A Million Reasons to Like the Lad

Media Release - Saturday December 8

Aotea Lad has the makings of a smart juvenile and a strong debut performance to win the Group 2 Anuka Smoker Wakefield Challenge Stakes (1100m) at Trentham has all but booked his passage to the lucrative Karaka Million 2YO (1200m) at Ellerslie on January 26.

The Jamie Richards-trained son of Savabeel will derive plenty of benefit from the raceday experience after being only moderately into stride and showing signs of greenness over the concluding stages, yet his class meant the result was never in doubt.

Advertisement

Ridden by Opie Bosson, Aotea Lad had half a length to spare over Snitzel colt Killin, with Aretha also finishing well for third. (Photo: Race Images PN (Peter Rubery))


"Earlier on in the spring, he was very colty and the decision was made to geld him and since then he has turned into a racehorse. He has got it all in front of him," stable representative Paul Richards said.

"It was always the plan to ride him back, like he did at the trials, and just get a drag across the junction and try to get over them late.

"Obviously he is going to improve a lot from today.

"He will probably go into the Eclipse Stakes (Gr.3, 1200m) and then into the Karaka Million."

Te Akau Racing have won the past two editions of the Karaka Million with Avantage and Melody Belle and Aotea Lad adds to the stable's arsenal of talented two-year-olds that could tackle the race this season.

By Savabeel out of the Group One-placed juvenile Corsage, Aotea Lad was bought for $200,000 by Te Akau principal David Ellis at the Karaka Book 1 Yearling Sale earlier this year.

Winning rider Opie Bosson was full of praise for the gelding and said he rates right up there with the stable's leading two-year-olds, which includes last Saturday's impressive Ellerslie winner Probabeel.

"He got there in the last 50m and started looking at the big screen and the winning post and there was plenty more left in the tank," Bosson said.

"He showed a good turn of foot. When I really asked him and put the pressure on him, he went for me until he got there by himself and that is when greenness kicked in and he has just had a bit of a look around.

"He's only had two trials and still doesn't know what he's doing, so he is a pretty special little horse."

Woburn Farm will consign a Makfi half-sister to Aotea Lad to the 2019 NZB Premier Yearling Sale at Karaka.

NZ Racing Desk

Advertisment
More Reading...
Sires With Winners - Sunday June 22
Here is the full list of 76 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Probabeel Shows her Class
Superstar three-year-old Probabeel proved a class above her age-group rivals when she made a winning start to her summer campaign over 1400m at Awapuni on Saturday.
Mo'Unga Looking to Bounce Back
Trainer Annabel Neasham is looking forward to stepping out Group One winner Mo’unga in the Gr.2 Chelmsford Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on Saturday, where she is expecting to see an improved run from the entire.
Three on the Trot for Zousain 3YO
The Paul Shailer stable has been flying over the winter carnival and one of the stable stars has been Zousain gelding Mister Bianco, who made it three wins in succession when taking out the $150,000 Schweppes TL Cooney (1350m) at Ipswich on Saturday.
Aussie Golden Eagle Form Delivers Royal Ascot G1 Finale
There were a couple of Aussie elements to the brilliant victory of Lazzat in the Group I Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes (6f) at Royal Ascot overnight as he came to our shores last year and very nearly won the $10million Golden Eagle.
One to Watch Wins Again!
It might be winter and all eyes may have been on Royal Ascot this week, but there was a winner at Flemington on Saturday that will have caught the eye of anyone with half an interest towards spring racing and emerging talent.
Highview Makes Welcome Return to Weanling Sale
Many of the vendors at this month’s NZB National Weanling Sale are familiar faces who are renowned for their quality drafts at this sale every year, but the 2025 edition also sees an old friend being welcomed back to the fold.
Probabeel Chasing Karaka Million History
High-class filly Probabeel (NZ) (Savabeel) will shoot for a slice of history at the Karaka Million twilight race meeting at Ellerslie on January 25.
One to Watch – Cranbourne
Second in the Group III VRC Maribyrnong Plate last year to Tycoon Star, this Cosmic Force colt made light work of a maiden at Cranbourne on Sunday when bolting away to win as he pleased.
Savabeel Colt Secures Karaka Million Start
Te Akau Racing’s quest to win the Karaka Million 2YO (1200m) for the fourth year in succession was bolstered considerably when Cool Aza Beel ensured his place in the field with a dominant victory at Tauranga on Friday.