CHAMPIONS ARE MADE BEFORE DAWN | The Cranbourne Chapter: Te Akau Across the Tasman

Te Akau Racing is far more than a horse racing stable. It is the result of more than four decades of belief, discipline and long-term vision.

What began at Te Akau Stud in New Zealand - under the leadership of David Ellis CNZM - has grown into one of the most successful racing operations in the Southern Hemisphere. From nurturing the land that raises our young stock, to educating yearlings, pre-training and competing at the highest level, Te Akau has always been built on doing things properly from the ground up.

Over 100 Group One victories, multiple Trainers’ Premierships in New Zealand and Singapore, and a record of consistent elite success have not come from standing still. They have come from evolving when the time was right.

In 2023, that evolution took its next step and Te Akau’s Cranbourne Chapter began.

Te Akau Racing Australia became a reality at Cranbourne, Victoria - a purpose-built, state-of-the-art stable situated within one of the most significant thoroughbred training centres in the southern hemisphere. The Cranbourne complex, home to more than 140 licensed trainers and over 1,400 horses in work, represents one of the most competitive and progressive racing environments in Australasia.

The decision to open another main training stable in Australia was not simply about growth. It was about giving our horses and our owners a genuine advantage - an extremely unique pathway for our ownership group, and for anyone wanting to be involved with horses at Te Akau.

Under the leadership of Mark Walker, alongside Assistant Trainer Ben Gleeson and our Australian team, the Cranbourne stable operates as an integrated part of the Te Akau way. It shares the same standards, discipline and accountability that define our Matamata and Christchurch operations, while positioning us firmly within Australia’s premier racing jurisdiction.

What makes this chapter significant is not geography alone, but the opportunity it creates.

With stables in New Zealand and Australia, Te Akau now has the ability to place horses where they are best suited to perform. Racing programmes differ between the two countries. Track conditions vary. Campaign structures and prizemoney levels shift according to jurisdiction. Having a presence in both allows each horse to be assessed individually and campaigned strategically, rather than confined to one pathway.

When Te Akau purchase yearlings - whether at Karaka, Magic Millions or other major sales - we are buying with that broader canvas in mind. Some horses will build their careers in New Zealand. Others will be better suited to Australian competition. Some will move between the two as their preparation and performance dictate.

Very few stables are structured in a way that allows that movement to occur seamlessly, and that is all part of the Te Akau difference.

The early results from Cranbourne have reinforced the strength of that model. Imperatriz, the first runner from the Australian stable, went on to win 10 Group One races and be crowned Champion Australian Sprinter, while the 2023/24 season saw Te Akau train 24 winners in Australia, including nine stakes’ victories - five at Group One level - and earn NZ$7.6 million in stakes. More recently, Belle Cheval transferred to our Cranbourne team and delivered a Group One victory for her owners with our Australian team managing the seamless process. Yet beyond statistics, the Cranbourne Chapter reflects something more enduring.

Director at Te Akau, Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM often explains, ownership at Te Akau is defined by connection. Owners deal directly with the trainers and leadership team. They understand the reasoning behind placement decisions. They are welcomed into the stable environment, whether in Matamata or Cranbourne, and see first-hand the systems and people responsible for their horses.

The expansion into Australia has not altered that relationship. It has broadened it. Te Akau remains proudly New Zealand at its core, but it now operates with a trans-Tasman reach that offers horses and owners a level of opportunity that is genuinely rare in our industry. The Cranbourne Chapter is therefore not simply an addition to the map it represents a stable that has grown in scope, presence and possibility - without compromising the principles on which it was built.

For those considering becoming part of the Te Akau story, the opportunity now extends across two countries. Racing within a trans-Tasman structure is not simply about ownership - it is about understanding placement, development, and being part of a journey built on competing at the highest level - something Te Akau has consistently delivered for decades.

Explore our available horses and discover how you can race within a truly trans-Tasman operation: https://www.teakauracing.com/yearlings-and-shares

And for a deeper look at how Te Akau ownership works - from purchase to placement across New Zealand and Australia - visit Your Journey Into Racehorse Ownership information guide here: https://www.teakauracing.com/your-journey-into-racehorse-ownership

With over 100 Group One victories to our name, opportunity now spans both sides of the Tasman - and so does your chance to be part of it!