4 Wins, 3 Countries, 36 Hours

It has been a remarkable 36 hours for Te Akau Racing with four winners in three different countries over the weekend.

It started in Ashburton, in the South Island of New Zealand as classy Darci Brahma filly Risque obliterated her opposition winning by 11 lengths.  It was a truly impressive performance with The Informant calling the victory "one of the most commanding performances of the season to date"!

It was another top ride by David Walsh to negotiate an awkward draw and still to go on to win so dominantly on a track (Slow8) not ideal for her.

Raced by The Oaks Stud, Risque has had her Group 1 NZ 1000 Guineas' price moved from $61 to $41 by the TAB bookmakers.  The win takes Te Akau trainers Stephen Autridge and Jamie Richards to 3rd equal on the New Zealand Trainers' Premiership with six wins for the new season so far.

Then it was another double header winning Sunday at Kranji for Te Akau Racing trainer Mark Walker who remains ahead on the Singapore Trainers' Premiership.  Our River Dancer (purchased by David) went back to back for Fortuna Syndicators while new addition to the stable Indian Jade took Mark's tally for the season to 62 wins.  Secret Spice was unlucky not to win as was Q Nine Maxim - if things had gone their way, the tally could have easily been higher.

Finally overnight, the Te Akau tangerine colours flew home in Ireland at The Curragh to win the 150,000 euros Irish Stallion Farms European Breeders' Fund Northfields Handicap (1m 2f) by a short neck.  It was a massive effort by Torcedor, the son of Fastnet Rock, who had drawn 21 of 22 runners and was masterfully ridden by Wayne Lordon for our Irish trainer David Wachman.

Torcedor is by Fastnet Rock out of Magnolia Lane, a full sister to the four-time Ascot Gold Cup winner Yeats and he looks a very progressive gelding.  He was bought by David at the Deauville Sale in France for 70,000 euros and is raced by Sir Peter Vela, Sir Patrick Hogan, Mohammed Moussa and Laurie Laxon and managed by David.

So plenty to celebrate as the winning continues - and yes we had a very big celebration at Te Akau Stud yesterday.  Not only did we honour Matt Cameron's back to back Jockey Premiership and Champion Jockey of the Year wins - David's second daughter Sarah and her now-fiance Nick Moodie announced their engagement after Nick asked David for Sarah's hand.

Quite a weekend indeed as David will update later.