Te Akau Wins Both 2022 Karaka Million's + Group 3

Date: 23 Jan 2022

Te Akau Wins Both 2022 Karaka Million's + Group 3


"Proud" doesn't even begin to describe how we feel about the Te Akau team's achievements on Karaka Million night on Saturday.

 

The team won half of the programme, three races, including both the Karaka 2YO Million with Dynastic and the Karaka 3YO Million Classic with Pin Me Up.  A feat we have previously achieved with Cool Aza Beel and Probabeel on the same night.

Dynastic becomes Te Akau's SIXTH Karaka 2YO Million winner in a row - an incredible feat, especially when you think no other stable has won the race more that once. Our stable runners were prominent also in finishing third (Fellini) and fourth (Time Flies). Our other starter Lord Cosmos had a nightmare draw and raced wide throughout, taking the turn awkwardly, extinguishing his chance.  He is a promising galloper and we know he will make his presence felt in the future. 

Te Akau's other winner on the evening was Sword of State who returned to the scene of his Group 1 Sistema Stakes' victory to claim the Group 3 Cambridge Stud Almanzor Trophy (formerly the Mr Tiz Trophy) - with stablemate Imperatriz making it a Te Akau quinella. It was a highly appropriate win for the Snitzel colt who now sports the Cambridge Stud colours of part owners Brendan and Jo Lindsay - his future stallion career will be as part of the Cambridge Stud roster.

A nod also to the brave effort by Festivity, a stakes' winner over the Ellerslie Christmas Carnival (Hallmark Stud Stakes).  She fought bravely to be runner up in the Group 3 Concorde Handicap, this valuable black type further enhancing the residual value of this 5YO I Am Invincible mare.

The three wins take Te Akau's prize money won for our owners in New Zealand this season to $4.28 million, that's $2.82 million more than the next stable.  In other very good news for Te Akau owners, the stable has now won 71 races, that's a lead of 16 for the team.  In total, Te Akau has won 19 Group/Listed races this season, with the next closet stable claiming six.

David and the team will be back at Karaka in early March hunting down the horses that will defend this proud record in 2023 - shares will be available, so make sure you get involved!

Below: it was good to see Opposition Leader Christopher Luxon and Amanda Luxon enjoying the KM experience.  Also on course David Seymour, ACT leader and his Deputy Leader Brooke Van Velden, as well as former Minister for Racing David Bennett.  Rt Hon Winston Peters had been expected to also attend however a bereavement meant a last minute change of plans.

 

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