THIRD in the Cox Plate three months ago to Lys Gracieux, Te Akau Shark returned to the racetrack on Saturday, claiming his first win in a Group 1 in the BCD Sprint over 1,400 metres at Te Rapa.

The five-year-old Rip Van Winkle gelding, trained by Jamie Richards for Te Akau Racing, was sent out a prohibitive favourite and didn’t disappoint despite lacking the early pace to take up a forward position.