Te Akau Stars on Display at Hastings

Media Release - Sunday September 2

Champion two-year-old Avantage and stakes winner Chance to Dance took the opportunity of an exhibition gallop between races at Hastings on Saturday, a day that saw the powerful Te Akau Racing team produce a notable winning double.

Avantage - Trish DunnellTrainer Jamie Richards saddled his first Group One winner since taking sole charge of the Matamata operation when Melody Belle took out the Gr.1 Tarzino Trophy (1400m) while Te Akau Shark scored a scintillating fresh-up victory over 1200 metres.

Galloping 1000 metres in 1:02.5, with the last 600m in 34.5, Avantage travelled well within herself on the rail, with Chance to Dance to her outside as the pair finished locked together at the completion of an eye-catching workout.

"It was nice to get Avantage on a good track, with a day away at the races and some sunshine to bring her coat on," said Richards

"I like the way she was cocking her ears and having a bit of a look around like she used to do last season and I think she's where she needs to be."

Richards was also pleased with the work of Chance To Dance who showed his class last season with a pair of black-type victories.

"Chance to Dance is coming up really well," Richards said. "He's looks terrific, as sound as he's been.

"He's had a trial and a gallop, and we might even give him another gallop somewhere just to have him hard and fit for a mile first up."

Although plans are yet to be finalised Avantage could resume in the Gr.3 Hawke's Bay Breeders Gold Trail Stakes (1200m) on 22 September at Hastings, while Chance to Dance may contest the Listed Haunui Farm Karaka Classic (1600m) on 23 September at Pukekohe, a race he won fresh-up last year carrying 60kgs.

Richards also reported his Hastings winners have pulled up well after their exertions.

"They're good and I'm happy with them," he said. "Obviously, a little bit of feed left in the bin, but we're pleased with how they trotted up this morning.

"We're very lucky to have that mare (Melody Belle). She's very special and has been very good for my career, so I can't thank her enough.

"And I think he's top drawer, Te Akau Shark. He's a Group One horse if we can keep him sound. We'll space his races. He's still immature, still a bit soft, even next year, but he'll be the sort of horse to have only half a dozen runs this season, and he could be the type to win a Foxbridge Plate and the Tarzino next year." - NZ Racing Desk

Advertisment
More Reading...
2024 Melbourne Cup Result - It's Knights Choice
The 2024 Melbourne Cup has been run and won with Knight’s Choice, a five-year-old gelding by Extreme Choice victorious.
Kiwi Bred Gringotts Wins $3million Big Dance
Talented New Zealand-bred gelding Gringotts(NZ) (Per Incanto) delivered a big payday for his connections with victory in Tuesday’s A$3 million Big Dance (1600m) at Randwick.
Sires With Winners - Tuesday November 5
Here is the full list of 145 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Magic Nick Strikes Again – Fastnet Rock x Galileo
The Fastnet Rock x Galileo nick has been on fire in Melbourne this spring producing Cox Plate winner Via Sistina (IRE) and leading Melbourne Cup contender Buckaroo (GB) and it struck again overnight in the UK with a brand new stakes-winner in Military Academy, who captured the Listed Floodlit Stakes (1m4f) at Kempton.
Antrim Coast to Fly Flag for The Oaks Stud
The well-renowned colours of The Oaks Stud will feature across two feature Trans-Tasman meetings this week, kicking off with Antrim Coast lining up in the Listed Furphy Plate (1800m) on Melbourne Cup Day at Flemington.
Knights Choice a True Underdog Story
Punters were left stunned when the Queenslander Knight's Choice and Japanese visitor Warp Speed (JPN) emerged from the pack to fight out a dramatic finish to the $8,560,000 Group 1 Lexus Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington.
All Too Hard's Arran Bay Brave in the Furphy Plate
Phillip Stokes admitted his preference was to run Arran Bay in the Listed John Letts Cup at Morphettville but was overruled by the owners, who made the correct decision in favouring the Listed Furphy Plate (1800m) at Flemington.
Kiwi Bred Grey Wins Subzero for OTI at Flemington
New Zealand-bred gelding Cloudland proved a handful for James McDonald at Flemington on Tuesday, but the champion jockey was in a forgiving mood after they had claimed top honours in the Subzero Handicap.
$6million Frankel Mare Tops Fasig -Tipton November Sale
The Fasig-Tipton November Sale, billed as the World’s Premier Breeding Stock Event, was held Monday at the company’s Newtown Paddocks in Lexington, Kentucky. Twenty-five offerings sold for $1,000,000 or more, led by a trio of Grade/Group 1 winners with international appeal.
More Stakes Success for Air Assault
Group I placed last season in the SA Derby, talented gelding Air Assault kept the winning run going for Victoria Derby winning trainer Andrew Gluyas when taking out the Listed SAJC John Letts Cup (1800m) at Morphettville on Melbourne Cup Day.