{"id":515510,"date":"2026-07-08T08:44:15","date_gmt":"2026-07-08T08:44:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/515510\/"},"modified":"2026-07-08T08:44:15","modified_gmt":"2026-07-08T08:44:15","slug":"akuta-retired-after-stop-start-career","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/515510\/","title":{"rendered":"Akuta retired after stop-start career"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk\u00a0<\/p>\n

The career of brilliant multiple Group 1 winner Akuta is over.<\/p>\n

The pacing millionaire has been plagued by injury in recent years, with trainer and part-owner Mark Purdon confirming that he will not race again.<\/p>\n

“We got him scanned at the end of June to determine if there was an injury or a stress tear with his suspensory,” says Purdon.<\/p>\n

“It showed there was damage and it was stress-related so we knew the odds of him racing again were remote.”<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

His record makes impressive reading. A $170,000 purchase at the 2020 National Yearling Sales, he ended up with 18 wins from 48 starts and $1.4m in stakes.<\/p>\n

“He was a great young horse and he was robbed of what could have been his best,” says Purdon.<\/p>\n

In January 2024, in what would have been his 5YO season, he injured his tendon in a paddock accident. He was away from the racetrack for 20 months, returning in mid 2025, having 17 starts (and two wins) in his 6 and 7YO seasons.<\/p>\n

His last start was a fourth behind The Lazarus Effect, Got The Chocolates and Swayzee in the Dawson Harford Taylor Mile at Alexandra Park in April.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

An X-factor performer in age-group racing, Purdon says there are two of Akuta’s wins that immediately come to mind – the Harness Jewels at Cambridge in 2021 and the 2022 New Zealand Derby at Addington.<\/p>\n

“The Harness Jewels was something special but that Derby win. To win after being so far back was incredible.”<\/p>\n

In the 2YO Emerald at Cambridge in 2021 Akuta was last with a lap to go but showed jaw-dropping acceleration to not only round up the field but power away, prompting commentator Aaron White to ask “is he the best two-year-old you’ve ever seen? He may well be.”<\/p>\n

He won four from five that season and seven from 13 as a 3YO including his Derby win. On that occasion he was about 30 lengths behind the leader Republican Party with 1800 to go then got into the three-wide train to go to parked before dashing clear by 10 lengths. It was another stunning performance.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Other big wins included the 2023 Auckland and Kaikoura Cups and the 2022 and 2025 Hannon Memorials. He had three tilts at the New Zealand Cup, the best result being a second to Swayzee in 2023.<\/p>\n

Having already been re-educated to saddle, Akuta is now being prepared for his Life After Racing – something Purdon is confident he will also excel at.<\/p>\n

“He’s a very kind horse and very quick to learn.”<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

STATISTICS :\u00a0<\/p>\n

Akuta\u00a0<\/p>\n

7YO Bettor’s Delight – Adore To Our Dreams
Breeder : Paul and Pauline Renwick
Owners : Cullen Breeding Limited, Mark Purdon, Tony Shaw (as at 01-08-2025)
18 wins from 48 starts
Stakes : $1.4m<\/p>\n

Footnote : Akuta’s full brother Akula, a $130,000 purchase at the 2025 National Yearling Sales in Christchurch, will make his debut for trainer-driver Kimberly Butt at Addington on Friday night. \u00a0<\/p>\n

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