Juvenile Summary: No end in sight for Te Akau’s G1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Dominance

Cover image courtesy of Peter Rubery (Race Images)

"The Te Akau train keeps rolling"

Te Akau has long had a stranglehold on the G1 Manawatu Sires Produce Stakes, having won six of the last seven editions. On Saturday, they extended that dominance to an impressive seven of the last eight runnings, with a quinella finish on the Champagne Turf.

La Dorada (NZ) (Super Seth) was superb in her victory, ridden by Michael McNab. Settling nicely in fourth position, the filly pounced early in the home straight. Known for her tenacity and toughness, she was always going to prove hard to beat.

Her $1.65 million stablemate, Hostility (I Am Invincible), produced an eye-catching performance to finish second in only his second career start, while Tajana (NZ) (Darci Brahma), run third after getting promoted ahead of Landlock (Merchant Navy) from fourth position.

La Dorada’s win is another highlight for the emerging sire Super Seth from Waikato Stud, whose offspring are proving themselves at the highest level. La Dorada now boasts a brilliant record of four wins from five starts, including the Listed Karaka Millions 2-Year-Old, the G2 Matamata Breeders’ Stakes, and now the prestigious G1 Manawatu Sires Produce Stakes. This victory also makes her Super Seth’s third Group 1 winner, joining Feroce (NZ) and Linebacker (NZ) on the list of his elite performers.

The success didn’t end there for Super Seth, who also celebrated a double at Trentham, where his talented son Super Photon (NZ) claimed victory in 3-year-old company. Super Photon was also a Listed winner as a juvenile, adding to the growing list of classy performers for the young stallion.

Mark Walker, who trains La Dorada in partnership with Sam Bergerson, was full of praise for the filly.

“She showed her class today and she’s just so tough,” Walker said.

“She’s been up for a while and had quite a long season, but Sam and the team have done a great job keeping her going for so long.

“She had that setback with the Sistema, but we didn’t panic. It’s great to see her get a Group 1 win. She’s a very tough filly and is going to make a lovely 3-year-old as well. She’s not very big, but she’s all heart.

“She wasn’t expensive, costing less than $200,000, and you can’t go wrong buying the Waikato Stud product. I think Super Seth is the next big thing in New Zealand.”

Walker was also delighted with the performance of Hostility, who ran a massive race for second place in just his second start. The colt, by I Am Invincible out of multiple Group 1 winner Shillelagh, was a record-breaking $1.65 million purchase at the New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Ready to Run Sale last November.

“His run was full of merit too,” Walker said. “To have your second run in a Group 1 race and put in a performance like that, he’s a special horse in the making.”

With several exciting horses in their stable, Walker added that decisions regarding their 3-year-old plans would come later in the year.

“We’ll have some decisions to make around the 3-year-old plans for La Dorada, Hostility, and Return To Conquer, but we’ve got all winter to do that,” he said. “It’s a big team effort with David, Karyn (Fenton-Ellis), Sam, Reece (Trumper), and Nicole (Shailer). We’ll sit down over the winter and work it all out. They’re beautiful horses.”

Jockey Michael McNab was jubilant after crossing the line aboard La Dorada.

“This filly is an absolute star. There’s not much of her, but she has great ability, great heart, and just a great will to win,” McNab said.

“She’s not the best at cornering. She sort of pops herself out. She did that at Matamata and again today. She got lost for a little bit, but then she was brilliant down the straight. To get across the line for David and Te Akau today is very special.”

La Dorada is the fourth foal of Gold Fever (NZ) (Savabeel), who herself was a Group 2 winner and Group 1-placed as a juvenile. Further back in the family are the classy Group 1 winners Golden Mile (Astern), and Major Beel (Savabeel).

Since producing La Dorada, Gold Fever has had a yearling colt by Tivaci, a filly foal by Ardrossan, and was served by Super Seth last spring.

Gelagotis grateful for owners' faith as Recuperato delivers

Farnan continues to make waves in his debut season at stud, adding a seventh individual winner, and a second Group winner—from what is shaping as a standout first crop.

The latest headline act for the Golden Slipper-winning sire came courtesy of Recuperato (Farnan), a talented Peter Gelagotis-trained 2-year-old filly who broke her maiden in stunning style in Saturday’s G3 Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes at Flemington.

Having shown promise at her first two starts, Recuperato put it all together in the best possible fashion, launching from the rear of the field to score by an emphatic 1.25l over Prestige Snitzel (Snitzel), with Befuddle (Hanseatic) boxing on gamely for third after making the pace.

