Cool Aza Beel Strikes Again

Media Release - Sunday June 1

Proven Te Akau Racing filly Cool Aza Rene put her quality on display when prevailing in a competitive Nellies Restaurant and Bar 2YO (820m) at Wingatui on Sunday.

A winner at her first two starts through the spring, Cool Aza Rene had started favourite in the Gr.2 Wakefield Challenge Stakes (1100m) in December, but after an uncharacteristic performance to finish the last of five, the filly pulled up shin-sore.

Cool Aza Rene won the Nellies Restaurant and Bar 2YO (820m) at Wingatui on Sunday.  Photo: Race Images South

Returning to Te Akau’s Riccarton stable in the late autumn, Cool Aza Rene trialled impressively at Ashburton before journeying further south to the Dunedin venue, where she was the most-experienced in a field made up of a number of first-starters.

The daughter of Cool Aza Beel was a deserved favourite, but punters still identified Eternal Light ($5.30), stablemate Options Open ($5.70), and Better Shared ($6.30) as potential dangers. Jumping from barrier seven, apprentice jockey Ace Lawson-Carroll was positive early, driving forward to settle off the fence in third.

The big-striding El Vaquero headed the juvenile field into the home turn and Cool Aza Rene picked up to draw level with him at the 200m, and despite getting a decent bump from her rival, the filly was too tough and got up by a head.

Debutant Eternal Light wasn’t far away in third, with another length margin back to an improving Better Shared.

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“It was a good tough effort and obviously she got through the testing ground quite well,” said Mark Walker, who trains her in partnership with Sam Bergerson. “She showed a lot of heart to get up and win, close to the line.

“She’s building quite a nice record and we’ll look to run her again on the 21st of June in the two-year-old race over 1000m at Riccarton.

“We really do like the progeny of Cool Aza Beel, especially as they look as though they’ll keep developing into much better three-year-olds.”

Cool Aza Rene is by a former Te Akau Racing galloper in Cool Aza Beel, while her dam, Irene, is by another past star of the stable in Xtravagant. She was purchased for A$55,000 out of Newhaven Park’s draft at Magic Millions’ Gold Coast Yearling Sale, and from four starts, has earned just shy of $85,000. – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

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Race Result - Nellies Restaurant & Bar 2yo 820m

Wingatui Track: Heavy(10) Time: 0:50.84
1
Cool Aza Rene
- 2f Cool Aza Beel (NZ) x Irene (AUS) (Xtravagant (NZ))
Tnr: Mark Walker & Sam Bergerson Rdr: A Lawson-Carroll 56
2
0.2
El Vaquero
- 2c Ferrando (NZ) x La Achiever (NZ) (High Chaparral (IRE))
Tnr: M & M Pitman Rdr: K Chowdhoory 57.00
NZB Karaka Book 2 $0
Seller: Apex Bloodstock
Buyer:
3
0.6
Eternal Light
- 2f Jon Snow (NZ) x Suriyan (NZ) (Savabeel (AUS))
Tnr: H B Tapper Rdr: A Comignaghi 55.00
4
2.1
Better Shared
- 2f Overshare (AUS) x Eagle's Reach (AUS) (More Than Ready (USA))
Tnr: Kelvin Tyler Rdr: Ms K Williams 55.00
5
4.9
Ripa Time
- 2f Time Test (GB) x You Little Ripa (NZ) (Bachelor Duke (USA))
Tnr: Kelvin Tyler Rdr: Toni Davies 52
6
5.9
Options Open
- 2f Darci Brahma (NZ) x Optimiser (NZ) (Redwood (GB))
Tnr: Mark Walker & Sam Bergerson Rdr: Hayley Hassman 52
7
8.2
Ajays Heart
- 2f El Doute (AUS) x Ajay Tee (NZ) (Foxwedge (AUS))
Tnr: C L Spittles Rdr: A Balloo 55.00
8
9.5
King Spirit
- 2g Ancient Spirit (GER) x Quartet (NZ) (King's Chapel (AUS))
Tnr: B & S Anderton Rdr: Y Atchamah 55
9
11.8
Mackenzie Lass
- 2f Ocean Park (NZ) x Tallulah Belle (NZ) (Iffraaj (GB))
Tnr: R C Dennis Rdr: Billy Jacobson 55.00
10
13.6
Angel's Army
- 2f Shocking (AUS) x Salvation (NZ) (Savabeel (AUS))
Tnr: Kelvin Tyler Rdr: A K Riddell 53
11
21.4
Waszas Wonder
- 2g Mongolian Khan (AUS) x Savastep (NZ) (Savabeel (AUS))
Tnr: M E Forde Rdr: Roopesh Jaun 53
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