Sir David Honoured by Life Membership

Sir David Ellis had another honour bestowed upon him when becoming a Life Member at Auckland Thoroughbred Racing at the Club's Annual General Meeting on Tuesday.

The principal of Te Akau Racing, Sir David began frequenting the Ellerslie course as an 18-year-old, started buying yearlings in 1983 at the Trentham Yearling Sales, and has been the leading buyer for the past two decades at the New Zealand Bloodstock Yearling Sales Series at Karaka.

ATR Chairman Doug Alderslade announced that Sir David would be inducted as a Life Member, saying that he was born and raised in Auckland, became a member of the Club in 1974 and raced his first horse Magnum (Sovereign Edition) in 1978. 

Cosmetique (Barcas) won the Group 1 Easter Handicap (1600m) for Sir David in 1986 at Ellerslie, and fittingly Return To Conquer (Snitzel) provided Te Akau Racing with its 100th Group One victory when winning the Group 1 Sistema Stakes (1200m) there in 2025. 

“I first went in a suit and tie with $12, put two each-way on a horse that paid $36 and came away with $80,” Ellis said.

“It’s a great thrill to receive this honour and I’d like to thank the Club. The Board has created a world-class racing club at Ellerslie, and all the staff led so well by Paul Wilcox must also be congratulated.”

The exploits by Sir David have certainly not come without recognition from the New Zealand farming and thoroughbred sectors, as he won the Gallagher Agriculture and Primary Production Award in 2010; the New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Outstanding Contribution to Racing Excellence in 2017; was appointed as a Companion of New Zealand Order of Merit (CNZM) in 2020; inducted into the New Zealand Racing Hall of Fame in 2025, and in June this year he was appointed a Knight Companion (KNZM) of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the 2026 King's Birthday Honours, in recognition of his services to Thoroughbred Racing and Philanthropy.

The overall success created by Sir David is reflected in Te Akau winning 17 Champion Trainer titles and 85 titles, overall, at the New Zealand Thoroughbred Horse of the Year awards, including 25 horse awards and 24 awards for people in the past nine years.

Among them are 13 Champion Two-Year-Olds, six Champion Three-Year-Olds, nine Champion Sprinter/Milers, five Champion Middle Distance horses, eight NZB Filly of the Year winners, and seven Horse of the Year awardees.

Household names in racing, like Darci Brahma (Danehill), Burgundy (Redoute’s Choice), Princess Coup (Encosta De Lago), Melody Belle (Commands), Probabeel (Savabeel), Avantage (Fastnet Rock), Amarelinha (Savabeel), Caputred By Love (Written Tycoon), Gingernuts (Iffraaj), Te Akau Shark (Rip Van Winkle), Xtravagant (Pentire), Maroofity (Maroof), King’s Chapel (King of Kings), Imperatriz (I Am Invincible), and a host of others. 

Colts bought by Ellis that have stood at stud, include Darci Brahma (Danehill), Burgundy (Redoute’s Choice), King’s Chapel (King Of Kings), Rock ‘n’ Pop (Fastnet Rock), Minstrel Court (Danehill Dancer), Saperavi (Stravinsky), Cool Aza Beel (Savabeel), Xtravagant (Pentire), Embellish (Savabeel), Heroic Valour (Fastnet Rock), Noverre (Savabeel), Sword Of State (Snitzel), Return To Conquer (Snitzel), and Move To Strike (I Am Invincible). 

Te Akau trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson have hit their straps again this season in New Zealand, with 40 wins already and a commanding lead in the Premiership across every benchmark - wins, stakes. 

Not one to rest on his laurels, Ellis is preparing for the upcoming New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale (18 & 19 Nov.) at Karaka.