Te Akau Racing is putting another Group One-winning mare on the market with the auction of Romancing The Moon on Gavelhouse Plus.

Romancing The Moon was bought by Te Akau principal David Ellis for $50,000 from Westbury Stud’s Book 1 draft at Karaka 2021, and she turned that into more than $370,000 in stakes from a high-class career.

“She was an outstanding racehorse for Te Akau, particularly as a three-year-old filly,” Ellis said. “I knew from the moment I saw her during yearling inspections that she was going to be a terrific racing prospect – she was a lovely, correct yearling with good attitude and a quality pedigree behind her. She went on to do a fantastic job in our colours, and I think she’s going to make a lovely broodmare as well.”

In an outstanding three-year-old season, Romancing The Moon traversed most of the length of New Zealand, including two separate trips to the South Island, and had 11 starts for four wins, four second placings and more than $320,000 in prizemoney.

She finished second in two of her first three starts including the Listed O’Learys Fillies’ Stakes (1200m) at Wanganui, then cleared maiden ranks when she romped home by three and a half lengths at Matamata in early October of 2022.

That earned a return to black-type fillies company for Romancing The Moon, who was runner-up in the Gr.3 Soliloquy Stakes (1400m) at Te Rapa in her next start. That was a particularly strong edition of the race and was won by the exceptional filly Legarto, while another budding superstar in Prowess finished third.

Romancing The Moon then ventured to Christchurch to contest the Gr.1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton, where she finished a creditable fourth behind Legarto.

After returning from a summer freshen-up with another win at Matamata in January, Romancing The Moon ran sixth in the Gr.2 Wellington Guineas (1400m) on her way back down to the South Island. She kicked off her second southern mission with a second placing in the Listed Dunedin Guineas (1400m), then won the Listed NZB Insurance Stakes (1400m) by five and a half lengths in a hugely impressive performance.

Romancing The Moon saved her best for her last start as a three-year-old, scoring an outstanding victory in the Gr.1 Levin Classic (1600m) at Trentham in March of 2023. She won by a length and a half from her stablemate Skew Wiff, who has herself gone on to be a Group One winner.

“It really was a superb three-year-old season, she showed real class, toughness and durability,” Ellis said. “I can see her passing those attributes on to her progeny.”

Romancing The Moon is one of 10 individual stakes winners for her sire, El Roca. The Fastnet Rock stallion has finished in the top five on the New Zealand premiership in both of the last two seasons, and he has been represented by a total of 162 winners from 264 runners.

The dam of Romancing The Moon is the well-performed mare Underthemoonlight, who herself won six races including the Gr.2 Foxbridge Plate (1200m) and the Gr.3 Taranaki Breeders’ Stakes (1400m). She also placed in the Gr.1 Tarzino Trophy (1400m) at Hastings. Romancing The Moon is her first foal.

Bidding on Romancing The Moon is open now on Gavelhouse Plus and will close from 7pm (NZT) on Tuesday September 24.