with three further Group I wins in Australia courtesy of Melody Belle, Probabeel and Te Akau Shark.
Meanwhile Richards wouldn’t be drawn on the immediate future for Cool Aza Beel although he indicated the group I Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) on March 28 was a possibility.
Cool Aza Beel has now won four of his six career starts and has laid a strong claim to the champion two-year-old title that will be decided at the conclusion of the racing season in July.
Richards has now prepared the past three winners of the Sistema Stakes, with Yourdeel (2019) and Sword Of Osman (2018) preceding Cool Aza Beel.
NZ Racing Desk
The New Zealand domination of the Sydney autumn carnival continued as first-up specialist The Bostonian gave Nash Rawiller his first group I since returning to Australia in the Canterbury Stakes at Randwick on Saturday.
It was a Rawiller special, too, as he stalked pacemaker and wellbacked favourite Savatiano, then pulled off her back in the straight to win by 11⁄4 lengths going away.
‘‘I feel like I’ve been off the scene for too long. It’s my first G1 winner since Hong Kong,’’ Rawiller said.
Rawiller had been given a lot of confidence from the Tony Pike stable and the brilliant first-up stats of The Bostonian. He quickly had him in the perfect spot and, coming to the turn, was ready to strike.
‘‘I used him a little bit. The speed was a bit quick. He got a lovely trail. I found James’ back [on Saviatino] and he was never going to get beat.’’
The Bostonian took his firstup record to six wins from seven attempts and his right-handed record to eight wins in 10 starts with his third group 1, which New Zealand trainer Tony Pike picked out for him after finding the tracks too hard in Melbourne in the spring. Pike said the rain delivered the perfect surface for his five-year-old. Combined with Rawiller’s ride, it ensured the perfect result.
‘‘I just thought this was perfect. Thought 1200m was just on the sharper side and the 1300m here was probably ideal fresh up. Track conditions are just ideal for him,’’ Pike said.
‘‘He trialled up really well at home and he is proven at this level. He is electric fresh. He just found the tracks in Melbourne too firm for him in the spring and he just wouldn’t let go.’’
Savatiano was brave in her first attempt at group I level and James Mcdonald said the pressure from Begood Toya Mother as they slid down the side of the track didn’t help her.
Pike said The Bostonian could take on Te Akau Shark in the George Ryder Stakes in two weeks, but there was an option to stay fresh and go straight to the All Aged Stakes in six weeks at the end of the carnival.
SMH