Te Akau Friday Update

David writes:

I still can't get over how racing administrators are reducing the number of race meetings and races. No consideration for owners with and its sad. They say they are increasing stakes but in reality, it is from the same pool - they are simply reducing race meetings and races to use those stakes to increase others! An example of where I am coming from is I have a colt in at Ashburton this Saturday in the maiden 1600m. Seventeen horses paid up that means with 14 runners only to start, just one horse goes through to a Rating 65. The same situation in the maiden 1200m race where there are 18 acceptances - what's wrong with running two nine horse races??

What they don't understand is that many punters never bet on a 14+ horse field, it's just too hard and next season they tell me they are going to reduce the number of races even more - HELLO!!? You only need to read clause 16 of the racing amendment bill to see what fewer races will do to the thoroughbred code! The bottom line is fewer races for owners, trainers and jockeys to win for a small increase in stakes - that is not enough to win me over. Afterall it was only a few years ago our administration decided to introduce more racing and we had meetings each Monday and Tuesday. What happened?  Another mistake but they wouldn't listen to their stakeholders who told them it was a doomed move.

Yesterday we had a television crew here from K.M. Media which is producing a show promoting New Zealand beef and they chose Te Akau Stud as the location to do the filming.

We have some beautiful steers ready to sell in the next few months. This morning Majestic Horse floats will be taking two valuable horses down to Christchurch. They will travel under the supervision of one of our team Meg Cuneen who will stay in Christchurch and help Pam Gerard and Gary Stevens look after them.  Jamie Richards is going back down today for the weekend. We have three horses running tomorrow at Ashburton. Two fillies in the $50,000 Gregg Stakes - a race formally known as the Ray Coupland Stakes. Te Akau has won this races six times in the last 11 years. We also have a smart 3YO colt by Fastnet Rock in the Maiden 1600m event and Matt Cameron is going down to ride for us.

The filly we sent down today is by Smart Missile. I bought her at the Easter Sale in Sydney from Arrowfield Stud for $150,000. She looks to have an exciting future. She will race next Saturday at Riccarton and will back up three weeks later in the Welcome Stakes. The other horse that went south is Opulent, a 4YO mare by Keeper. This mare is very close related to Redoutes Choice and we are eager to win black type with her. She has won her last two starts. We now have 10 horses at Riccarton for the carnival. They will be joined by two colts - Xtravagant will race at Trentham next weekend then travel south for the following weekend and Scrutinize will run at Te Rapa in the Sarten before travelling south. He is the favourite for the 2000 Guineas.

I cant wait for the rugby on Sunday morning. I was at the Millennium Stadium eight years ago when France beat us. I just hope the All Blacks play really well. It is certainly the exciting time of the tournament. I can see, or hope to see, an Australia/New Zealand final.

Yesterday the racing industry received more bad news. We were told that our ACC bill would rise from $32,000 to $50,000 despite Te Akau having a wonderful record with Health and Safety. I just wish the National government would show more leadership in the racing industry - they certainly are well behind the Labour/NZ First alliance that was such a big help to the racing industry recognising the massive contribution that racing makes to the government as tax collectors and employers and exporters. Yes indeed lots of problems for racing's leadership to sort out but the Spring is here so the better tracks have arrived and the better horses are stepping out so lets hope some better decisions are forthcoming from our administration.

Best of luck to the the connections of Mongolian Khan in the Caulfield Cup tomorrow and well done to Alan Jackson the new NZTR Chairman and GO THE ALL BLACKS!