Twin Shark attacks at Riccarton Park
Te Akau Shark could provide NRL legend Paul Gallen with a focus away from his rugby league schedule with Cronulla next autumn if he performs to expectations at Riccarton in Christchurch today.
Gallen, the veteran back-rower who is set to undergo his record-breaking 19th consecutive season with the Sharks, is a part-owner of Te Akau Shark, who will start an odds-on favourite in the Group II Coupland’s Bakeries Mile (1600m).
Gallen has watched from Sydney as Te Akau Shark, a son of Rip Van Winkle, has posted four wins from five starts, with his only defeat being when fourth to stablemate Embellish in last year’s New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton.
Te Akau Shark goes into today’s feature with a last-start win in the Red Badge Spring Sprint (1400m) at Hastings on October 6 and if he shapes up again will be set for a campaign in Gallen’s Sydney backyard.
‘‘I believe he [Gallen] is coming over to see him run at Riccarton,’’ trainer Jamie Richards said. ‘‘Te Akau Shark will be going over there for the Sydney Autumn Carnival if he does well on Wednesday.
‘‘He’ll have a break after this one then we’ll set him for Sydney. He’s a pretty exciting horse and I’d like to think he’ll be competitive at Group One level over there.’’
Gallen, the former New South Wales State of Origin captain, was brought into Te Akau Shark by his friend, Steve Mace, a Cronulla Sharks sponsor who has a 35 percent interest. Te Akau Shark has made positive progress since his two wins this season.
‘‘He had a gallop over 1200m at Ellerslie on the 27th [October] and he’s done his normal work since then,’’ Richards said.
Te Akau Shark is reunited with leading jockey Opie Bosson today, while Jason Laking will partner Unfazed, Te Akau Racing Stables’ hope in the Canterbury Breeders’ Stakes (1400m).
‘‘Unfazed was very disappointing on Saturday,’’ Richards said. ‘‘It was partly the way the race was run and she got very fired up. She’ll have to do things a lot better to be any chance on Wednesday.’’
Conclusion, part-owned by Richards’ parents Paul and Leanne, won well at Riccarton last Saturday and will back up this weekend in a Rating72 1200m.
NZ Racing Desk