Te Akau Shark wins Chipping Norton Stakes; part-owner Paul Gallen celebrates Group 1 win
Te Akau Shark, the Kiwi superstar part-owned by NRL great Paul Gallen, has some of the biggest autumn races at his mercy after scoring a stunning in the Group 1 Chipping Norton Stakes. WATCH THE WIN
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Te Akau Shark, the Kiwi superstar, monstered his rivals to give trainer Jamie Richards the Group 1 double at Royal Randwick on Saturday.
In a virtual replay of stablemate Probabeel’s Surround Stakes win, Te Akau Shark unleashed a stunning late surge to beat a crack field in the $600,000 Chipping Norton Stakes (1600m).
Richards admitted Te Akau Shark even surprised him with his effort to give away a start to a crack field of weight-for-age gallopers and run them down.
“This horse can do things others can’t – he’s something special,’’ Richards said. “He’s a very, very exciting horse.’’
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Te Akau Shark ($2.80) came from near last on the turn to swamp Verry Elleegant ($23) to win by a half length with Fierce Impact ($6.50) 1¼ lengths away third.
Avilius (fourth) and Happy Clapper (fifth) were only two lengths from the winner while early leader Dreamforce (eighth) struggled to run a strong 1600m.
What a horse... it's @JamieRichards3 best day ever and he spoke to Greg Radley after Te Akau Shark won the TAB Chipping Norton @royalrandwick @TeAkauRacing pic.twitter.com/9OAV26p0Kx
— Sky Racing (@SkyRacingAU) February 29, 2020
Richards and jockey Opie Bosson combined to win the Group 1 double, relegating trainer Chris Waller and jockey James McDonald to the runner-up stall in both majors with Verry Elleegant and Funstar (Surround Stakes).
Richards felt that Te Akau Shark was “too far back” on the turn and was amazed the striking chestnut was able to win so convincingly.
“I said to Opie just don’t be as far back as you were on Probabeel but he ended up back in a sticky spot,’’ Richards said.
“But when he gets on his outside leg and gets a bit of clear air he can really charge late.
“This horse has a bit of arrogance about him, he’s grumpy, he’s just one of those horses that knows he’s pretty good. He’s not a fantastic eater, he’s not a big strong horse, he’s pretty lean and mean but he has a big ticker.”
Richards, 30, has taken New Zealand and now Australian racing by storm since being appointed head trainer of Te Akau Racing by owner David Ellis two years ago. He has already trained 16 Group 1 winners in that period.
Te Akau Shark and Probabeel took Bosson’s career tally of Group 1 wins to 74 despite battling weight issues throughout his riding career.
“I’ve ridden some very good horses but Te Akau Shark is potentially the best I’ve ridden,’’ Bosson said. “He’s got stronger this time in but he’s just so laid back about things too. He doesn’t know how good he is and is still untapped.
“When they quickened up on the turn they just left him a bit flat-footed but once he balances up he just keeps grinding through those gears.’’
Richards said he will resist the temptation to take on Alligator Blood in the $5 million All Star Mile in two weeks and stick to his plan to race Te Akau Shark through the Sydney autumn carnival.
“The George Ryder (Stakes) in three weeks is nice timing for him and as long as he does well then the Queen Elizabeth (Stakes) three weeks after that is the big one for us,” Richards said.
“It’s just so exciting for the racing community to have a couple of horses like this bloke and Alligator Blood, two geldings that are going to race on and promote our sport.”
“He’s too far back! But he can do things other horses can’t. He’s something special isn’t he. They didn’t go quick early, Blake slowed them and they only went steady but gee he was good late. He’s a very, very exciting horse.”
Te Akau Shark is part-owned by NRL legend Paul Gallen who was at Randwick to watch his first Group 1 win.
“I know very little about horse racing but I’m just happy we got to call him ‘The Shark’ and this is a real thrill to win a Group 1 in Sydney,’’ Gallen said.
Another of Te Akau Shark’s part-owners, Chris Russell, said the ownership group are happy to follow Richards’s recommendations and stay in Sydney this autumn.
“He has been a bit immature and we thought this would be the right path,’’ Russell said. “We have got to do the right thing by the horse.’’
Here's what those behind Te Akau Shark had to say to @Haynsie75 after the TAB Chipping Norton 👇 pic.twitter.com/UwmhKVjT8W
— Sky Racing (@SkyRacingAU) February 29, 2020
Earlier, Probabeel produced an improbable finish to catch arch rival Funstar and win Sydney’s first Group 1 of the year at Royal Randwick.
Funstar had beaten Probabeel in their two clashes last spring and seemed set to maintain that superiority when she made her charge wide out in the $500,000 Surround Stakes (1400m).
But Probabeel eased around Funstar’s heels and unleashed an irresistible late surge to win the fillies classic.
Richards admitted he thought Probabeel was in trouble when Funstar had come from behind and sprinted past his filly in the straight.
“I thought we were in a spot of bother on the corner, she was under the pump, but to her credit she really found the line well and she’s a very exciting filly,’’ Richards said.
“She did have the fitness edge on a couple of these today as I knew she had to be somewhere near her absolute best in a good quality race like this.’’
Probabeel ($4.60), ridden by Opie Bosson, overwhelmed Funstar ($4.60) to win by a ?? with Xilong ($31) a half length away third.
Flit ($2.60 favourite) was trapped three-wide from an awkward barrier and although she ranged up at the 250m the torrid run told as she tired to run sixth, beaten only one-and-a-half lengths.
Bosson said Probabeel “had to do it the hard way” and praised the filly’s courage and determination.
“She is just so much stronger this time in, she is an amazing filly,’’ Bosson said.
The Kiwis take the first Group 1 of the Sydney Autumn!
— Sky Racing (@SkyRacingAU) February 29, 2020
Probabeel for @opie_bosson and @JamieRichards3 wins a thrilling G1 Surround Stakes @royalrandwick 😮
One down - one to go? 🦈🦈🦈 pic.twitter.com/RUezUyqYqi
“I just got myself into a little bit of a pocket and hit a bit of a flat spot. Just turning in she lost it until we straightened up.
“I’m just lucky enough that this filly was good enough to get me out of it. Otherwise I didn’t want to be coming back in that’s for sure.”
Richards said Probabeel is most likely to go to the Group 2 Phar Lap Stakes (1500m) next and then the Group 1 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m).
There is also the option of going to the Group 1 Coolmore Classic, run the same day as the Phar Lap Stakes, but that hinges on what weight the filly is given for the mares race.
Funstar and Xilong were both brave in defeat. They were having their first races back this campaign and gave away a race fitness edge to Probabeel who was coming off successive wins in New Zealand so their efforts to be in the finish were outstanding.
James McDonald, rider of Funstar, described his filly’s return to racing as “absolutely superb”.
“I can’t wait for her next run,’’ McDonald said with trainer Chris Waller also considering either the Coolmore Classic or Phar Lap Stakes.
Xilong’s rider Glen Boss also predicted a bit autumn for his filly after her close third.
“She was very good this girl, first up over 1400m after missing a run,’’ Boss said. “I got in the right spot and I thought she was very strong through the line to finish just behind two very good fillies.’’