Te Akau Easter Monday Update

David writes:

We hope that you are having a relaxing and safe Easter weekend. It has still been a busy one for everyone at Te Akau although I would have to say that I am somewhat disappointed at the lack of top quality racing overall this weekend in New Zealand. Easter traditionally was a weekend of exciting racing with great fields - how can it be that on Easter Monday there is not now even a meeting at a major northern venue with the population on holiday?

In Singapore there was no such break - with Singapore racing coming through from Kranji on both Good Friday and on Sunday.  Te Akau Singapore trainer Mark Walker started the weekend off in great fashion again with two wins on Friday.  The first win was in a S$75,000 Maiden with a Volksraad gelding called Vraad who we train for James Chapman of Jamieson Park. This horse had taken time to acclimatise but now that he has, he has plenty more to come for certain.  Mark's second win on Friday came through Aspen, a son of Alamosa who I bought at the Karaka Premier Sale.

On Saturday in New Zealand we sent two horses to the Masterton meeting with Lady Pinot claiming a well deserved win at her fifth start.  She is a well bred mare who I purchased from the Karaka Premier Sale and another beautifully bred mare Echezeaux (the half sister to Darci Brahma) flashed home for second after getting well back - almost providing Stephen Autridge and Jamie Richards with a two from two 100% strike rate.

So in the space of about 12 hours, three winners from our two stables - but we weren't finished!  On Sunday night Mark was again in the winner's circle - this time with Eaton's Gold.  I bought this son of Jet Spur for Fortuna Syndicators from the Karaka Select Sale for $72,500.  He has really thrived in his time in Singapore and this win has taken his stakes earnings there to over $400,000.

So that is the very positive news however there are a couple of issues however that have really frustrated me of late!

It is so disappointing to see how our industry is being administered at present. Fancy having a Saturday race worth $7000 over the weekend!  How long do the people who are running racing think that we can survive with stakes like this? Honestly it's a disgrace. Do they not wonder why the fields are so small? The Cup race in the CD had four runners, in fact hardly any race had a full field and it will get worse if drastic action isn't taken.

To start with, the government is taking too much out and unless this is quickly fixed there is no hope. In Australia they actually understand and put value on the industry!

In New South Wales for example last year and for the next three years, the government is reducing tax on racing so stakes will continue to rise in that state. My message to New Zealand administrators is don't put this action off!!  If you want Te Akau to stay involved in this industry then start putting serious pressure on the politicians and if you can't get a minimum Saturday stake of $10,000 then move on and get some strong leadership in place who can. It is no wonder so few administrators race horses with the current level of stakes - and if they don't have :skin in the game" really what is their level of understanding?

As I said earlier, my other gripe is what a total disappointment it is to have no North Island race meeting on Easter Monday. For the last 100 years we have had racing in Auckland on both days at Easter, Saturday and Monday. I won my first Group 1 race 30 years ago this weekend when Cosmetique won the Easter Handicap on the Saturday and they had another Group 1 day on the Monday and they attracted terrific crowds. I just can't believe with the population in Auckland there is no race meeting -honestly we need to wake up before it's all over.

I am actually writing to you whilst we are driving back to the farm from Auckland - I am dictating and Karyn is typing!  While Karyn had to work on Trackside on Sunday for Weigh In, we still have had a lovely couple of days in Auckland, catching up with family and friends including a special birthday dinner for our youngest daughter Julia-Rose's partner Hamish.  My daughter Sarah and her fiance Nick joined us, as did Matt Cameron and his partner Blair - we also had to celebrate Matt's 1000th winner which came aboard Heroic Valour - and we had a special plaque made for the trophy to mark that milestone. My eldest daughter Joanna, her husband Leon and grandson Ted have been staying in the cottage at the farm for an Easter break too.

There is plenty to do on the farm when we get back today.  We head to Sydney this Friday with the Sydney Easter Sales on the agenda.  I do intend to be buying at Sydney so keep a close eye out on our website for all the details.

Happy Easter everyone!