Te Akau Appoints Racing Manager

We are thrilled to formally announce that Libby Richards has joined the Te Akau team in the role of Racing Manager, based at our Matamata stable.

"Libby is a young woman who is hugely skilled and competent in all facets of horse husbandry and has extensive industry knowledge and experience. In fact, she even led in her first winner for Te Akau during Cup Week at Riccarton," Te Akau Principal David Ellis said today.

Libby is certainly far from unaccustomed to leading in winners - brother Jamie (Richards) is the Te Akau New Zealand trainer - and the winning horse in question, Conclusion (5 g Fully Fledged - Every Reason, by Howbaddouwantit) was an authoritative winner of the $30,000 Millennium Hotels & Resorts 1200 metres and proved a real family affair.

“It was a thrill and an honour because Dave (Ellis) and Karyn (Fenton-Ellis) have developed a world-class thoroughbred operation and it's great to be a part of it,” Richards said.

“It was very special because Mum and Dad (Paul & Leanne Richards) own Conclusion with our family friend Ray Chalklin from Mosgiel and I've worked with the horse since Jamie bought him as a weanling. It was a very exciting start to Cup Week.  As kids, we always travelled to Cup Week when Dad was riding and it's a carnival that has always had a great buzz.”

Te Akau principal David Ellis said: “I've been trying for three years to get Libby to come and work for Te Akau, but she's had commitments in the banking sector where she held a senior role.

“She's one of the most capable people I've ever met and can turn her hand to anything. She's a young woman with a great work ethic and a terrific attitude to life: she's always happy.

“Karyn and I are always so proud to have people of Libby's calibre in the stable and although she had a very good job at the bank, her love is racing.  That's good news not just for Te Akau and our owners, but also for the racing industry.  We need young talent like Libby.

"I know that all of our owners will enjoy meeting with Libby on race days and that is something she too is very much looking forward to - watch out for her!"