Te Akau Monday Update

Date: 20 Jun 2016

Te Akau Monday Update
David writes:

What a stunningly beautiful morning it is here at Te Akau Stud- I am writing this on the back of another very successful weekend - with results for our owners that make everyone's huge effort they have put in over the season just so worthwhile.

The success started with Te Akau Singapore trainer Mark Walker winning one of the big races Friday night with Rockfast - and this was a great Derby trial if I have ever seen one!  The Group 1 Singapore Derby is for four year olds and Rockfast is being aimed at that prestigious race in early July and he is now the second favourite for it too.

Rockfast is a gelding by Fastnet Rock that I purchased from the Karaka Premier Sale - after winning on debut in September 2014 in New Zealand, he went on the same path as Xtravagant, but was runner up in the Guineas' trial at Trentham (a race won by Xtravagant).  After that he performed with real credit when second to subsequent Australasian Group 1 winner Turn Me Loose in the Group 1 NZ 2000 Guineas.  Two fine performances for second followed - both to the multiple Group winner Volkstok'n'barrell - firstly in the Group 2 Great Northern Guineas and then in the $100,000 Karaka 3YO Mile on Karaka Million night.

In New Zealand Rockfast won $134,675 from 11 appearances before being astutely sent by his owners to Singapore to our stable there - there he has raced 15 times for four wins and six placings and stakes of $175,335 - so to date he has won just over $310,000 for his owners - and there looks to be plenty more to come.  We are very excited about having the second favourite for the Derby and if the rain comes, look out!

Saturday continued the weekend's highlights as, with Stephen and Lynley Autridge on holiday in Europe, Jamie saddled up Shillelagh for our 99th win for the season.  This is a very talented mare bred and raced by really true racing enthusiasts in Christopher Grace QSM and his wife Susanna.  They are two people who live, eat and breathe this industry and are involved in every part of it - from breeding to racing to sponsorship.  It is always very special for us to win races for people who give so much to racing.

Then on Sunday, Karyn and I took Julia-Rose and her partner Hamish to Orca restaurant for lunch where we were joined by Dayna Davey who worked here for nine years looking after all horses.  We had a super lunch, talking about the old days - the owner of the restaurant is Kerry Wells, a well known racing administrator and journalist who also sat down with us for a very enjoyable catch up.  The restaurant actually has a TAB agency (funny that!) and we were able to pop through and see Esprit de Corps' race at Te Aroha.

Esprit de Corps won by almost four lengths and of course that was WIN 100 for Steve and Jamie and our hardworking Matamata team!  This is just unbelievable for everyone and I am so very proud that this milestone came up for his very patient owners, and in the tangerine, and with a horse I purchased from the Karaka Premier Sale for $70,000.

Yahoo

As I mentioned, I am dictating this story as I am driving around the farm - and I was thinking that although the weekend was terrific, I did feel that Trackside missed a wonderful opportunity to promote the milestone of Steve and Jamie training their 100th winner for the season at Te Aroha. it was interesting to note that they went straight to a greyhound race (with 5.5 minutes until start time) that had about $600 in the win pool - obviously this is more important that promoting a horse bought for $70,000 at the Karaka Sale that becomes the leading trainers 100th winner for the season.  This does nothing to promote the galloping code and the human interest side to racing - I find these sorts of things very disappointing - especially when they had a world class presenter on course.

Normally at this time of the year, we are starting to cut our racing numbers down - but I have added up that we still have 16 or 17 horses to race in June and July - and we are spelling a lot of horses who raced in past two months.

Going around the farm (and you will see from the pictures I took) we have never, ever had so much grass in winter - it has been such a mild few weeks and the grass has continued to grow like mad.  We have almost also completed our breaking in of our young horses and I know I have said it before, but I will say it again - I have no doubt this "class" is the best team of young horses we have ever had.

farm june 2016

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