By Heather Anderson
Te Akau Racing has already won their first G1 New Zealand Derby with Gingernuts (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}) this season and sends out a quartet of juveniles in the NZ$225,000 1400-metre G1 Manawatu Sires Produce S. at Awapuni to add to their Group 1 haul Saturday. Among their representatives–trained by Stephen Autridge and Jamie Richards–is G2 Matamata Breeders' S. hero, Gold Fever (NZ) (Savabeel {Aus}), a solid third to Summer Passage (Aus) (Snitzel {Aus}) and the reopposing Star Treasure (NZ) (Lonhro {Aus}) in the 1200-metre Sistema S. at Ellerslie Mar. 16. Victorious in a Te Akau maiden with Joyfilly (NZ) (Highly Recommended {Aus}) second Feb. 11, Star Treasure again had that filly immediately behind in the aforementioned Breeders' S. Feb. 25, one start prior to the Sistema.
The G2 Challenge S. third-place finisher Melody Belle (NZ) (Commands {Aus}) also makes her return in the tangerine and blue silks of Te Akau. A winner of the NZ$1-million Listed Karaka Million last out defeating G3 Eclipse S. heroine Hasahalo (NZ) (Savabeel {Aus}) Jan. 29, the bay has not been seen on the racecourse since, but won a 1000-metre barrier trial at Matamata Mar. 21. The duo of SP Summer Monsoon (Aus) (Stratum {Aus}) and the first emergency Swing Note (Aus) (Encosta De Lago {Aus})–second to Joyfilly going 1200 metres at Matamata Mar. 15–round out the foursome.
Star Treasure closed strongly in the Sistema and if the Stephen McKee charge replicates that effort, he could be dangerous stepping up an extra 200 metres. Sistema seventh Irish Flame (NZ) (Zed {NZ}), graduated in just his second start in the G3 Phoenix Park 2yo Classic going 1200 metres Feb. 18.
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
