Encosta Stakes-Winner for Te Akau

Media Release - Saturday October 27

Te Akau Racing capped off a strong day at Riccarton on Saturday with a brave win by Swing Note in the Listed Christchurch Casino Spring Classic (2000m).

Swing Note - RAce ImagesThe tangerine and blue colours had been prominent throughout the day, with Wide Awake and Remington winning their respective races before Swing Note secured her first stakes victory.

She settled off the pace for in-form hoop Shafiq Rusof, before looming wide on the turn. Despite looking all out with 200m to go, Swing Note surged again to beat home the Kevin Hickman-owned pair of Zentessa and The Heiress by a neck.

"It was a good tough win, she looked beaten half-way down the straight, but kicked back so we're very pleased with that," trainer Jamie Richards said.

Swing Note's last-start fifth-placing over a mile at Timaru was disappointing for Richards, but he said he was pleased with her two previous wins this campaign and was buoyed by the feedback from Te Akau's South Island team, headed by his father Paul.

"We were just a little bit disappointed with the run," he said. "She was probably looking for 2000m already and she was sort of tripped up by the wet track.

"We have put a line through that and the team in the South Island have been very pleased with her and that gave us a bit of confidence to push on."

The 115th stakes-winner for champion sire Encosta de Lago, Swing Note is currently nominated for the Gr.2 Coupland's Bakeries Mile (1600m) and Gr.3 Christchurch Casino New Zealand Cup (3200m) at Riccarton next month, but her staying ability has her team leaning towards testing her over the two-mile distance.

"We'll just give her a couple of days, but there are more black-type races through the carnival for her," Richards said.

"She's still in the New Zealand Cup and the Coupland's, if we wanted to freshen her up and drop her back. But I'd say by the way she is racing she looks like she is going to stay well this year, so there are plenty of options for her."

Meanwhile, the Cambridge stable of Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman will have another strong contender for next month's Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) after The Chosen One's dominant victory in the Listed Zacinto Stakes (1600m).

The unbeaten son of Savabeel went into the mile feature as a dominant $2.80 favourite after winning on debut at Waverley earlier this month, and won accordingly.

He was pushed forward from the jump by jockey Matt Cameron and was able to dictate terms throughout, winning by two and a quarter lengths over In A Twinkling.

"It was a very good run, he won quite easy," Baker said. "I thought he was a chance from what he has shown."

The Chosen One will now head towards next month's 2000 Guineas where he will be joined by fellow Baker-Forsman runners Madison County and Qiji Express.

"We'll probably go to the 2000 Guineas, but it's a much stronger class," Baker said. "It is only his second start, so he should improve a bit." – NZ Racing Desk

Advertisment
More Reading...
Bravo Centurion - How Good is He?
Ridden by Chris Parnham for Luke Fernie, Bravo Centurion stretched his winning run to six, making every post a winner to defeat Saloon Bar (Sessions) by a long three and three-quarter lengths with Crippalenko (Maschino) a half-length back in third.
Fawkner Park Back to Winning Ways in G3 Rosehill Gold Cup
Since winning the Listed Albury Gold Cup in March, Fawkner Park has undergone an amazing transformation.
Third G1 Win for Star Savabeel Mare Atishu
A year after flying home for second behind Pride Of Jenni in the Gr.1 Empire Rose Stakes (1600m), Go Racing’s pin-up girl Atishu(NZ) (Savabeel) returned to Flemington on Saturday and went one better for the Kiwi syndicators.
William Haggas Trained Lake Forest Triumphs in Golden Eagle
William Haggas is playing his part in keeping the UK economy afloat, taking home a further $5,250,000 after Lake Forest (GB) won an action-packed James Squire Golden Eagle (1500m) at Rosehill.
2024 Melbourne Cup Barrier Draw
The all important barrier draw for the world’s richest handicap, the $8.5million Group I VRC Melbourne Cup (3200m) has been held for a field which contains horses bred in seven countries and trained in four.
Multiple Champion Sire Encosta De Lago Dies At Coolmore Aged 25
It's been a life well lived for champion sire Encosta de Lago.
Invincible Mares Quinella G3 Furphy Sprint
The first foal of triple Group I winning mare Shoals, blueblood I Am invincible mare Isthmus has been threatening to win a stakes race this year and got the job done when charging clear to score a dominant victory in the Group III VRC Furphy Sprint (1100m) at Flemington on Saturday over another I Am Invincible mare in Kundalini.
Sires With Winners - Saturday November 2
Here is the full list of 137 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Switzerland Wins the G1 Coolmore Stud Stakes for Coolmore
After Coolmore’s $875,000 I Am Invincible colt Home Affairs captured the Coolmore Stud Stakes in 2021, it was the turn of the $1,500,000 Snitzel colt Switzerland to do the sponsor proud in the $2,000,000 Group 1 feature at Flemington on Saturday.
Back to Back Victoria Derby Winners for Triple Crown Hero American Pharoah
The Watson family owned South Australian nursery Mill Park is a name synonymous with serious Group I horses and in particular those bred by astute breeder Harry Perks and this winning association struck for a third time in the $2million Group I VRC Victoria Derby (2500m) at Flemington on Saturday when Goldrush Guru saluted to join previous winners they have produced in Rebel Raider and Warning.