Hall Of Fame has given the Te Akau Racing training partnership of Stephen Autridge and Jamie Richards a Group One win more satisfying than most.
The colt won Saturday’s Levin Classic at Trentham to help erase memories of stablemate Xtravagant’s fourth a year ago as the $1.30 favourite.
“It’s great for (sire) Savabeel and it’s great for Te Akau. We’re absolutely rapt,” Autridge told nzracing.co.
Hall Of Fame is on a path to the Group One New Zealand Derby.
“At this stage, he’ll run next in the Waikato Guineas,” Autridge said.
Hall Of Fame has now won five of his nine starts for the Te Akau 24/7 Syndicate.
“He was passed in at the Ready to Run Sale and I went to look at him afterwards and paid $230,000 five minutes after he came out of the ring,” Te Akau principal David Ellis said
“When I took him home I said to my wife that he was the most athletic colt I think I’ve ever bought.
“Karen immediately said if that was the case then his stable name had to be Richie – in tribute to Richie McCaw.
“When we knew it was Richie’s wedding day on Saturday I thought it would be very fitting if we could get a Group One on such an auspicious day so I guess fate definitely smiled on us with this one!”
