Elite Karaka Yearling Embellish Claims 2000 Guineas

The prestigious $500,000 Group 1 Al Basti Equiworld New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) is developing a reputation as a stallion-making race, and the blue-blooded $775,000 colt Embellish (NZ) (Savabeel) could follow that path after a superb win in the Riccarton classic on Saturday.

Embellish was one of three runners in Saturday’s race carrying the tangerine colours of Te Akau Racing, which is headed by Karaka’s perennial leading buyer David Ellis. The outstanding colt lived up to his pedigree, his looks and his hot favouritism as he cruised to the lead in the straight and beat a star-studded field by a length and a quarter.

His stablemate Age Of Fire (Fastnet Rock) was second, with the stable’s other runner Te Akau Shark (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle) close-up in fourth. Spoiling the Te Akau trifecta by a nose was the third-placed Karaka graduate Ever Loyal (Sebring).

“This is one of New Zealand’s iconic races,” Ellis said. “I bought Embellish to win this race, he’s a stunning colt, and everything we’ve done with him has been with the 2000 Guineas in mind.

“They’re a great bunch of owners, they’ll really celebrate this and they deserve to. They’re what racing’s about. A lot of the syndicate are also in the ownership of Age Of Fire as well, so this is a great result for them.”

A full-brother to the Group 1 winner Diademe (NZ) (Savabeel), Embellish has now had four starts for three wins, one placing and more than $315,000 in prize-money.

Te Akau Racing have now won the 2000 Guineas six times, and five of them have been Karaka graduates – King’s Chapel (King Of Kings), Darci Brahma (NZ) (Danehill), Rock ‘N’ Pop (Fastnet Rock), Xtravagant (NZ) (Pentire) and Embellish.