Exciting 4YO Te Akau Shark provided the perfect advertisement for next week’s New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale at Karaka with a breath-taking Group 2 performance at Riccarton on Wednesday.
Te Akau Shark (Rip Van Winkle x Bak Da Chief by Chief Bearhart) cost $230,000 at the 2016 Ready to Run Sale after he had been passed in as a yearling at Karaka for $70,000.
He recorded his fifth win from six career starts with a runaway victory in Wednesday’s G2 Coupland’s Bakeries Mile (1600m).Ridden by Opie Bosson, the $1.50 favourite sat back in the field before angling to the outside in the straight to make his run. He bounded past his opposition like they were standing still, streaking away to score by six lengths.
“That was awesome,” trainer Jamie Richards enthused. “I don’t like to talk horses up too much before a race, but his work at Matamata leading into this race was unreal.Te Akau racing principal David Ellis bought the horse and put together his group of owners.
Te Akau Shark is raced by a trans-Tasman syndicate that includes Cronulla Sharks rugby league star Paul Gallen, who made the trip to Riccarton for Wednesday’s race.“I came here hoping that he’d win, and we’ve had an absolute ball over the past couple of days,” Gallen said.
“The way he performed then, he’s an absolute superstar. I don’t know a lot about racing, but from all reports he’s a superstar and hopefully he keeps on going.“This is the first horse I have been involved in, and to be able to come and watch the race live and actually meet the horse was a real highlight.
“I can’t wait for him to come to Sydney and do it all over again. Fingers crossed the result’s the same.”Having previously won the G3 Spring Sprint (1400m) at Hastings, Te Akau Shark has now earned $242,250 in prize-money.
Te Akau Shark is one of three winners and the first stakes winner from five foals to race out of the G2 winner Bak Da Chief.His dam is also a half-sister to Bak Da Princess (Danske) who produced G1 winner Pondarosa Miss (High Chaparral) and her G1-placed Listed winner Ecuador.
Te Akau Shark’s breeder, Darrell Hollinshead, retained and trains his three-year-old sister Melarita while his two-year-old brother Baby Shark is unraced but in training with Richards.Ellis purchased him for NZ$110,000 at the New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Yearling Sale this year.
Te Akau Shark ran the 1600 metres in 1:36.3 seconds, and his last 600 metres in an estimated 32 seconds flat.Late bloomer Prince Oz continued his remarkable run with his seventh successive win in the G3 Lindauer Stewards’ Stakes at Riccarton.
The 7YO gelding’s first Group win made him the 90th stakes winner for his late sire O'Reilly, who died at the age of 21 in 2014.Prior to joining the stable of trainer Neill Ridley this year, Prince Oz had won only one of 11 career starts.
Prince Oz (O’Reilly x Royal Princess by Seasoned Star) has now won eight races and prize-money of NZ$142,025.The veteran sprinter is one of two winners from three foals to race out of the winning mare Royal Princess, who is a sister to G3 winner and G1-placed King Johny.
She is also a half-sister to G3 winner De Montfort (Random Chance)and the dams of stakes winners Parthesia (Raise The Flat) and Blood Brotha (Danzighill).Royal Princess has an unnamed two-year-old by Pentire, a yearling by Shocking and is due to foal to Vadamos this year.
Australian stallion Squamosa sired his first Group winner when Kiwi Ida won her second stakes race in New Zealand in the G3 Canterbury Breeders’ Stakes at Riccarton.Kiwi Ida’s first stakes win came in last year’s Listed Canterbury Belle Stakes at Riccarton.
A $4,000 purchase at the 2015 Great Southern Weanling Sale, Kiwi Ida (Squamosa x Empress Ida by Blevic) has won seven races with another eight placings for prize-money of NZ$181,475.Kiwi Ida is the only foal to race out of the unraced mare Empress Ida, while her second dam Queen Ida (Star Pyramul) was also unraced but is a sister to the dual G3 winner of 18 races, Royal Ida.
Kiwi Ida is the sole stakes winner by Squamosa (Not A Single Doubt).