Te Akau Shark set to rip in
Trainer says break will do big horse a power of good
Well-related three-yearold Te Akau Shark will shortly be reporting for duty at Matamata. The son of Rip Van Winkle made an impressive start to his career before trainers Stephen Autridge and Jamie Richards were forced to turn the chestnut out.
“He had a few issue that were immaturity-related mostly,” Richards said. “He’s spelled really well and he’ll be back in work on June 1.”
Te Akau Shark was an easy debut winner at Te Rapa last spring and he followed up with a runaway victory on his home track at Matamata.
Those efforts prompted Te Akau to send him south for the group one New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton where he finished fourth and less than two lengths from his winning stablemate Embellish.
“He’s a big horse and the break will do him good,” Richards said. “We’re looking forward to the spring with him.”
Te Akau Shark was a $230,000 Karaka yearling purchase and is a son of the group two Waikato Cup winner (2400m) Bak Da Chief.
Meanwhile, impressive first-up Waipukurau winner Grand Ariana may take on black type company on Saturday in the Listed Auckland Futurity Stakes (1400m) at Pukekohe Park.
The New Zealand-bred daughter of Snitzel came from well back in the running to score on debut over 1200m.
She is raced by Fortuna Syndications, as is Meteoric Lass who also won first time out at Waipukurau. The Stratum three-year-old has since been turned out and will be back for the spring.
A visit from a renowned Australian chiropractor has the wellperformed stayer Pacorus back in business.
The talented six-year-old gave a bold account of himself when resuming on Saturday over 1400m at Te Rapa where he finished third behind Southern Icon and Mighty Solomon.
“His run was great, he didn’t really come up last time around and I got Michael Bryant over to have a look at him,” trainer Chris Wood said.
Bryant has been the chiropractor to a number of equine stars, including
the unbeaten multiple group one winner Black Caviar.
Following treatment for a back issue, Pacorus is on target for the defence of a winter staying title.
“I want to get him to the Kiwifruit Cup again so I’ll sit down and make a strong plan for that,” Wood said.
The son of Tavistock won the race last season as well as the group three Rotorua Cup (2200m) and finished third in the Listed Wanganui Cup (2040m).
Meanwhile, Roc De Bank continued the stable’s good run of form when he beat the Rating 75 sprinters on Saturday.
“The team’s coming right, but I didn’t have a dollar on him on a track that was worse than he really likes, although he does like Te Rapa,” Wood said yesterday.
Four of Roc De Bank’s six wins have been posted on the Hamilton course.
Wood also has two in-form runners at the Avondale meeting today with Yamuna in the New Zealand Bloodstock Insurance Pearl Series Race (1200m) and Politely in the Avondale Racing 4 June 1200m.
Iffraaj filly Yamuna finished runner-up on debut at Matamata last time out.
“She went a good race and has come through it well while Politely has taken a while to get into gear and she won well at Tauranga,” Wood said.