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One of New Zealand’s most talked about gallopers Te Akau Shark is building towards autumn assignments and holds a nomination for the A$5 million All Star Mile (1600m) at Flemington on March 16, but is more likely to target the Gr.1 Doncaster Mile (1600m) at Randwick on April 4.
The Jamie Richards-trained four-year-old has been beaten only once in his six-start career and demolished his rivals when winning the Gr.2 Coupland's Bakeries Mile (1600m) last November.
“He’s going to trial in two or three weeks’ time in early February and then we are going to make some decisions on what he is doing,” Te Akau principal David Ellis said.
“We are almost certain to have the Doncaster as his main aim this year. We like to win a good handicap race with our horses before we go weight-for-age. Then he might back up in the Queen Elizabeth (Gr.1, 2000m) later on in the carnival.”
“We haven’t made any decisions and we are having a meeting on the 12th of February and after that we would have seen how he has come through the trial and we will firm up on what happens.
“I would say he would have a trial and two races before the Doncaster.”
Te Akau Shark is part-owned by NRL legend Paul Gallen.