October 21, 2024Career first 2YO winner for Cool Aza Beel
Newhaven Park’s exciting first season sire Cool Aza Beel (NZ) was represented by his career first winner when Cool Aza Rene was an impressive winner of the Cavallo Farms Chris Rutten Bloodstock 2YO at Otaki on debut.
The first foal of the Xtravagant (NZ) mare Irene, Cool Aza Rene had been an eye catching barrier trial winner in New Zealand in mid-September and very much lived right up to expectations when scoring by a length and three-quarters as the $2.30 favourite.
Bred by Newhaven Park, Cool Aza Rene was sold for $55,000 at the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale and now races in the colours of Te Akau just as her sire before her.
Speaking after the milestone success of Cool Aza Rene, Te Akau principal David Ellis remarked: “It’s fantastic to see Cool Aza Beel’s first winner. It’s also a big thrill that she’s out of a mare by Xtravagant. He’s another horse we bought at Karaka, and he won the 2000 Guineas [Gr.1, 1600m] and now stands alongside Cool Aza Beel at Newhaven Park Stud.
“Cool Aza Rene was bred by Newhaven Park’s Kelly family, whose 15,000-acre property in south-west New South Wales is just magnificent and beautifully farmed, and they’ve bred some great horses there.
“All three of the first-crop two-year-olds by Cool Aza Beel that we’ve got in the stable are showing potential, and I was very impressed by how well this filly raced on debut. She had to do a bit, too, because they kicked up on her inside and I thought it was a really good run to win.”
Principal Te Akau trainer Mark Walker, who prepares the filly at Matamata in partnership with Sam Bergerson, added: “It’s always exciting to see the progeny of our former stars succeeding.”
Following the victory, Cool Aza Beel (NZ) is one of only two First Season Sires to have been represented by a first-crop 2-year-old winner in New Zealand. Furthermore, the exciting Newhaven Park stallion is one of only three First Season Sires standing in Australia to have been represented by his initial 2-year-old winner at this early stage of the 2024/25 racing year.