Te Akau Shark on trial for Sydney autumn

Cronulla Sharks captain Paul Gallen has an interest in Te Akau Shark who runs at Riccarton.

Te Akau Shark will be on trial for a trip to Sydney where his prominent part-owner lives when he runs at Riccarton.

Paul Gallen, the veteran back-rower who is set to undergo his record-breaking 19th consecutive season with the Cronulla Sharks in the NRL, is a shareholder in Te Akau Shark, who will start odds-on favourite in Wednesday’s Group Two Coupland’s Bakeries Mile (1600m).

The gelding has won four of his five starts, most recently the Group Three Spring Sprint (1400m) at Hasting on October 6

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“I believe he (Gallen) is coming over to see him run at Riccarton,” trainer Jamie Richards told NZ Racing Desk.

“Te Akau Shark will be going over there for the Sydney autumn carnival if he does well.

“He’ll have a break after this one then we’ll set him for Sydney. He’s a pretty exciting horse and I’d like to think he’ll be competitive at Group One level over there.”

Gallen, the former NSW State Of Origin captain, was brought into Te Akau Shark by his friend, Cronulla businessman Steve Mace, who has a 35 per cent interest in the gelding.