Te Akau NZ Saturday Double - Win No.2 Synchronize

A beautifully photogenic daughter of Champion Sire Savabeel (Zabeel), Synchronize (3 f Savabeel - Splits, by O'Reilly) displayed her class in no uncertain terms in the $30,000 Vandykes Furnishing 3YO 1400 metres on Saturday at Rotorua.

Untroubled scoring on debut as a two-year-old in the NZB Insurance Pearl Series Maiden 2YO 1050 metres (eligible $8,000 bonus) last March at Matamata, Synchronize proved too classy winning another Pearl Series race (eligible $11,500 bonus) over 1200 metres at Timaru during a brief spring southern campaign. She then ran home wide when resuming in the Cambridge Breeders' Stakes (Gr. 3, 1200m) on 30 April at Te Rapa.

In securing the 100^thwin this season for leading rider Michael McNab, Synchronize was last of seven with 600m to run but received a lovely split on straightening and powered home to win impressively by two and a half lengths.

“She's really good, really classy,” said McNab, on dismounting.

“She had good form down south in the spring, trialled well, and ran really well the other day from a bad gate in the Breeders' Stakes.  I ended up in a spot that I didn't want to be, but she was able to get me out of there pretty easily and she won well.

“It's great to get the 100^thon a filly for Te Akau. A couple of years ago, I was out with Dave (Ellis) and trained with him for six months to a year and learnt the most I've learnt off anyone. So to ride the 100^thin his colours is a real honour.

“I'm rapt to achieve the milestone and couldn't be any happier.”

On Soft5 footing, Synchronize ran 1400 metres in 1:23.5, last 600m in 34.6, and paid $3.10 & $2.00 on the NZ TAB tote.

A granddaughter of Joint top filly on the 2005-06 NZ 3YO Free Handicaps Legs (Pins - River Century, by Centaine), who recorded Group One wins in the New Zealand Oaks (2400m) and Kelt Capital Stakes (2040m), Synchronize was purchased by David Ellis CNZM for $280,000 at the 2020 Karaka Book 1 Sale, from the draft of Waikato Stud, and owned by the Te Akau Flexibeel Racing Partnership (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM).

Although unraced, her dam, Splits (O'Reilly), is a sister to Te Akau trained Spring Classic (Listed, 2000m) winner Wolfwhistle.

At stud, grand-dam Legs has left six individual winners of 19 races, including Te Akau trained Scrutinize (Savabeel), an impressive debut winning two-year-old, also at Matamata, who was stakes' placed at three (and retired after injury to Te Akau Stud). It is the family of Te Akau trained 2000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m) winner Xtravagant (Pentire), now standing at Newhaven Park, N.S.W. who is currently sixth on the Second Season Sires list in Australia.

“She's a fantastic looking filly, absolutely beautiful and has any amount of ability,” Ellis said.

“Michael (McNab) gave her a very confident ride and, gee, when sighting daylight she really quickened impressively.

“What a thrill for Michael (McNab) to get his 100^thwin for the season in such great style. He's a good friend of mine and he's riding in career best form.  It's so cool to see him with everything in his life heading in the right direction and I'm very proud of him.

“He's focused and determined and working hard, riding for good stables, and he's on target to win the premiership.

“He's had six stakes' win this season for Te Akau, with three of those on Self Obsession who tied for Filly of the Year with our homebred Belle En Rouge, the Group One Levin Classic on Imperatriz, and he also won stakes' races on Hanalei and Leaderboard.”

Synchronize was strapped by Amit Gujar.

Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz