Te Akau post stakes double
David Ellis of Te Akau has been busy across the Tasman at the Magic Millions sale this week, purchasing eight Book 1 yearlings, but it was his current racing team that continued to do the business on the track yesterday, posting a stakes race double in back-to-back contests at Trentham.
Given a brilliant ride by stable jockey Opie Bosson, Magic Millions graduate Cognito (3 g So You Think – Lady Primrose by More Than Ready) was equal to the task when winning the Wellington Guineas (Gr 2, 1400m).
The race holds fond memories for Te Akau, who previously claimed victory in the contest in 2005 with five-time Group 1 winner and champion stallion Darci Brahma (Danehill), while two years’ ago Need I Say More (No Nay Never) recorded his seventh win from nine starts when taking out the event.
For Cognito, the win backed up a notable sixth in the 2,000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m) at Riccarton.
“When you’ve got Opie on, he can do miracle things and it was a great ride,” said winning trainer Mark Walker.
Bosson positioned Cognito back in the field on the rail and spotted the leaders seven lengths at the 600-metre mark, but encountered more traffic near the rail before getting clear late and dashing home.
“We had a hiccup with the horse and he missed a run, so full credit to him, and all the team. It’s a tough time of year, working day in and day out. Everyone has been working so hard and to get results like this is fantastic,” Walker said.
“He’s probably furnished up, and we love taking horses in the spring to Riccarton. The horses grow up mentally down there and I think the trip away just made him.
“He’s going to keep getting better because he’s very sound and he’s lightly raced, so he’s got a good future.
“Dave [Ellis] bought this bloke at the Gold Coast Yearling Sales and he was there again last week, so for anyone that wants to join the team there are some shares available on the website.”
Walker said he would reserve judgement on plans for Cognito, but acknowledged he holds a nomination for the New Zealand Derby (Gr 1, 2400m).
On a Good 4 surface, Cognito ran the 1400-metre trip in 1:22.70,
Cognito was purchased by Ellis for $165,000, from the draft of Baramul Stud at the 2021 Gold Coast National Yearling Sale.
Built in the mould of his ten-time Group 1-winning sire So You Think (High Chaparral), Cognito has now won three of his six starts.
“That’s just how to ride him, held up and finding the line and what a brilliant ride by Opie,” Ellis said.
“He’s grown into a gorgeous horse and while he’s got the brilliance to act over a shorter trip, there is also plenty of evidence within his bloodlines to get further. We’ll have to wait and see, but it’s pretty exciting for the owners to have a horse like him.”
From a mare by international stallion More Than Ready (Southern Halo), Cognito carries a bloodline cross of immortal sire Northern Dancer (Nearctic).
The gelding’s dam, Lady Primrose, has already left Hard Lady (All Too Hard), a dual winner to 1300 metres in Australia, along with mile winner Presser (Press Statement). Grandam Primrose Sands (Zabeel) was a stakes winner and Group 2 placed over 2000 metres.
A race earlier it was New Zealand Oaks (Gr 1, 2400m) winner Belle En Rouge (4 m Burgundy – Cavendish Belle by Thorn Park) who bounced back to form when returned to the scene of her greatest triumph to take out the Anniversary Handicap (Gr 3, 1600m).
The Te Akau homebred mare had not won since the Oaks in March, a result which saw her share the New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year honours with stablemate Self Obsession (Shocking).
Belle En Rouge had staged a huge run for fourth over 1400 metres on Boxing Day at Pukekohe, and mounted a big finish for second to stablemate Campionessa (Contributer) in the Rich Hill Mile (Gr 2, 1600m) on New Year’s Day at Te Rapa.
Tardily away, Belle En Rouge was settled towards the rear, and still travelled eight lengths astern at the 600-metre mark. Tracking up behind runners in the straight, her rider Dean Yendall received a beautiful split mid-straight and Belle En Rouge answered by powering home.
Te Akau secured the quinella through Belle Of The Ball (Savabeel), who made her run widest of all under Michael McNab.
“It’s good to see her back,” said Walker of Belle En Rouge.
“It was just all those wet tracks and now she’s back on good ground and showing what she’s made of, again.
“She’s always been a special filly because she was bred on the [Te Akau] farm as well.
“It was a good ride by Dean [Yendall]. He rode her for a bit of luck and it opened up really well for him, and the second mare [Belle of The Ball] ran very well also.”
“We won Group 1 races with both Belle En Rouge and Maven Belle, another homebred filly by Burgundy, last season and while Maven Belle had a fetlock injury before winning fresh-up last Sunday at Pukekohe, it’s great to see this mare back winning another stakes race,” Ellis said.
“We get a thrill out of every winner we train for owners, whether a maiden or a Group 1, but having bred them just puts icing on the cake. It’s very exciting.
“We syndicated Belle En Rouge among some really good clients and although she didn’t race as a two-year-old she’s been a revelation at three and now four.
“And what a great ride by Dean Yendall, after he rode so well for us on New Year’s Day at Te Rapa, to come back and get a major race win at Trentham is great to see.”
Out of the Thorn Park (Spinning World) mare, Belle En Rouge is from a family of smart gallopers, including Filante Etoile (Soviet Star), Valbuena (Darci Brahma), and Star Dancer (Starwatch).