Brother to Byzantine Headed for Karaka 2020

Media Release - Thursday January 2

The winning run of trainer Jamie Richards and the Te Akau Racing team continued at Tauranga on Thursday when Byzantine scored over 1400m in rating 72 company.

Byzantine - Race ImagesRichards currently sits atop the National Trainer’s Premiership ladder with 61 wins, nine clear of Cambridge conditioner Stephen Marsh and has been in a purple patch of form of late that saw him produce Prise De Fer to win the Gr.2 Rich Hill Mile (1600m) at Ellerslie on New Year’s Day.

Savabeel four-year-old Byzantine has proven to be a bit of a head-scratcher for Richards since winning stylishly in just his second start as a two-year-old, mixing his efforts at times but always looking to have the ability to progress through the grades.

A winning run over 1200m in a similar grade at Hastings last start showed he was back to his best and he franked that victory with another professional display in the hands of Opie Bosson.

Sent forward to sit outside the pace by Bosson, Byzantine found a good kick when challenged in the run home before holding out a late charge from Salt Bay to score by a neck and register his fourth career victory from just 11 starts.

“He got a lovely run in the race even though it was only a small field,” stable representative Libby Richards said.

“He won well at Hawke’s Bay last time and we were very happy with him.

Advertisement

“The weight (60kgs) was a question mark but he ran to the line well.

“He’s putting together a good record although he has been a little difficult at home so it’s good to see him get a win for the team.”

A full brother to Byzantine will be offered through the Little Avondale Stud draft during Book 1 at the National Yearling Sale at Karaka later this month as Lot 451.

Richard’s stable star Probabeel will create plenty of attention at Awapuni on Saturday when she has her first start in New Zealand as a three-year-old in an age-group 1400m event.

The 2019 Karaka Million 2YO (1200m) winner is fresh from a three-start Australian spring campaign where she finished second to Funstar in the Gr.1 Flight Stakes (1600m) at Randwick back in October. – NZ Racing Desk

Advertisment

Race Result - Te Puke/Mount Maunganui (Bm72) 1300m

Tauranga Track: Good(3) Time: 1:19.33
1
Byzantine
- 4g Savabeel (AUS) x Baradevi (NZ) (Volksraad (GB))
Tnr: J W Richards Rdr: O P Bosson 60
2
0.2
Salt Bay
- 5m Redwood (GB) x Marsh Harbour (NZ) (Volksraad (GB))
Tnr: M Moroney & P Gerard Rdr: R T Elliot 56.5
3
0.4
Roll The Gold
- 6g Testa Rossa (AUS) x Flying Change (AUS) (Flying Spur (AUS))
Tnr: G T Hennessy Rdr: J J Fawcett 57
4
2.7
Rhaegar
- 3g Pluck (USA) x Grand Lady (AUS) (Grandera (IRE))
Tnr: M Baker & A Forsman Rdr: D S Johnson 57
5
3.1
Savette
- 6m Savabeel (AUS) x You Too (NZ) (O'Reilly (NZ))
Tnr: T L Riddell Rdr: C Dell 56.5
More Reading...
Sires With Winners - Thursday June 19
Here is the full list of 37 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.
Royal Ascot Day 3 – Record Smashed and Bluebloods
More glamour and galloping overnight at Royal Ascot with four Group races decided and the Coolmore juggernaut won three of them, but not the prized feature on the card, the Group I Ascot Gold Cup (2m4f) which was won in dazzling course record time.
One to Watch – Gosford
Hawkesbury trainer Blake Ryan is known for sourcing nice yearlings and turning them over at the two year-old breeze up sales, but a Written Tycoon colt purchased from Inglis Easter for $425,000 has remained in the stable and made a winning debut at Gosford on Thursday.
Significant racing and breeding prospects aplenty in June (Late ) Sale
A range of intriguing broodmares and breeding prospects – as well as many young, in-form racehorses suitable for both the domestic and Hong Kong market – headline a stellar catalogue for the Inglis Digital June (Late) Online Sale.
New 2YO Stakes Winner for Hello Youmzain
The Listed John Turkington Forestry Castletown Stakes (1200m) was one of the few age-group features in the lower North Island that was missing from Lisa Latta’s CV, but the fast-improving filly Platinum Diamond dealt to that unfinished business at Otaki on Friday.
Breeding To Win - 2025 Royal Ascot G1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes
In the depths of our Aussie winter nights there is nothing better than tuning in to all the pomp and glory of Royal Ascot and as we have passed the halfway mark it's time to look towards Saturday night and the iconic sprint that has been won four times previously by an Aussie bred horse.
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.
Royal Ascot Day 2 – Godolphin Strike, Blueblood and Bargain
More action and excitement at Royal Ascot on Day 2 with a Godolphin late bloomer winning his first G1, JMac in the winners circle on a speedy squib turned miler and 2YO stakes races produced a blueblood filly and a bargain 9000 guinea colt, whose 'Havana' sireline is coming to Australia this spring.
Savabeel Blueblood Wins G3 Desert Gold
A copybook ride by Opie Bosson paved the way for promising filly Showbeel to add a valuable black type success to her career record when she took out the first feature race at Trentham on Saturday, the Group III New Zealand Bloodstock Desert Gold Stakes (1600m).