Another Star Savabeel Colt for Te Akau

Media Release - Saturday December 26

The all-conquering Te Akau team is sticking to a proven Group One formula with rising star three-year-old Brando, a $500,000 Karaka Ready to Run purchase.

Brando eases clear to win the Listed Shaw’s Wire Ropes Uncle Remus Stakes (1400m) at Ellerslie Photo: Trish Dunell

The striking son of Savabeel scored a dominant victory in Saturday’s Listed Shaw’s Wire Ropes Uncle Remus Stakes (1400m) at Ellerslie, which will be used as a springboard into the Gr.1 Levin Classic (1600m) at Trentham on January 16.

In the two years prior to its elevation to Listed status in 2018, Te Akau won this Boxing Day three-year-old event with Hall of Fame and Age of Fire, who each won the Levin Classic at their next start.

The 2018 winner was Hypnos, who went on to place in the Levin Classic, while last year’s winner Travelling Light also triumphed at Trentham a few weeks later.

Trainer Jamie Richards believes Brando has the credentials to follow in those Group One footsteps.

“He’s a colt I’ve always had a lot of time for,” he said.

“David (Ellis, Te Akau Racing principal) bought him from the Ready to Run Sale and paid a bit of money for him, but we like to try and develop these colts into stallions and he’s heading in the right direction.

“It’s only his fourth start, so the form around him is really good and up to a mile in the Levin Classic looks perfect.

“He’s right up there with Hall of Fame and Age of Fire, horses that have won the Levin Classic for us previously.

“I don’t think there’s any doubt about that. Hall of Fame came out of the Ready to Run Sale as well and is probably quite similar to this horse – both by Savabeel.

“Because of COVID-19, he never raced as a two-year-old, but he’s a pretty exciting horse to have around. 

Advertisement

“We’ll look to the Levin Classic, and if he continues to progress the right way, we may even look at Australia.

“There are plenty of options for a horse like him.”

Offered at Karaka’s 2019 Ready to Run Sale by Riversley Park, Brando was knocked down to Ellis for $500,000. He is now the winner of three of his four starts, with his only defeat coming in a debut second placing behind subsequent Group Two performer Tinker Mcphee.

Brando was the $1.80 favourite for Saturday’s Uncle Remus Stakes, but there may have been a few nervous moments as was initially trapped three wide.

But champion jockey Opie Bosson slid forward to sit fourth and one off the rail, and from that point on there was barely a moment’s doubt.

Bosson pushed the button in the straight and Brando burst to the front, scoring by a length and a quarter from the fast-finishing The Irishman.

“He felt awesome,” Bosson said. “He’s still learning, but he’s definitely going to be a good one.

“He’s been on my radar as a really nice horse ever since David bought him from the Ready to Run Sale.

“I think he’d have to be very, very hard to beat in the Levin Classic.”– NZ Racing Desk

Advertisment

Race Result - Shaw's Wire Ropes Uncle Remus LR 1400m

Ellerslie Track: Dead(4) Time: 1:23.88
1
Brando
- 3c Savabeel (AUS) x Saoirse (NZ) (Iffraaj (GB))
Tnr: J W Richards Rdr: O P Bosson 58.5
2
1.3
The Irishman
- 3c Tavistock (NZ) x Zeranti (NZ) (Zabeel (NZ))
Tnr: A W Pike Rdr: M J Mc Nab 57.5
3
2.1
Illumination
- 3f Iffraaj (GB) x Savont (AUS) (Exceed And Excel (AUS))
Tnr: S B Marsh Rdr: C J Grylls 55.5
4
2.6
El Roseay
- 3f El Roca (AUS) x Margravine (AUS) (Red Ransom (USA))
Tnr: Ms J K Mahoney Rdr: S R Weatherley 54
5
2.8
Tokorangi
- 3f Redwood (GB) x Agent Ziva (NZ) (Savabeel (AUS))
Tnr: M Moroney & P Gerard Rdr: A J Calder 55.5
6
3.3
One More Time
- 3f Per Incanto (USA) x Aaja Nachle (NZ) (Fast 'n' Famous (AUS))
Tnr: R James & R Wellwood Rdr: V A Colgan 55.5
7
3.5
Suffused
- 3c Choisir (AUS) x Exotic Blend (AUS) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: M Baker & A Forsman Rdr: L G Innes 57.5
7
3.5
So Gorgeous
- 3f So You Think (NZ) x Alzira (NZ) (Bertolini (USA))
Tnr: S B Marsh Rdr: S T Collett 55.5
9
6.1
Play That Song
- 3f Showcasing (GB) x Supreme (NZ) (Falkirk (NZ))
Tnr: N W Tiley Rdr: D S Johnson 57.5
10
9.3
Opalescence
- 3f Showcasing (GB) x Fairy Story (NZ) (Pentire (GB))
Tnr: Ms J K Mahoney Rdr: J J Fawcett 58.5
More Reading...
Was it that Unusual? Who is the Oldest?
There was a lot of attention in the media regarding the age of Australian Horse of the Year elect Via Sistina (IRE) when she returned to racing for a new campaign at Randwick last Saturday, but was it really that uncommon to see an eight year-old G1 winner?
Future Bright for Danica Guy
Group Three winner Lupo Solitario has returned to New Zealand, and the care of his former trainer Danica Guy, following a six-month racing stint in Hong Kong, while the stable are also excited about a first starter this weekend by Justify (USA).
Commemorative Retired to Stud
Watching the progress of Godolphin horses as they start stepping our for their new trainers has been interesting to say the least and will get more so this weekend when we see Tom Kitten go around in the Group I MRC Memsie Stakes at Caulfield, but one horse we won’t be seeing again is Commemorative.
Sires With Winners - Monday August 25
Here is the full list of 12 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Spring Trial Watch – Hawkesbury
There was an interesting set of trials at Hawkesbury on Monday that featured heat winners including Golden Slipper winner Marhoona, Randwick Guineas winner Linebacker as well as the Waterhouse Bott stable Cups contenders Sir Delius (GB) and Vauban (FR), plus we may have seen an Everest horse.
Sires With Winners - Friday August 22
Here is the full list of 25 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
First Southern Hemisphere foals for Paddington
A four-time Group I winner by champion French sire Siyouni, European superstar, PADDINGTON, has had his first Southern Hemisphere foals arrive on the ground at Windsor Park.
Sires With Winners - Saturday August 23
Here is the full list of 106 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Well Bred Zousain Debut Winner
A full sister to Zousain’s Group III winning filly Drifting, Cheeky Contiki made a winning debut at Pakenham on Monday for the Lindsay Park Racing team.
Narrow Miss for Hellbent Gelding in G2 Foxbridge
Lhasa proved he is more than a synthetic track specialist when he nearly caused an upset when finishing runner-up in Saturday’s Gr.2 Foxbridge Plate (1200m) at Te Rapa.