Group One roll continues for Te Akau Racing

Breednet - Saturday March 7

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.

Cool Aza Beel and Opie Bosson cruise to the line to take out the Gr.1 Sistema Stakes (1200m). Photo: Trish DunellA stylish winner of the Karaka Million 2YO (1200m) at the venue in late January, the Savabeel colt didn’t have the best dress rehearsal for Saturday’s contest when beaten into second by stablemate Need I Say More at Matamata a fortnight ago on a slow and tricky track surface.

Back on good footing and drawn barrier one, punters installed the Jamie Richards-trained runner as a dominating $1.70 favourite and he never gave his fans a moment of concern once he slotted into the trail for rider Opie Bosson.

Bosson bided his time behind a steady pace before angling three-wide on the point of the home turn to issue a challenge. Asked for his effort, Cool Aza Beel shot two-lengths clear and kept up a powerful gallop to defeat improving filly Vernazza and the late-finishing Kelly Renee who shaded Play That Song for third.

“They didn’t go that hard early on and he was pulling a little but once I got him out into the clear it was all over,” Bosson said.

“He’s a good colt and just a gun little racehorse.

“Last start he was just dipping and diving in the ground so I knew getting him back on to a good track, he would be hard to beat.”

Purchased by Te Akau boss David Ellis for $150,000 from the Fairdale Stud draft during the Book 1 session at the 2019 Karaka Yearling Sale, Cool Aza Beel made it four Group One victories in the last three weeks for the Matamata stable after Avantage won the Haunui Farm WFA Group One Classic (1600m) at Otaki on February 22, followed by a double at Randwick last weekend with Probabeel in the Surround Stakes (1400m) and Te Akau Shark in the Chipping Norton Stakes (1600m).

Advertisement

“He’s a very special colt,” Richards said.

“He might have been half a run short at Matamata but the ground had to be taken into consideration and we couldn’t have had him any better for today.

“We put a little rubber nose band on him to just slow him down a little early on today but Opie peeled out at the right time and he quickened really nicely.

“I did think Vernazza was going to give us a good crack there but he is a very good colt.”

Richards wouldn’t be drawn on the immediate future for Cool Aza Beel although he indicated the Gr.1 Courtesy Ford Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) on March 28 was a possibility.

Cool Aza Beel has now won four of his six career starts and has laid a strong claim to the Champion Two-Year-Old title that will be decided at the conclusion of the racing season in July. – NZ Racing Desk

Advertisment

Race Result - Sistema Stakes Gr1 1200m

Ellerslie Track: Good(3) Time: 1:10.46
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
1.0
Vernazza
- 2f More Than Ready (USA) x Zonza (NZ) (Zabeel (NZ))
Tnr: L R Noble Rdr: L G Innes 54.5
More Than Ready
3
3.5
Kelly Renee
- 2f Vespa (NZ) x Sister Celeste (AUS) (Galileo (IRE))
Tnr: S R Autridge Rdr: C J Grylls 54.5
4
3.7
Play That Song
- 2f Showcasing (GB) x Supreme (NZ) (Falkirk (NZ))
Tnr: N W Tiley Rdr: S T Collett 54.5
5
3.9
Snapper
- 2c Power (GB) x Onlyarose (NZ) (One Cool Cat (USA))
Tnr: M Moroney & P Gerard Rdr: C E Lammas 56.5
6
4.2
Tivaan Warrior
- 2f Swiss Ace (AUS) x Ma Belle Ami (NZ) (Commands (AUS))
Tnr: D R Wiles Rdr: A J Calder 54.5
7
4.5
Laced With Gold
- 2f Showcasing (GB) x Malta Badia (IRE) (Fastnet Rock (AUS))
Tnr: S R Autridge Rdr: S C Spratt 54.5
8
7.6
Only Words
- 2f Sweynesse (AUS) x Jungle Pago (NZ) (Darci Brahma (NZ))
Tnr: C R Isdale Rdr: M Cameron 54.5
More Reading...
Future Bright for Danica Guy
Group Three winner Lupo Solitario has returned to New Zealand, and the care of his former trainer Danica Guy, following a six-month racing stint in Hong Kong, while the stable are also excited about a first starter this weekend by Justify (USA).
Cool Aza Beel Completes Te Akau’s Karaka Million Quartet
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.
€1.85million Sale-Topping Frankel Filly Now Triple G1 Oaks Winner for Coolmore
Already a winner of the Group I Epsom Oaks and Irish Oaks, expensive blueblood Frankel filly made it a treble of G1 Oaks races when landing the Group I Yorkshire Oaks (1m4f) overnight.
One to Watch – Geelong
Rosemont Stud’s Hanseatic had a promising debut winner at Sandown on Wednesday in Humble Trader and he kept up the good work at Geelong on Friday when his stakes-placed filly Rohesia cast off maiden status in style.
Exclusive opportunity to purchase nomination in Too Darn Hot
Exciting racing and breeding prospects – plus a nomination in Champion First and Second Season Sire Too Darn Hot (Dubawi) – headline a diverse catalogue of 302 lots for the Inglis Digital August (Late) Online Sale.
$400,000 Karaka Ready to Run Purchase May Be Next Star for Castelvecchio
The maiden three-year-old race on Foxbridge Plate Day at Te Rapa is developing a reputation for unveiling bright talent, and a superb debut by Quantum Legend on Saturday suggested he could be heading for the top of that list.
Second Stakes-winner for Palace Pier
Kingman’s champion son Palace Pier (GB) only shuttled for one season to Darley Australia with his first 2YO’s to race here this season and in Europe he’s doing a pretty good job with his second stakes-winner emerging overnight at York.
Promising Winner for Yes Yes Yes
Relocated to Gooree Stud this spring, Everest hero Yes Yes Yes has kept doing what he does best in racking up winners with the Ciaron Maher trained four year-old Flamboyant Lad opening his account at Geelong on Friday.
Sires With Winners - Friday August 22
Here is the full list of 25 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Breeding To Win - 2025 G2 Silver Shadow Stakes - Darley Princess Series
We've emerged from the worst of winter, but Sydney's wettest spring in a couple of decades is going to ensure a squelchy track for Saturday's Royal Randwick meeting if it even goes ahead.