Cool Aza Beel (NZ) a Key Part of Stable’s Golden Run

Karaka Million 2YO winner Cool Aza Beel (NZ) (Savabeel) excelled at Group One level in Saturday’s $200,000 Sistema Stakes (1200m) at Ellerslie, continuing an incredible run for Te Akau Racing.

Te Akau principal David Ellis has been leading buyer at Karaka for well over a decade, and outstanding racetrack success by his purchases is nothing new. But even by their own high standards, the last six weeks have been something very special for the syndication juggernaut.

The sensational streak started at Trentham on January 18, where the $210,000 Premier Sale purchase Avantage (Fastnet Rock) scored a sizzling win in the $250,000 Group One Telegraph (1200m).

A week later at Ellerslie, history was made. Under the expert handling of trainer Jamie Richards, the stable won an incredible fourth consecutive $1m Karaka Million 2YO (1200m) crown with Cool Aza Beel, who was a $150,000 purchase from Book 1 of Karaka 2019.

But that was just the beginning. Stablemate Probabeel (NZ) (Savabeel), who cost $380,000 in Book 1 of Karaka 2018, scored a superb victory in the $1m Karaka Million 3YO Classic (1600m). She became the first horse to ever win the Karaka Million 2YO and the Karaka Million 3YO Classic, while Richards was the first trainer to win both races on the same day.

Next up was the $230,000 Ready to Run Sale graduate Te Akau Shark (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle), who blew his rivals off the Te Rapa track in the $200,000 Group One BCD Group Sprint (1400m) on February 8.

At Otaki two weeks later, Avantage claimed another Group One prize in the $200,000 Haunui Farm WFA Classic (1600m).

Sydney was the next stop, and Probabeel and Te Akau Shark combined for a superb Group One double in the A$500,000 Surround Stakes (1400m) and A$600,000 Chipping Norton Stakes (1600m) respectively.

But they still weren’t finished, as this weekend brought another Group One double at Ellerslie – Cool Aza Beel in the Sistema Stakes, and Avantage in the $200,000 Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes (2000m).

Cool Aza Beel was clinical and all class in the Sistema. After breaking sharply from the inside gate, he was happy to settle in third behind Tivaan Warrior (NZ) (Swiss Ace) and Laced With Gold (NZ) (Showcasing).

Te Akau’s star jockey Opie Bosson angled Cool Aza Beel off the rail coming up to the home turn, and the colt pounced in the straight. He sprinted to the lead and held off the fast-finishing Vernazza (NZ) (More Than Ready) and Kelly Renee (NZ) (Vespa) to win by a length.

“Cool Aza Beel is a very special colt,” Richards said. “We couldn’t have had him any better for today.

“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.”

Cool Aza Beel became Te Akau’s fourth Sistema Stakes winner in the last five years, following on fellow Karaka graduates Heroic Valour (Fastnet Rock), Sword of Osman (NZ) (Savabeel) and Yourdeel (NZ) (Dundeel).

From six starts, Cool Aza Beel has collected four wins and $707,560 in prize-money – almost five times his purchase price.