WINNER: Asturia Sublime on Debut

Te Akau made a perfect start to new season racing at Ellerslie, when Asturia (3 f Almanzor – Kay’s Legacy, by Zabeel) recorded a smart debut victory in the $75,000 Rich Hill Stud 3YO 1400 metres on Saturday.

A day featuring the Proisir Plate (Gr. 1, 1400m), with $1.15 million in prize money on offer, Asturia took out race one the 10-race programme.

Ridden by Michael McNab to win a trial on 4 August at Te Rapa, when sustaining a strong finish to grab victory, the pair combined again on race day.

Mapped to settle handily from barrier three, plans changed immediately when Asturia was squeezed between horses soon after the start and she ended up getting back seventh of eight on the inner.

Standing the leader six lengths at the 600m, on what had been a comfortable tempo, prospects enhanced greatly for Asturia when quickening appreciably near the rail on straightening and she took advantage of a clear passage while continuing to unwind a big finish.

“Grocer’s Girl jumped away awkwardly and spat us out the back, but she got the run up the inside and shown a really good turn of foot to win,” McNab said. 

“She trialled well, gives us a good feel, and a lovely type of horse.”

From a family well known by Te Akau and experienced plenty of success, Asturia certainly appears a filly in the mould of other talented siblings.

On Soft5 footing, Asturia ran 1400 metres in 1:26.6, last 600m in 35.0, and drifted in betting to pay $7.20 & $2.00 on the NZ TAB tote.

“It was a really good win, today, and it takes a good effort for a three-year-old filly to go to Ellerslie, first time out, and win the way she did,” said Mark Walker, training partner with Sam Bergerson.

“It was a great ride by Michael (McNab), after getting checked back in the early stages. He kept her balanced and she really produced when asked in the straight.

“It’s a great start for the filly and her owners, and good for the staff, too, who have worked hard through the winter and we’re all looking forward to the days drawing out, more sunlight, and the tracks drying out. 

“It’s the beauty of Ellerslie, where you get such a superior track because of the Strathayr construction and incredible drainage.

“Asturia is a really nice filly that was bought very reasonably by Dave (Ellis). We know the family well, it’s very good, and like most of them she’ll only continue to get better with age.”

Owned by the Te Akau Legacy of Love Racing Partnership (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM), Asturia was purchased for $135,000 by Sir David Ellis, from the draft of Landsdowne Park), at the 2025 Karaka Book 1 Sale.

“What a thrill for the owners to see this filly win on debut and it’s lovely to have many of you here on course at Ellerslie,” Ellis said. “Thankyou for supporting Te Akau Racing.

“I had my first winner in 1978 at Ellerslie, and you never get sick of the thrill that comes with winning.

“To John & Colleen Thompson at Rich Hill Stud who sponsored the race, thank you very much for what you put back into racing with your sponsorship. I hope you have a great day and thank you for everything you do for the industry, it doesn’t go unnoticed.”

Asturia is by Cambridge Stud stallion Almanzor (Wootton Bassett), whom Ellis purchased Karaka Million 2YO (Restricted Listed, 1200m) winner Dynastic from his first crop, along with Te Akau homebred stakes' winners Qali Al Farrasha (Gr. 2 and four Gr. 1 placed) and Nucleozor (Listed), and Te Akau trained Group 3 New Zealand Cup (3200m) winner Mehzebeen.

The family is known to Te Akau through the deeds of Alert (Zabeel), Rise ‘N’ Shine (Zabeel), and Wide Awake (Savabeel), who were bought and trained by Te Akau to win eight races between them.

Asturia's grand-dam Kay’s Awake was an impressive winner during her career of six wins, and was at the time regarded as one of the best race mares in New Zealand, placing twice behind multiple Group One winners Darci Brahma (Danehill) and Seachange (Cape Cross). 

Kay’s Awake also proved herself at stud, leaving six individual winners of 17 races, including Australian stakes' winner Rise At Dawn (Almanzor). 

At the time of purchasing Asturia, Ellis said: “It’s a family we’ve always really liked and had success with and the Almanzor/Zabeel cross is proven to leave some really good staying type horses.

“This filly is in the same mould and we can see her as a middle distance and Oaks’ type of filly.

“She’s a lovely filly, just like her sister Scottie’s Legacy, and you can see in her real scope to develop and train on as a staying filly and mare.”

Asturia has a bloodline cross through her sire-lines to Champion Sire Nureyev (Northern Dancer), a racehorse with immense turn of foot, Champion French 3YO, and sire of more than 20 champions.

Asturia was strapped by Mallesh Saddari. 

Photo credit - Kenton Wright - www.raceimages.co.nz