Te Akau Annual North Island Owners' Event

Te Akau Racing, the most powerful stable in New Zealand, hosted a function for owners and its team members on Monday afternoon in the Gazebo at the Matamata Racecourse.

About 300 gathered to enjoy an afternoon of hospitality and an opportunity to mingle and see their horses. A similar event was hosted recently during NZ Cup Week at the Riccarton races where Te Akau welcomed its South Island owners.

Te Akau principal David Ellis CNZM welcomed everyone at the North island event, thanked Te Akau owners for their ongoing support, paid tribute to the hardworking team, and provided all-important statistical information on the success of the stable. 

Trainer Jamie Richards introduced senior team members from the Main Stable and three barns on the racecourse, while Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM ended proceedings acknowledging and congratulating David Ellis on his appointment as a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit (CNZM), in addition to the Outstanding Contribution to Racing Award he received in 2017, both for services to the Thoroughbred Racing Industry and his ongoing encouragement of people in the business. 

Last season, when winning the Premiership and Champion Trainer titles, Richards prepared 17 stakes' winners in New Zealand, adding three Group 1 wins in Australia, with 11 of his 20 group & listed wins coming in Group 1 races, and a total of 104 wins for the season. He led the premiership in all facets: wins, prize money (nearly $4 million), Group & Listed wins, and the best strike rate (4.8) among the top 10 trainers in the country.

Because lockdown put a halt to racing for three months (23 March - 26 June), it was also a case of what could have been for Richards, who was sailing along at a great rate and ahead of target in chasing down the record of 143 set in 2017-18 by the Baker/Forsman Stable. 

But given his momentum this season, and barring further enforced holdups, the stable appears set to give the record a decent shake. 

“As of today, Jamie and the team has won 62 races in NZ which is a phenomenal effort in just four months - that's a lead of 33 wins over the next stable,” Ellis said. 

“Of these we have had 10 NZ stakes wins, including three at Group 1 level. Add to this a Group 1 and Group 3 win in Australia with Probabeel, and we have earned over $2.6 million in prize money for our owners. Jamie is also currently rated No.9 in the world in the TRC Global Rankings.

“We couldn't have had a better New Zealand Cup Carnival, including five wins on Cup Day - winning the Group 1 NZ 1000 Guineas and Listed Welcome Stakes. That's almost half the programme and another in Tauranga, making it six for the day. Special thanks, also, to Paul Richards and the team that moved south in August to prepare our horses, and their hard work clearly paid off - well done.

“None of this is possible without two main factors: the talent and dedication of our staff, and the loyalty of you, our owners. We are indebted to you all for your support.

“We were particularly proud that when the finalists were named for the Horse of the Year awards, Jamie was the sole finalist for the Champion Trainer title and we also celebrated our stable rider Opie Bosson being named Champion Jockey, yet again,” Ellis said.

“Cool Aza Beel became our eight Champion 2YO, Melody Belle was named both Champion Sprinter/Miler (our 6th such title) and Champion Middle Distance Horse. It was no surprise, then, that Melody Belle also claimed her second consecutive Champion Horse of the Year title.

“Perhaps the award I was most excited by, however, was to see our daughter Julia-Rose win the highly contested Media - Digital and Content award. Years ago this award was purely for media broadcasters or journalists and of course Karyn has won it, but now it's far more wide ranging, moving with the times, so how exciting for us as a family to see Julia-Rose claim the same honour.

“As you will know, NZ Thoroughbred Racing cancelled its annual awards, so Karyn and I decided to host our own. The whole event, with over 150 people, was a massive success and Julia-Rose was responsible for putting it all together. It was a great night.

“I also want to pay tribute to the training success of our Singapore trainer Mark Walker, who won the Singapore Champion Trainer title again at the end of 2019. That means that Te Akau achieved the rare success of winning Premierships in two countries in the same season. 

“Mark has now won three Trainers' Premierships in Singapore, following five previously in New Zealand, and currently sits in second place this season. I know quite a number of you have horses with Mark in Singapore, and thank you for your continued support in racing from our Kranji stable.”

Ellis also welcomed the return of Lydia Roseby (nee Ellis), who returned recently from London. She and her husband, Jamie Roseby, are setting up base in NZ, and Lydia, initially, is helping in the lead-up to Waikato Cup Day (12 Dec.) at the Waikato Racing Club. 

Having bought and already sold all nine horses from the recent New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale, Ellis said that earlier in the day (Monday 30 November) he had begun his yearling inspections, with a visit to see the fillies at Pencarrow Stud, ahead of the Karaka Book 1 & 2 Sales on 24 - 28 January. 

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