Cool family victory at Riccarton for Te Akau

Family connections make Cool Aza Rene a filly close to Te Akau’s heart and the youngster again did them proud at Riccarton on Wednesday.

The Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson-trained representative maintained her unbeaten record for the Matamata stable when she comfortably justified her hot favouritism in the Speight’s Premier Two-Year-Old (1000m).

She had made a successful debut last month at Otaki, with the third placegetter there Abbakiss a subsequent winner at Tauherenikau, in the hands of Craig Grylls and they were again too good on the middle day of the New Zealand Cup carnival.

“She’s a nice filly and just loves being a racehorse,” Bergerson said.

“She’s got plenty of condition for a young horse and hadn’t missed a beat since Otaki, she stuck her neck out and really tried hard.”

Cool Aza Rene is a daughter and the first winner for former star Te Akau juvenile Cool Aza Beel, who claimed champion two-year-old honours after victories in the Gr.1 Sistema Stakes (1200m) and the Listed Karaka Millions (1200m).

He was prepared by then head trainer Jamie Richards before the son of Savabeel’s retirement to Newhaven Park.

The New South Wales nursery bred Cool Aza Rene and David Ellis secured her from their draft at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale earlier this year for A$55,000.

Her dam is Irene, a daughter of Cool Aza Beel’s associate sire Xtravagant who was the two-time Group One winner of the New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) and NRM Sprint (1400m) in Te Akau’s colours.

Irene is an unraced granddaughter of the former champion Australian juvenile Hasna, winner of the Gr.1 Champagne Stakes (1600m) and the Gr.1 AJC Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m).

Cool Aza Rene began cleanly at Riccarton to sit outside the leader before taking control 200m from home and proved too strong under hands and heels riding to the post.

“She’s the ultimate professional and behind the gates she was walking around like a kid’s pony,” Grylls said.

“When she got to the front she was stargazing around a bit, but she was very good.”

Next month’s Gr.2 Happy Hire Wakefield Challenge Stakes (1100m) at Trentham is now a possible target for Cool Aza Rene.

The Andrew Carston-prepared Miss Ziggy jumped smartly to make the pace and fought on gallantly to finish runner-up and the daughter of Brazen Beau is in the mix for a crack at the Listed TAB Karaka Millions (1200m).

Quisiera gave another honest account of herself to finish third and trainers John and Karen Parsons may now give the Sweynesse filly a break.

Photo: Ajay Berry (Race Images South)