Trainer Peter Gelagotis was understandably thrilled post-race and very thankful for his loyal owners.

“It means a lot. The people that are in this horse are very staunch and long-serving clients that jumped in on our recommendation,” Gelagotis said.

“We specked this filly and we sort of carried the burden all the way through until we got her trialled up. For the guys to sort of come on board, it means a lot to me—their faith in us.

“Myself and Manny and the team, my staff and that—we are a very sort of family-type knit operation. We value our staff and their efforts.”

Gelagotis said the key to ongoing success was keeping the horses sound and happy.

“The key for me is to keep them sound, healthy and well, and get some longevity. To be able to come to these days and compete, and get a result—is the icing on the cake for me.”

Reflecting on her lead-up runs in Adelaide and Hillside, Gelagotis said the signs were there that Recuperato was ready to peak.

“Racing has brought her on, obviously. She was a little bit exuberant in Adelaide, but I thought she was credible,” he said.

“Her next start, she just got a little bit lost coming down the hill. One went past her and she was just wanting to duck in behind. When she got out and got clear air, her closing sectionals indicated to us she was worthy to be here today. Hence, we challenged her, and she couldn’t have been more impressive or emphatic winning.

“It was a deserved win. I thought she was over the odds as well, so I’m pretty sure my ownership group would have had a good lick at the odds, and hopefully we can all go somewhere tonight and celebrate and have a fun night off the back of her efforts.”

The result meant a great deal to the Moe-based trainer, who’s had Group success across his career but knows just how tough the game can be.

“She looked so beautiful letting down,” he said.

“I’ve experienced, with a small stable, success at different increments through my career at the top level, and it’s a big thrill. It takes a lot of effort and you’ve gotta have the horse with the talent, so it’s great to be on the big stage on a big day like today and get a result.

“You’ve got to be passionate about this game—it gives you more backhanders than pats on the back. When you can get these results and see your ownership group happy, it makes me happy.”

Gallery: Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything

Jockey Ben Melham, who partnered Recuperato for the first time in race conditions, was equally upbeat.

“She’s a lovely little filly. I actually trialled her before she had her first start in Adelaide, and I quite liked her,” he said.

“She’s not overly big, but she sort of makes up for that with heart. She had a good run throughout, a nice bit of cover, I presented her late and she let down well.”

Bred to be smart, Recuperato was a $210,000 purchase by Toking, Stephen Gray Racing and Wattle Bloodstock (FBAA) from the draft of Kenmore Lodge at the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.

Recuperato is the fourth foal from Afiado (Encosta De Lago), who was placed as a 3-year-old. Afiado is out of the Group 2-winning mare Sharp (Danzero), and is a half-sister to stakes-performed In The Vanguard (Encosta De Lago)—the dam of Group 1-winning juvenile and exciting New Zealand-based sire Sword Of State.

Since producing Recuperato, Afiado has foaled another Farnan filly and was served by Tassort last spring.

With a pedigree like that and a Group 3 win on the board at just her third start, the future looks bright for Recuperato—and for her red-hot young sire, Farnan.

Prestige Ole turns it on – and keeps it cool

The roll that first season sire Ole Kirk is enjoying continued on Saturday, with his son Prestige Ole producing a smart performance to go back-to-back in the $175,000 VOBIS Gold Plate for the juveniles.

The win only strengthened the affection co-trainer David Brideoake has for the progeny of the Vinery Stud-based stallion, having already tasted Listed success last weekend with another son, Prestige Forever (Ole Kirk).

Prepared by Brideoake and Matt Jenkins, Prestige Ole backed up his debut win at Ballarat on March 4 in strong style. The race was run at a genuine tempo with Kanmuru (Tagaloa) rolling along in front and Zorb (Zousain) keeping him company. Despite the margin being just 0.3l, the way Prestige Ole let down at the 200 metres mark was eye-catching, sprinting quickly to take control and holding off a determined Amazake (Maurice {Jpn}), with Polish Playgirl (Exceedance) flashing home along the inside for a solid third.

Jockey Ben Allen was full of praise post-race.

“He was super today. They kind of just left it up to me with an open book,” Allen said.

“I was going to be able to do whatever – if we jumped quick and were in front, I could have taken it up. There was a nice bit of heat early that allowed me to get into a spot. He travelled good and we had the main chances in front of us, but he had them covered a long way out.”

