Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images)
Te Akau Racing, Blake Shinn and fantastic filly Damask Rose (Savabeel) created a piece of New Zealand racing history when they took out the inaugural running of the richest race in the land, the newly minted $3.5 million Listed The NZB Kiwi (1500m) at Ellerslie.
The slot race is the centrepiece of the newly created Barfoot and Thompson Champions Day, a day featuring eight black-type contests including four at Group One level.
Open to New Zealand bred three-year-olds, the 14 slots for the race were auctioned during 2024 and were snapped up by buyers from around New Zealand, Australia and as far afield as Malaysia.
Te Akau Racing was one of those successful bidders and announced stable runner Damask Rose as their nominated candidate back in December last year. Since then, the three-year-old daughter of legendary Waikato Stud stallion Savabeel captured the rich Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m) in late January before being set for today’s contest.
A winning trial over 1100m at Taupo last month fitted her for the assignment and she delivered in fine style, courtesy of a rails hugging ride from visiting Australian jockey Blake Shinn who had been aboard her in the Karaka Million 3YO.
Punters that confidently supported her into the $5 Fixed Odds second favourite behind the Victorian-trained Evaporate ($2.60) were potentially tearing up their tickets shortly after the start as the filly dwelt slightly and was quickly relegated to a clear three lengths off the second last runner after just 400m.
Shinn didn’t panic and took Damask Rose where angels fear to tread in the home straight, hugging the rails and bursting clear at the 150m to down Evaporate and Checkmate who fought out the minor placings.
Shinn, who had earlier piloted stablemate Return to Conquer to victory in the Gr.1 Sistema Stakes (1200m) for trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson, was brimming with pride at the result.
“She was a bit slow at the start so we had to go to Plan B and ride her a bit quiet, so fortunately the speed was on,” Shinn said.
“I was contemplating coming wide but the way the race set up I had to look for inside runs, which came and she was good enough to capitalise on them.
“She is a really good horse; we won the Karaka Million 3YO and it is really special to win the inaugural running of this race for Te Akau.
“She has an electric turn of foot, a real desire to take the gaps and savage the line as the pressure was starting to tell up against the rails but she pinned her ears back and I’m just delighted.
“This means a lot as deep down I’m quite emotional and have struck up a great relationship with Te Akau Racing as they a big family unit and this is what it is all about for them.”
Both Bergerson and Walker were overjoyed with the performance as they accepted congratulations from the syndicate of owners and many well wishers on course at Ellerslie.
“It’s pretty surreal and I said to Mark when we saw her flop out the back she is going to have to be good from there,” Bergerson said.
“Fair play to Blake as he was very patient and the filly was so game. When she shot through we were all up on our feet.
“She has just kept improving as we had earmarked her for the slot early on and we’re so thankful it has come off.
“I was a bag of nerves all week and there are so many people to thank, I’m just so grateful.”
An added feature of the race is the opportunity for Damask Rose to now contest a rich Australian event with the recent announcement the slot race has officially become a ‘Golden Ticket’ race, granting the winner direct entry into Australia’s prestigious $10 million Golden Eagle (1500m) at Rosehill Gardens on 1 November 2025.
The daughter of Flying Spur mare Sombreuil was purchased by Te Akau Racing principal David Ellis for $200,000 out of Milan Park’s 2023 New Zealand Bloodstock Book 1 Yearling Sale draft.
She comes from an extended family that includes her grand-dam Te Akau Rose who was a winner of the Gr.2 Matamata Breeders’ Stakes (1200m) along with Gr.1 Doncaster Handicap (1600m) winner and now successful sire Brutal.
She is also the younger sister of Saturday’s Gr.1 HKJC World Pool New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m) winner Provence, who was also bred by Milan Park principal Tony Rider.
Damask Rose has now won four of her seven starts and $2.28 million for owners the Te Akau Coming Up Roses Racing Partnership.
