Spotlight On Our Karaka Girls
Date: 24 Apr 2022
Three year old I Am Invincible filly Imperatriz was a devastating five-length winner of the Group 1 $220,000 NZ Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes over 1600m at Te Rapa. The winning margin is the fourth best of any horse in any Group 1 in New Zealand Racing history. She was also only the second filly to win the race in 35 years.
At her previous start, on NZ Oaks Day in March at Trentham, she led home a Te Akau first four in the Group 1 $260,000 Levin Classic 1600m.
The winner of seven from 10 starts, Imperatriz was purchased as a yearling by David Ellis CNZM and has won $500,000 in prize money.
What makes her different, apart from immense talent, is that she was the last yearling to sell in her year.
“She was the last,” Ellis said. “I had purchased her in January and she never sold fully until July when I had John Elstob and his fiancée Denise out to the farm. I told them I thought she was a really nice filly and they took the remaining 25 percent.
“It’s been the case before, too, with nine-time Group 1 winner Avantage being the last to sell in her year as was Karaka 2YO Million and subsequent Group 1 winner and now sire, Cool Aza Beel. Group 1, 2 and 3 winner Sword of Osman likewise didn’t win the popularity contest in his year. It never ceases to amazes us how the last to sell can be the very best.
“This year we still have a few shares to sell again this season – and when you look at their quality, I am very sure that again the final horses to sell will go out and show how good they are.”
With minimal shares left in yearlings purchased in March at Karaka, Ellis points to few lovely types still on offer.
?? Lot 991 bay filly Time Test – Pin Up Lae (draft: Little Avondale Stud)
She has a beautiful pedigree, being from a Pins mare, the same as our current NZ Horse of the Year Probabeel who was trained by Te Akau to win four Group One races in Australia, and earning $4.5 million in her career.
This filly is by the exciting new stallion Time Test. Successful as a 2YO, Time Test broke the Royal Ascot track record over 2000 metres at just his second start the following season before firmly establishing himself among the elite level European gallopers. His deeds earned him a Timeform rating of 125. Speed and acceleration were his main assets.
Time Test has already produced Group winners and performers across UK, Ireland, Germany and Italy and three of his juveniles competed in the Karaka 2YO Million this year. In a field of 14 starters, that’s a massive representation.
Our filly has the stablename ‘Mia’ which means ‘precious one’ and really thrived at Te Akau Stud after the ale. She has a great constitution, is very athletic, and everything about her is very impressive – she flew through her early education and is one of our first yearlings to head in to the stable.
Te Akau trainer Mark Walker said: “watching her work this morning, she really floats over the ground and arrived at the track as if she owned the place, confident and professional. Time Test has made an incredible start to his stud career. She is a filly with a lot of scope to develop as she matures and she really looks a racehorse in the making.”
Learn more about this filly here - https://teakauracing.com/product/karaka-yearling-sales-2022-lot-991-time-test-pin-up-lae-bay-filly/
?? Lot 486 bay filly Not A Single Doubt – Perform a Miracle (draft: Westbury Stud).
Our new Not A Single Doubt filly has the Karaka 2YO Million clearly on her radar. She's one for that race (we've won it for our owners six years in a row) in our view.
She’s a sharp looker, with plenty of speed and a ton of early performers in her family that train on, proven as brilliant three year olds and beyond. Look at our success with gun two year olds who take that next step season after season - Group 1 winners like Avantage, Probabeel and Melody Belle.
Not A Single Doubt is by three time Champion Sire Redoute’s Choice (Danehill) and he firmly established himself as one of the elite stallions in Australia, with over 2300 winners and over 150 stakes’ winners including 20 at Group 1 level.
However there will be no more Not a Single Doubt fillies - he retired from stud in 2020 - she's one of the last, a rare commodity! That's why they are so popular and being snapped up at every sale. His yearlings have sold up to A$625,000, so our girl was terrific buying!
He's been a top 10 sire of 2YOs in Australia since 2011. He's produced over 2300 winners, 150 stakes' winners, including over 20 at Group 1 level. Golden Slipper, Doomben Cup, Empire Rose, Blue Diamond, Memsie, Winx Stakes, SA Derby, Caulfield Guineas, Hong Kong Champions' Mile and Centenary Cup - his progeny have won them all, and truckloads more.
Looking down this filly's female line, it’s particularly rich.
Known by the nickname “Macy”, she's a free-moving, elegant filly who strikes us as a really natural running two year old type. Plenty of presence, class and strength and look like she will get up and go.
Trainer Mark Walker said: “She’s a natural two-year-old type, very athletic, and the sire has had phenomenal success in all the big two-year-old races throughout Australasia.
“I think she could be one of our earliest two-year-olds to trial at the start of next season (August) as she’s that precocious.”
Learn more about this girl here: https://teakauracing.com/product/karaka-yearling-sales-2022-lot-486-not-a-single-doubt-perform-a-miracle-bay-filly/
?? Lot 181 bay filly Headwater – Convene (draft: Carlaw Park)
Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM has put together a “ladies’ only” syndicate in this filly and only one share is now available in this stunning filly!
The ladies’ only syndicate is already planning its social calendar for the coming year and wow it looks really exciting. It’s a syndicate that will be a lot of fun on and off the track. From race days to restaurants – fun, bubbles – a blast for everyone involved.
She has been nicknamed “Audrey” after the style icon Audrey Hepburn, she certainly has the looks of a movie star!
This filly breezed through her breaking in with aplomb, and has done everything well, she’s got a great brain on her, and the looks to match! She’s already in the stable too and has had her first taste of going out on the track and she handled it like a toff!
Headwater was the Leading First Season Sire by Winners in 2019-20 and the Champion Second Season Sire in 2020-21 in Australia. He’s the young sire that ticks all the boxes! He’s bred for pure speed being by a Gr.1 Newmarket Hcp winner, out of a Gr.1 Oakleigh Plate winner.
He was an early 2yo winning on debut in December of his juvenile year before going on to win the Gr.2 Silver Slipper as a 2yo. But trained on as one of only a few to go on as a 3yo and defeat older horses at Stakes level.
Trainer Mark Walker said: “She’s a very intelligent filly, watching her work this morning. A lot of horses when we break them in find it difficult to switch leads (legs) from right to left, but this filly has worked it out quickly. She has a terrific attitude and a great nature, she is an exciting prospect.”
Join the girl gang you’ve always wanted to be a part of here: https://teakauracing.com/product/karaka-yearling-sales-2022-lot-181-headwater-convene-bay-filly/
We've still got shares in limited other opportunities including colts so get to our website and check them all out here: https://teakauracing.com/yearlings-shares/