Prestige Ole was raw when winning on debut and Allen noted a big step forward in terms of professionalism.

“He’s come on a lot – he was an absolute menace that day and gave me a real hard time,” he said.

“Where today, his whole attitude has been perfect. He was good in the barriers, and it’s taken him a long way today. I was a bit worried he might have trained off a little from his last run – if so, he was going to be a nightmare and today might not have been his day.

“He was very tractable in the run, and the step up in trip suited him. I think he’ll get further – he gave me a nice feel today.”

Prestige Ole is the second foal of Major Wager (Exceed And Excel), a two-time winner who was also placed in the Listed Canberra Guineas. Her first foal, Leaving Las Vegas (Pierro), has been placed in all four of his career starts, she also has produced a yearling filly by Toronado (Ire), a colt foal by Anamoe, and was served again by the Champion stallion last spring.

The path to success wasn’t straightforward for Prestige Ole, who failed to meet his reserve at both the 2023 Magic Millions National Weanling Sale and the 2024 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale. He was eventually sold through the Inglis Digital April Online Sale for $70,000 to E Yeung – a price that already looks sharp value given that he has won two out of his three-starts.

New stakes winner for Bivouac in Supremacy Stakes

All eyes were on the hot favourite Yes Queen (Yes Yes Yes) in Saturday’s R. Listed Supremacy Stakes at Ascot, and the Dion Luciani-trained 2-year-old filly tried her hardest but was downed by 0.79l by Bivouac filly Luana Miss who became her first season sire’s third stakes winner. In third was Daniel and Ben Pearce-trained Talkanco (I’m All The Talk).

Trained by Trevor Andrews and ridden by Shaun O'Donnell, Luana Miss remains unbeaten with her second victory.

“There was a really good bit of speed on which is ideal for her and gave her the opportunity to relax and conserve energy. She’s got a good turn of foot. I wasn’t confident in beating the favourite, we were a bit soft in condition and she’ll derive a good bit of fitness out of this run,” said Andrews.

“She’s a high energy filly and the wife Joanne does all the work on her so thanks for her efforts and to the staff at home. Ideally pulling up well, she’s settled well today and found the line good, so no reason she won’t cope with the distance (of the Karrakatta Plate).”

Luana Miss joins G2 Silver Slipper winner Beiwacht and G2 Wakefield Challenge Stakes winner Intention (NZ) as stakes winners from Bivouac’s first crop.

Sold by the Western Breeders Alliance (Darling View Stud, Einoncliff Park and Westbury Park) at the 2024 Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale to her trainer for $110,000, Luana Miss is one of three winners for Little Bit Ditsy (Bel Esprit) whose yearling filly by Farnan was passed in this year at the same sale.

Gallery: Images courtesy of Western Racepix

Little Bit Ditsy won three races in Brisbane and placed in the Listed Princess Stakes. She is a half-sister to Listed Adelaide Guineas winner Vienna Miss (Snitzel) and winning mare Oopsy Doopsy (General Nediym), the dam of dual Listed winner Gangbuster (Blackfriars) and R.Listed Magic Millions WA 3YO Trophy winner Let It Slip (Not A Single Doubt). This is the family of dual Group 1 winner Hollow Bullet (Tayasu Tsuyoshi {Jpn}).

Blinding Speed proves her name with a powerful win

The Lee Freedman-trained Blinding Speed (Better Than Ready) cruised to a dominant victory in the 2-year-old maiden event at Aquis Park Gold Coast on Saturday, securing a 1.5l win on the polytrack.

She showed her class in the final stages, comfortably holding off Cat Call (by Jungle Cat {Ire}), who finished second, while Solidude (by Merchant Navy) was a further 5l behind the runner-up in third.

Blinding Speed entered the race as the drifting second favourite, but with solid form behind her, she finished fourth at Eagle Farm on March 15 in a race where she raced a bit green throughout.

By the speed influence Better Than Ready, Blinding Speed is the third foal of the placed Fastnet Rock mare Blinding Fast. The filly’s grandam, Flushed (by Red Ransom {NZ}), was a highly accomplished mare, winning the G2 Sunline Stakes, G3 Matriarch Stakes, and the Listed Let’s Elope Stakes.

Though Blinding Fast has not produced a live foal since, she was served again by Better Than Ready last spring.

Blinding Speed was purchased for $35,000 by Associated Bloodstock from the draft of Lyndhurst Stud Farm at the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast March Yearling Sale.