Cool Aza Beel Completes Te Akau’s Karaka Million Quartet

Media Release - Saturday January 25

Te Akau Racing’s incredible stranglehold on the Karaka Million 2YO (1200m) has extended into its fourth year with a superb win by Cool Aza Beel in the million-dollar juvenile feature at Ellerslie on Saturday.

Cool Aza Beel wins the Karaka Million - images Trish Dunnell

The syndication powerhouse has dominated the sales-restricted race in recent seasons, and no one else has had a look-in since Xiong Feng won it back in 2016.

Cool Aza Beel triumphant!Purchaser David Ellis, trainer Jamie Richards (formerly in partnership with Stephen Autridge) and jockey Opie Bosson have teamed up to win the race with Melody Belle in 2017, Avantage in 2018, Probabeel in 2019 and now Cool Aza Beel in 2020.

Right on the eve of the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sales, where Te Akau will again be a force on the buyers’ bench, these results are the type of advertising that money cannot buy.

“It’s awesome,” Richards said. “It’s a really great way to start the biggest week of the year for us. Whether we can make it five in a row I’m not sure, but I’d like to think so. We’re definitely going to be out there in force at Karaka over the next few days, looking for more horses like this.”

Cool Aza Beel was the $8.20 third favourite for the Karaka Million behind unbeaten filly Play That Song ($1.60) and Group Two winner Not An Option ($3.90), but he upstaged both in a power-packed performance.

Urged forward out of the gates by Opie Bosson, Cool Aza Beel was in the early scramble for the lead before easing back into a perfect trailing position in fourth.

He and Play That Song surged forward in the straight together to make their bids, and for a moment it looked like Play That Song would scoot away for a fourth straight win.

Advertisement

But Cool Aza Beel kicked powerfully on her inside and shook her off, opening up a margin of a length and a half. Play That Song finished second, a neck in front of the Brendan and Jo Lindsay filly Taroni.

Cool Aza Beel as a yearling, $150,000 purchase from the Fairdale Stud draft“I saw the favourite’s head come up beside me, but I have to give credit to my horse – he gave a really good kick in the straight,” Bosson said. “It’s a great result and a privilege to be part of the Te Akau team.”

Bought for $150,000 from the Book 1 session at Karaka last year, Cool Aza Beel won the very first two-year-old race of the season at Wanganui back in September. He then struck bad luck when fourth in the Listed FastTrack Insurance 2YO Stakes (1100m) at Pukekohe in November.

After a nervous few days including a missed run at Ellerslie due to a temperature spike, he finally clinched his spot in the field with a three-length win at Tauranga on January 17.

“We’ve always had a lot of faith in this horse,” Richards said. “We took our time with him. He missed a run here, but we had Tauranga as a back-up plan.

“We’d been really happy with his work coming into today. It’s been a great effort by the team at home with this horse, and a great ride by Opie, who’s just a freak. I also have to give big thanks to Dave (Ellis) – what an achievement to buy four Karaka Million winners in a row!” – NZ Racing Desk.

