Season of Success: Seize Trans-Tasman G1 Honours

Seize The Day (I Am Invincible – Zimaretto, by Anabaa) confirmed himself one of the brightest two-year-olds of the season with a commanding victory in the $550,000 Group 1 Courtesy Ford Sires' Produce Stakes (1400m) on 28 March at Trentham.

The impressive colt further enhanced Te Akau's remarkable record in one of New Zealand's most prestigious juvenile races, providing the stable with its 10th victory in the Sires' Produce Stakes, including an extraordinary eight of the previous nine runnings.

It also added another remarkable statistic to the record of Te Akau principal Sir David Ellis KNZM, who had either purchased or bred nine of those 10 winners.

With only two Group One races each season for New Zealand's two-year-olds, Seize The Day completed a clean sweep for Te Akau after stablemate Lara Antipova had brilliantly won the Group 1 Sistema Stakes (1200m) earlier in the month at Ellerslie. It marked the sixth occasion the stable had captured both juvenile Group Ones in the same season, a feat first achieved by Maroofity in 2003.

Seize The Day had hinted from the outset that he possessed above-average ability. On debut at Ellerslie he produced the fastest closing 600 metres (34.2) when charging home for third, before returning to Matamata and again recording the quickest final sectional (34.6) when impressively breaking his maiden over 1200 metres.

The manner of that victory suggested a colt of genuine quality and, despite tackling Group One company at just his third start and jumping from barrier 11, he was deservedly entrusted with favouritism.

Ridden by Te Akau's stable jockey Opie Bosson ONZM, who had recently celebrated his 100th Group One victory, Seize The Day travelled comfortably outside the leader before asserting his superiority at the 300-metre mark. From there he quickly put the race beyond doubt, striding clear to score by an emphatic four and a half lengths.

"He's a lovely big colt with a massive stride," Bosson said.

"He's just so smooth underneath you and makes my job easy."

On a Soft5 track, Seize The Day covered the 1400 metres in 1:24.0, with his final 600 metres in 35.7 seconds. Having opened at $41 in the futures market, he returned $2.80 and $1.60 on the NZ TAB tote.

Owned by the Te Akau 2025 Magic Colts' Breeding Syndicate (Mgr: Lady Karyn Ellis MNZM), Seize The Day was purchased by Sir David Ellis KNZM for A$600,000 from the draft of Yarraman Park Stud at the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.

Speaking from the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale in Sydney at the time of the colt's victory, Ellis was thrilled to see the colt justify the faith the stable had shown in him from an early stage.

"I'm absolutely ecstatic to see this colt win the Sires' and to do it so convincingly," Ellis said.

"He'd always shown us an X-factor and the team has held him in very high regard. About three months ago our assistant trainer, Reece Trumper, told me he was something special.

"It's a huge thrill to have bought the colt and see him reward his owners with a Group One victory at just his third start."

Seize The Day is by triple Australian Champion Sire I Am Invincible (Invincible Spirit), whose progeny include the incomparable Imperatriz. Purchased by Ellis at the 2020 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Imperatriz went on to win 10 Group One races, becoming New Zealand Horse of the Year, Australian Champion Sprinter and the World's Best Sprinter before her record-breaking sale for A$6.6 million in 2024 increased her career earnings to $14.5 million.

His dam, Zimaretto, is by outstanding racehorse and influential sire Anabaa (Danzig), winner of the prestigious Group 1 July Cup (1200m) and the sire of more than $46 million in prize money, including French champion Goldikova, winner of 14 Group One races.

Zimaretto has established herself as an outstanding broodmare, with Seize The Day becoming her ninth individual winner from 26 victories, including three Group or Listed winners and now her first Group One winner.

Adding further strength to his outstanding pedigree, Seize The Day carries a beautifully balanced cross of Danzig through both the sire and dam lines.

Now based at Te Akau's Cranbourne stable in Melbourne, Seize The Day is preparing to resume with a jump-out scheduled for 3 August as connections look forward to an exciting Spring campaign.

Previous Te Akau winners of the Group 1 Sires' Produce Stakes (1400m):

2025 – La Dorada (Super Seth)

2024 – Move To Strike (I Am Invincible)

2022 – Maven Belle (Burgundy)

2021 – On The Bubbles (Brazen Beau)

2019 – Yourdeel (Dundeel)

2018 – Avantage (Fastnet Rock)

2017 – Melody Belle (Iffraaj)

2005 – Kindacross (Cape Cross)

2003 – Maroofity (Maroof)