The Karaka Millions and NZB’s National Yearling Sale are among the most important dates on the calendar for Te Akau Racing, and they kicked off the big week on a perfect note on Monday with first-starter Bolli Belle (Shamus Award) striking a NZB Mega Maiden bonus at Wanganui.
Bolli Belle was a $75,000 purchase by David Ellis from Westbury Stud’s draft in Book 1 of Karaka 2024. The three-year-old earned a $10,360 first-place prize in Monday’s $18,500 NZB Mega Maiden Series (1340m) along with an additional Mega Maiden bonus of $25,000. Her owners receive $20,000 of that bonus, with $5,000 going to trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson.
Stable apprentice Hayley Hassman took the mount on Bolli Belle on Monday and settled her on the outside of the front-running favourite Sierra Leone (NZ) (Sun City).
Hassman pushed the button in the straight and Bolli Belle took command, drawing away to win by three and a half lengths.
“It was a really good win, and I thank the owners for their patience,” Walker said. “We’ve just had so many wide draws with the filly of late, which resulted in her being scratched. It was a competitive ride by Hayley (Hassman) to put her in the race, and she’s a filly that will just keep improving. She’s got plenty of size and scope to her and just requires continuing to develop and filling out her frame.
“I was very happy with the way the race panned out and the way she was able to go on and win so well.”
Ellis reported on Te Akau Racing’s website that the Mega Maiden win served as an ideal introduction to racing ownership for many of the members of Bolli Belle’s syndicate.
“The week started well with Bolli Belle, raced mostly by new owners to racing, winning by three and a half lengths on debut,” he said.
The NZB Mega Maiden Series is an exciting initiative by NZB and New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing, generously supported by Entain. It sees $1m in bonuses up for grabs across 40 non-Saturday maiden races throughout New Zealand each season.
Multiple bonuses were struck across the northern, central and southern regions last season, with prominent owner and racing industry supporter Terry Lines taking out two of the bonuses with his runners Suavetta (NZ) (Almanzor) at Pukekohe Park for trainers Shaun and Emma Clotworthy, and seven days later, Reprobate (NZ) (Ace High) at Gore for trainer Kelvin Tyler.
Bolli Belle became the sixth horse to strike a Mega Maiden bonus in the 2025-26 season.
The next race in the Mega Maiden Series is the $18,500 NZB Mega Maiden Series (1600m) at Ascot Park on Thursday.
| Vendor | Westbury Stud |
|---|---|
| Purchaser | Mr DC Ellis CNZM (BAFNZ) (Te Akau) |
| Breeding | Shamus Award – Fille Champagne |
| Sale | Lot 81, Karaka 2024 Book 1, $75,000 |
| Breeder | Mr T Gillespie |
| Owner | Te Akau Victory Veuve Racing Partnership (Mgr: K W Fenton-Ellis MNZM) |
