Te Akau TV - Weekend Preview

It’s been another rewarding week for Team Te Akau, with stakes victories on both sides of the Tasman followed by three winners at our home track of Matamata midweek, making it six in total in five days! Now attention turns to Te Aroha, Ellerslie and Caulfield as our spring campaigns continue.

Lara Antipova provided a memorable Australian highlight, winning the inaugural Listed Michael Moroney over 1400 metres at Flemington. Our newly crowned New Zealand Champion Two-Year-Old found her opening up the inside under Mark Zahra and accelerated away to record her fifth victory from six starts.

Winning a race honouring Michael Moroney made the occasion particularly meaningful for Mark and everyone who knew and worked alongside Mike. For her Fortuna Racing owners, it was also an exciting step towards the Group 1 Thousand Guineas at Caulfield next month.

At Riccarton, Sweetest Thing made the perfect start for Te Akau and new owners Glentree Racing, producing a determined effort under Wiremu Pinn to claim the Listed NZB Canterbury Belle Stakes over 1200 metres.

Stablemate Sword Of Stars also caught the eye, finishing strongly from the rear for a close third. Both fillies have the Group 1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas in their sights, giving our southern team plenty to look forward to as Cup Week approaches.

Hakkinen completed the Riccarton double with a strong finishing performance in the Rating 75 over 1400 metres, rounding out a successful afternoon for the stable.

THREE TO CELEBRATE AT MATAMATA

Wednesday brought more winning moments closer to home, with Geneva Queen, Vintage Rose and Typhoon Lucy delivering a treble for Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson.

Geneva Queen opened our account with Hayley Hassman aboard in the maiden 1050 metres, scoring for her Fortuna Racing owners. Michael McNab then partnered Vintage Rose to victory in the fillies’ and mares’ maiden 1400 metres, before adding another aboard Typhoon Lucy in the Rating 65 over the same distance.

Three winners, three sets of delighted connections and a lovely reward for the daily work of our Matamata team. Congratulations to everyone involved!

FRIDAY RACING AT TE AROHA

She Suits Herself represents the stable in Race 7, the New Zealand Horse Ambulance Trust Highweight Rating 65 over 1600 metres.

Jay Kozaczek takes the ride from barrier three, with 67kg allocated, as she gets our New Zealand weekend underway.

EIGHT RUNNERS SET FOR ELLERSLIE

Li’l Miss Perfect opens our Saturday programme in the Myracehorse Maiden over 1200 metres. Hayley Hassman rides from barrier two, with 55.5kg.

System Of Play takes his place in Race 4, the Hello Youmzain – Champion 2nd Season Sire three-year-old event over 1400 metres. Michael McNab is engaged and this talented colt jumps from barrier three, carrying 57kg.

Michael also partners Towering Vision in Race 5, the Trackside.co.nz Rating 75 over 1600 metres. Drawn barrier two with 57.5kg, Towering Vision is the first of several runners representing the team through the second half of the programme.

Day One follows in Race 6, the Golf Warehouse Rating 65 over 1300 metres, with Opie Bosson aboard from the inside gate and 60kg allocated.

We have two representatives in Race 7, the Elsdon Park Rating 75 over 1200 metres. Egyptian Queen has drawn barrier three with Sam McNab engaged and 60kg, while When Stars Align starts from barrier five with Opie Bosson aboard, carrying 59.5kg.

Top Shelf contests Race 8, the Windsor Park Stud Handicap over 1400 metres, with Michael McNab riding at 54kg from barrier eight.

Luvabeel completes our Ellerslie team in Race 9, the Shaw’s Wire Ropes Rating 65 over 1500 metres. Michael takes the ride from barrier 12, with 56.5kg allocated.

TOLAGA BAY TAKES HER NEXT SPRING STEP

Across the Tasman, Tolaga Bay is set to contest the Thousand Guineas Prelude at Caulfield on Saturday.

The Fortuna Racing filly made it two wins from two starts when successful at Sandown earlier this month. Saturday presents an exciting opportunity to test herself in stakes company as she works towards a possible Thousand Guineas appearance alongside Lara Antipova.

With stakes success to celebrate, a home-track treble behind us and more spring opportunities ahead, there is plenty to enjoy for our owners and supporters!

Go the tangerine! ?