Season of Success: Pure Enchantment

Enchantment (Hello Youmzain – Belle Fascino, by Per Incanto) continued Te Akau's outstanding record with New Zealand's juveniles when producing an impressive front-running performance to win the $80,000 Listed Property Brokers Welcome Stakes (1000m) on 11 April at Riccarton.

A trial winner at Waip? early in the season, Enchantment had shown plenty of promise from the outset. She finished third in two of her first starts prior to Christmas, with another trial victory between those performances, before resuming with a determined second in the Pearl Series 2YO 1000 metres at Riccarton on 21 March.

With that solid form behind her, Enchantment was rated one of the leading chances and duly justified the confidence of connections.

Ridden positively by Michael McNab, she bounded straight to the lead, travelled beautifully throughout and quickened clear approaching the 200-metre mark. From there she never looked in danger, maintaining a strong gallop to record an authoritative victory.

The result completed a memorable quinella for Te Akau, with stablemate Never Too Much (Rubick), ridden by Opie Bosson ONZM, charging home from near the rear of the field to finish an excellent second.

Enchantment's victory gave Te Akau its 10th success in the Welcome Stakes, stretching a remarkable record that began with Champion Two-Year-Old Maroofity in 2002 and most recently included Te Akau homebred and South Island Champion Two-Year-Old Nucleozor in 2024.

On a Good4 track, Enchantment covered the 1000 metres in 57.3 seconds, with a brilliant final 600 metres in 33.2 seconds. She returned $3.20 and $1.50 on the NZ TAB tote.

Enchantment was purchased for $60,000 by Shamus Mills Bloodstock (Victoria) from the draft of Haunui Farm at the 2025 Karaka Book 1 Yearling Sale.

She races for a syndicate comprising Heath Newton, Waihi Bloodstock, John Blight, Elias Mantinaos, Pat Donato, Robert Revis, G & N Scanlan, Robert Juleff, David Skilton, Kylie Paton and Meagan Nies.

A beautifully balanced filly with an outstanding temperament, Enchantment also possesses an exciting pedigree.

She is by European Group One-winning sprinter Hello Youmzain (Kodiac), a son of the influential Danehill sire-line through Kodiac, from a Shamardal mare.  Hello Youmzain won two Group One sprint races before establishing himself as one of Europe's leading sprinters, with his oldest progeny now three-year-olds.

Her dam, Belle Fascino (Per Incanto), was a dual Group Three winner over 1600 metres and won 10 races during her outstanding racing career.

Reflecting on Te Akau's remarkable juvenile record, principal Sir David Ellis KNZM said:

"It's pretty exciting to have reached double figures in both the Welcome Stakes and the Matamata Breeders' Stakes. To have won these two prestigious juvenile races more than 20 times is something our whole team is incredibly proud of."

Now based at Te Akau's Riccarton stable, Enchantment is preparing for a jump-out on 30 July before trialling at Timaru on 11 August as she builds towards her three-year-old campaign.

Previous Te Akau winners of the Listed Welcome Stakes (1000m):

2024 – Nucleozor (Almanzor)

2022 – Sky On Fire (Exceed And Excel)

2020 – Avonallo (Belardo)

2017 – Al Hasa (Exceed And Excel)

2015 – Sassy 'N' Smart (Smart Missile)

2010 – Bespoke (Pins)

2009 – Encosta Diablo (Encosta de Lago)

2005 – Xbert (Bertolini)

2002 – Maroofity (Maroof)