Te Akau: Burgundy Retired

The beautifully bred son of Redoute's Choice from the Group 1 winning Zabeel mare Grand Echezeaux, making him a three quarter brother to Darci Brahma, retires on a winning note having claimed the $50,000 Listed Fairdale/Goodwood Studs' Flying Handicap at Awapuni on Easter Saturday - his fifth stakes' win from only 12 starts.

“I was so proud of the way in which Burgundy won at Awapuni on Saturday.  He fought like a tiger and although he was headed in the straight on two occasions, he came back to win.  He never gave up, pinned his ears back and showed huge heart, determination and courage - just what you want in a stallion,” said Ellis.

It was a particularly stellar performance under the circumstances.

“You can clearly see that Burgundy faltered about 180m from the line on Saturday.  Te Akau vet Dr Douglas Black examined him and has found heat in his tendon.  He is too good a horse to risk racing again. To still show the courage that he did was incredible and I have no doubt he will pass this quality, as well as his wonderful temperament, on to his offspring.

“Burgundy has been a very special racehorse to his owners and everyone at Te Akau, winning his first and now his last start for Jason Bridgman.  We have already had huge interest from studs wishing to stand Burgundy and we will now concentrate on the exciting second phase of his career.”

In his 12 race day appearances, Burgundy recorded seven wins - five of them at Group and Listed level.  Only once did he fail to weigh in and that was after the Group 1 NZ 2000 Guineas when he was found to be suffering from thumps.

·         Three quarter brother to Darci Brahma by Redoute's Choice/Grand Echezeaux (ex Zabeel)

·         Trained by Te Akau's Jason Bridgman

·         Wins his first three career starts in September - October 2011

·         Wins Listed Canterbury Stakes (1600m) at his third start - Riccarton 23 October 2011

·         Finishes 3^rd in Group 2 Great Northern Guineas (1600m) behind Knight's Tour and

          Cox Plate winner Ocean Park - Ellerslie 26 December 2011

·         Finishes 3^rd in Group 3 Wellington Stakes (1600m) behind Group 1 winners Ocean Park and Nashville -

          Trentham 21 January 2012

·         Wins Listed Mr Tiz Trophy (1200m) - Ellerslie 10 March 2012

·         Wins Group 3 Windsor Park Cambridge Breeders' Stakes (1200m) - Te Rapa 28 April 2012

·         Wins Listed Levin Stakes (1200m) - Otaki 30 November 2012

·         Finishes 5^th Group 1 Railway Hcp (1200m) - Ellerslie 1 January 2013

·         Finishes 3^rd Group 1 Telegraph Hcp (1200m) - Trentham 16 January 2013

·         Wins Listed Fairdale/Goodwood Studs' Flying Hcp (1400m) - Awapuni 30 March 2013

·         Retired to stud 3 April 2013 - stakes' earnings $214,125