Stakes' Hip Hooray for Hanalei

Broodmare Lucrative (Pyrus) achieved a remarkable double on Saturday at Trentham, firstly with Cote de Beaune (Burgundy) and also one race later when her daughter Hanalei  (2 f Darci Brahma - Lucrative, Pyrus) won the prestigious $60,000 IRT Wellesley Stakes (Listed, 1100m).

Stable-mate Quattro Quinta (Darci Brahma) won the Wellesley Stakes last year, registering the 19^thstakes' success in a record-breaking season for trainer Jamie Richards (160 domestic victories and 40 stakes wins (NZ & Aust.)), while Hanalei took stakes' win tally this season to 20.

Adding to the success, Hanalei is bred and owned by his parents, Paul & Leanne Richards (racing in their hot pink colours), with family friends Bill & Sandra Duell.

Hanalei had strong trial form before running the fastest last 600m (32.5) for second to stable-mate Maven Belle (Burgundy) when debuting in Maiden 2YO 1000 metres on 3 January at Te Aroha, and had addition of side winkers.

“She's always shown a lot at home and needed time to furnish, but she is getting there now,” Richards said. “She's very green, a bit new out the back (parade ring) and in the running, but she really pleased with the way she was able to put them away.”

Awkward from the gates, but planned to ride quietly, Hanalei was last of seven before spearing to lead mid-straight, flattened out with a measure of class and simply walked in.

“That was the plan,” said jockey Michael McNab, who also rode her on debut. “She got back in her race the other day and just got held up a little bit, and the stable-mate (Maven Belle) was able to kick away on her.

“Today, she had side winkers on and was well prepared. She ended up getting there (front) quite easily and she went on with it, too, which is a good sign.”

Winning by three and a quarter lengths, Hanalei ran 1100 metres in 1:03 on Dead4 footing and paid $2.90 & $1.60 on NZ TAB.

Richards also praised his assistant trainer for assessing Wellesley Stakes as an ideal race to target. “A big thank you to Sam Bergerson who said this race might come up a little bit light and we need to find something for it. So, here we are,” he said.

“Mum and Dad bred her with their good friends Bill and Sandra Duell, so I should be alright in the Will for a little bit longer yet. It's a big thrill.

“I'm really pleased with the way that she did that and the team at home has done a wonderful job, with Nicole (Shailer) and Sam (Bergerson) looking after her at the middle barn.”

Richards said Hanalei would aim toward contesting Matamata Breeders' Stakes (Gr. 2, 1200m) on 26 February at Matamata, which is also target for stable-mates Maven Belle (Burgundy), Belle En Rouge (Burgundy) and I Choose You (I Am Invincible).

“She's a lovely grey mare Lucrative, and it's incredible achievement having back-to-back winners including a stakes' win, with a brother and sister in blood,” said Te Akau principal David Ellis CNZM.

“I was pretty impressed the way she was able to round them up and and she looks as though she has a very bright future.

“Both these horses were reared at Te Akau Stud, and Maven Belle and Hanalei were in the same paddock from the day they were born, and it's remarkable how well our homebred horses have been going, Belle En Rouge winning two stakes' races, Maven Belle and now Hanalei, and horses raised on the farm have won some great races in the past couple of months.

“Jamie (Richards) and I bred Cote de Beaune, and Hanalei was bred by his parents and Bill and Sandra (Duell). It's just a very special thrill to see it unfold that way.

“Paul and Leanne (Richards) have brought such great support to Te Akau Racing and they are great friends to us and so many of our owners. They are fantastic people. I'm thrilled for them to have their first stakes' winner in the stable.

“We've tried to target the best races this season, have the quality of horses, and to have already managed 20 stakes' wins shows how well everything is working and the efforts of all our staff. Karyn and I are so proud of everyone.

“We've had a very busy week, having bought six ripping yearlings at Magic Millions Sale on the Gold Coast, and we're busy selling shares in them.

“We've being very fortunate to have Mark Walker on the sales grounds for us this week, which has been a massive help in inspecting horses for me. He and I have bought some Champion horses over the last 25 years, including from the Gold Coast, and we were thrilled with what we've been able to buy this week - they are all on our website so people should check them out!"

Hanalei was strapped by Katija Cherie.

Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz