Te Akau Shark’s Brother Coppleson Makes Winning Debut

Mark Smith - Thursday August 11

Te Akau Shark’s little brother Coppleson looks to have a promising future after making a winning career debut over 1500m at Newcastle on Thursday.

Ridden by Brenton Avdulla for Chris Waller, Coppleson was given plenty of time to find his feet. Eased back to last early, the son of Rip Van Winkle navigated between runners in the straight to overpower Another Super (Super One) by a half-neck), with Sardegna (Sebring) a further three lengths back in third.

Advertisement

The OTI colourbearer was a $200,000 purchase for McKeever Bloodstock from the Woburn Farm draft at the 2021 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.

Bred by Darrell Hollinshead, the son of triple Group 1 winner Rip Van Winkle is the seventh winner from as many to race out of the Group II Waikato  Gold Cup winner Bak Da Chief (Chief Bearhart).

The courageous Te Akau Shark won seven of 14 starts before an injury ended his career.

Coppleson a $200,000 Inglis Easter yearling

His successes included the Group 1 WaikRC Waikato Sprint and Group 1 ATC Chipping Norton Stakes, and he was placed a further three times at the highest level in the Cox Plate, Epsom Hcp and George Ryder Stakes.

Woburn Farm offered a sister to Te Akau Shark and Coppleson at the 2022 NZB Karaka Yearling Sale but left the ring unsold when bidding stopped short of her $200,000 reserve.

The 20yo Bak Da Chief missed in 2020 and was covered by Circus Maximus (IRE) last spring. 

Advertisment

Race Result - Hungerford Hill Mdn Hcp 1500m

Newcastle Track: Heavy(8) Time: 1:34.89
1
Coppleson
- 3g Rip Van Winkle (IRE) x Bak Da Chief (NZ) (Chief Bearhart (CAN))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: B Avdulla 56.5
2
0.2
Another Super
- 5g Super One (AUS) x Junebug (AUS) (Shovhog (AUS))
Tnr: M J Dwyer Rdr: J Ford 55
3
3.2
Sardegna
- 4g Sebring (AUS) x Bonaria (AUS) (Redoute's Choice (AUS))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: J B Mc Donald 59
4
4.1
Parsonage Lane
- 3c Redoute's Choice (AUS) x The Hamptons (AUS) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: Annabel Neasham Rdr: C Schofield 56.5
5
6.4
Gotta Fly
- 3g Flying Artie (AUS) x Late Spring (USA) (Speightstown (USA))
Tnr: P & P Snowden Rdr: Regan Bayliss 56
6
7.8
Diaco
- 3c Not A Single Doubt (AUS) x Soleil Brulant (AUS) (I Am Invincible (AUS))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: Tommy Berry 56
7
8.1
Sharkayva
- 4m Sharkbite (AUS) x Ayva (AUS) (Invincible Spirit (IRE))
Tnr: G McFarlane Rdr: Zac Lloyd 53.5
More Reading...
Wrote SW on Comeback Trail
Robbie Patterson had high Classic hopes for Read About It last season before his rising young star’s progress was halted by illness.
Sword of State 2YO Ready for Debut
A pair of promising youngsters are set to make their debut for Cambridge trainer Chad Ormsby at Avondale on Wednesday, but track conditions may scupper plans for one of them.
Sires With Winners - Tuesday October 7
Here is the full list of 25 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Gimcrack Winner Bred By Cornerstone
THE "BACKSLAPPING" in the backwaters of the Barossa on Saturday afternoon, paled into insignificance when compared to the celebrations of the connections of SHIKI that won on debut!
National Thoroughbred Week invites support through GoFundMe campaign
National Thoroughbred Week (NTW) is calling on the thoroughbred community and broader public to be part of history, with the launch of a GoFundMe campaign to help bring this inaugural celebration to life.
Te Akau Shark Brother Two for Two
You don’t see a lot of yearlings by Galileo stallion Rip Van Winkle (IRE) offered at Inglis Easter, but the full brother to his best horse Te Akau Shark was afforded a slot in 2021 and he’s now come out and won two from two.
Two Highest Priced Yearlings in World This Year Highlight Tattersalls October Day 1
The opening day of Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale saw two colts realise 3,700,000 guineas and 3,600,000 guineas, both exceeding the highest price for a yearling sold anywhere in the world in 2025, and five seven-figure lots.
OTI Racing officially enters New Zealand market
OTI Racing is officially going trans-Tasman, with the Australian syndicator becoming a licensed New Zealand syndicator this week.
Briasa Boost as More Youngsters Impress on HIT Sale Eve
The timing couldn’t be better for a sale page's pedigree boost, with Briasa announcing himself as one of Australia’s most exciting sprinters following his dominant victory in Saturday’s $1 million Group Two Premiere Stakes (1200m) at Randwick.
2025 G1 Caulfield Guineas Field and Barrier Draw
A full field plus emergencies have accepted for the $3million Group I MRC Caulfield Guineas (1600m) on Saturday with Golden Rose runners Wodeton, Autumn Boy, Nepotism and Rivellino all engaged.