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Trelawney Stud graduates running in the renowned Te Akau racing silks scored two wins in as many days this week.
Challa (Dissident x Are There Any) started off proceedings winning at New Plymouth on Friday evening.
The stakes’ placed Challa made a welcome return to racing with a dominant victory in the Denis Wheeler Earthmoving Maiden 3YO (1100m).
Challa managed the lead comfortably, with jockey Michael McNab steadying the pace, and came clear when he let the brakes go at the 300m.
On Dead4 footing, Challa won by three and a quarter lengths and ran the 1100 metres in 1:05.3.
“After the form he had as a two-year-old, where he was unlucky not to win, we decided to give him a good long break after the Karaka Million and not rush him,” trainer Jamie Richards said.
“He’s come back in good order. We’ve taken him along quietly and it was a strong win after trialling well for second. We have been waiting for the tracks to improve and had the race picked out for a little while, so it was a good result.
“It was a clever ride by Michael (McNab) and staff at home did a good job to present him in such good order fresh-up. I’m really pleased for all the owners and he should continue to improve with that.
Purchased by David Ellis for $100,000 from the draft of Trelawney Stud at the NZB 2018 Karaka Book 1 Sale, Challa is the first foal out of six time winner Are There Any.
On Saturday Prise de Fer (Savbeel x Foiled) brought up his second consecutive win when carrying the top weight (60kgs) to victory in the Dunstan Horse Feeds 1600 at Pukekohe on Saturday.
Although last to leave the gates, rider Michael McNab improved his position to three back on the inner where Prise De Fer travelled sweetly on the bridle. Once clear on the straight he levelled in front at the 300m.
With victory appearing uncertain, he found plenty once sighting two closers over the concluding stages and won well.
“He never gave it away and it was a good tough win under a big weight,” Richards said. “We thought he could be a suitable horse for the Coupland’s (Gr. 2, 1600m), but he’s not quite there yet. So, we might instead give him a freshen-up and try sneaking him into a race like the Rich Hill Mile (Gr. 2, 1600m on 1 January at Ellerslie).
"We’ll see how he pulls up and do what’s best."
Owned by the Te Akau En Guarde Syndicate, Prise de Fer was also purchased by Ellis for $100,000, from the draft of Trelawney Stud, at the 2017 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Yearling Sale.
“I was so thrilled to see Prise De Fer win again,” Ellis said. “It was one of the best rides you’d ever see by Michael McNab. When he pulled the whip through to the left hand that horse just found another gear."
“He’s a horse I bought off Raffles Farm, prepared by Trelawney Stud, and we’ve had so much success with horses we’ve bought from their drafts. Brent and Cherry Taylor do an amazing job with the horses they prepare for the sales and it was fantastic." -Te Akau Racing, Trelawney Stud