Visit the profile page for Savabeel

Savabeel in upcoming sales:
Advertisment

Race Result - Karaka Million 2yo LR 1200m

Ellerslie Track: Dead(4) Time: 1:10.58
1
Cool Aza Beel
- 2c Savabeel (AUS) x Cool 'n' Sassy (AUS) (Testa Rossa (AUS))
Tnr: J W Richards Rdr: O P Bosson 56.5
2
1.5
Play That Song
- 2f Showcasing (GB) x Supreme (NZ) (Falkirk (NZ))
Tnr: N W Tiley Rdr: J B Mc Donald 54.5
3
1.8
Taroni
- 2f Showcasing (GB) x Alagant Satin (NZ) (Al Akbar (AUS))
Tnr: L R Noble Rdr: M J Dee 54.5
4
6.3
Bordeaux Le Rouge
- 2g Burgundy (NZ) x De La Vere (NZ) (O'Reilly (NZ))
Tnr: J W Richards Rdr: C J Grylls 56.5
5
7.8
Dragon Queen
- 2f Sweynesse (AUS) x Happy Endings (NZ) (Tavistock (NZ))
Tnr: M Moroney & P Gerard Rdr: M Cameron 54.5
6
8.0
Amor Fati
- 2f Showcasing (GB) x Musigny (AUS) (Reset (AUS))
Tnr: C R Isdale Rdr: L H Satherley 54.5
7
8.6
De La Terre
- 2f Reliable Man (GB) x Veva Girl (AUS) (Fastnet Rock (AUS))
Tnr: Team Rogerson Rdr: R T Elliot 54.5
8
8.7
Helsinki
- 2f Savabeel (AUS) x Rush (NZ) (O'Reilly (NZ))
Tnr: P & D Williams Rdr: M T Coleman 54.5
9
9.3
Trident
- 2g Smart Missile (AUS) x Best Of British (AUS) (More Than Ready (USA))
Tnr: Andrew Campbell Rdr: V A Colgan 56.5
10
9.5
Tivaan Warrior
- 2f Swiss Ace (AUS) x Ma Belle Ami (NZ) (Commands (AUS))
Tnr: D R Wiles Rdr: A J Calder 54.5
11
11.6
Not An Option
- 2c Not A Single Doubt (AUS) x Chintz (NZ) (Savabeel (AUS))
Tnr: A W Pike Rdr: L G Innes 56.5
12
12.7
Lovebug
- 2f Iffraaj (GB) x L'amour (NZ) (Towkay (AUS))
Tnr: M & M Pitman Rdr: S C Spratt 54.5
13
17.8
Hasstobemagic
- 2f Scissor Kick (AUS) x Shanina (AUS) (Testa Rossa (AUS))
Tnr: R James & R Wellwood Rdr: D S Johnson 54.5
More Reading...
One to Watch – Geelong
Trilogy Racing will have high hopes for the their talented filly Queen of Clubs in the Group I ATC Flight Stakes on Saturday and their colours were in the frame at Geelong on Thursday carried by a Zoustar filly that saluted on debut.
Inglis Ready2Race breeze up footage NOW AVAILABLE ONLINE
Progeny of the likes of Toronado, Exceed and Excel, Harry Angel, Zoustar and Ole Kirk were amongst the standout performers from breeze up sessions conducted this week in the lead up to the Inglis Ready2Race Sale on October 16, footage of which is now available online.
Group One roll continues for Te Akau Racing
Outstanding juvenile Cool Aza Beel kept the Group One winning roll of Te Akau Racing going as he dominated his rivals when taking out the Gr.1 Sistema Stakes (1200m) at Ellerslie.
New Stakes-Winner for Zoustar
The $150,000 Listed Hannan’s Handicap (1400m) provided reigning champion sire Zoustar with a new stakes-winner when seven year-old gelding Multinational led for home and could not be caught.
Sires With Winners - Thursday October 2
Here is the full list of 29 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Breeding To Win – 2025 G1 Darley Flight Stakes
The prestigious Darley Princess Series reaches its crescendo this week with the 77th running of the $750,000 G1 ATC Flight Stakes (1600m) over Royal Randwick's famous mile.
Four Winners for Dennis
Local trainer Robert Dennis won half of the eight-race card at Ascot Park on Friday, culminating with a special win by Sir Sterling in the Vale Tony Dennis (1400m).
Kiwi Sires a Recipe for NZB Ready to Run Sale Success
Much of the NZB Ready to Run Sale’s extraordinary success has been underpinned by the stallions that have stood in New Zealand in recent decades.
Who Was Flight?
A G1 race since 1984, the Flight Stakes is a race won by special fillies - often the ones who go on to do extraordinary things on the track against all comers as older mares and that's as it should be as Hall Of Fame legend Flight exemplified that style of thoroughbred.
Blueblood Fillies From $3million Mares
Tom Magnier has been notable for his purchase of elite race fillies and broodmares in recent years to enhance the stellar Coolmore broodmare band and two of his $3million plus mare purchases have produced stunning fillies this spring.