Te Akau Friday Update

David writes:

Wasn't it great news to read that the Waikato Racing Club has put the prizemoney for the Group 1 Herbie Dyke Stakes up by another $100,000 to $400,000?  this after increasing it last season also by $100,000.  This has been possible through not only the Club's determination but also the incredible foresight and generosity of Steven and Simon Dyke and also NZTR has to be congratulated for supporting this race too.

Week after week we read that we need to improve stakes - well here is a really positive example of a Club taking the initiative with staunch and passionate supporters - well done.

Week after week we also read about how well racing is progressing - is this right?  Well yes and no!  Let me explain - when I say 'yes' I mean in Australia and when I say 'no'  I mean in New Zealand - the difference in government support of, and interest in, racing in these two countries could not be further apart.

One of the reasons behind this is quite simple (aside from all the economic impact we know investment in racing delivers to the community and the nation) - and that is, that a number of years ago, racing in New South Wales (NSW) had to be closed down for about four or five months due to a serious equine virus.  The government in NSW was staggered at how much "no racing" cost it and it realised (albeit under the worst imaginable circumstances) just how crucial racing was to the economy.  It has really stepped up and got involved in serious initiatives that support racing in its State.

The New Zealand government hasn't yet woken up to the massive contribution that racing makes - it might say that it IS aware of this, however its actions, or rather lack of, speak louder than its words.  It makes me just so sad to see how our industry is treated.  In NSW the government is reducing the duty charged on racing by 1% per year for five years - this is putting about $70 million extra a year into racing.

However it is not just NSW that is backing its industry - just two days ago, we read again about yet another major contribution to racing in Victoria - a press release from the office of the Victorian Minister for Racing - announcing a major facilities upgrade at Geelong racecourse and the state government's significant financial contribution to that project.

In other news, it has been a very hectic October so far for the Ellis family with my daughter Sarah's wedding to Nick and daughter Lydia home from London with her partner Jamie who was visiting New Zealand for the first time so we wanted to ensure he saw just how magnificent our country is!

Beautiful bride Sarah and her proud father!

Daughters and bridesmaids Lydia & Julia-Rose

We are coming into a very busy month on the farm as well and yesterday we sent the first load of bulls off with another load going today.  Then we will send a unit each day for the next three weeks.  I am looking forward to getting the weights sent through to me tonight as the cattle have been very well fed all year and the grass growth has been terrific with the wet Spring.  Next week our farming focus turns to the sheep - we have 5500 sheep to shear starting on Tuesday morning and we will wean the lambs at the same time.

We are also heading into the exciting racing time that is coming up.  We have been battling the winter tracks so prevalent at the moment in New Zealand,  it is just so frustrating for all of our New Zealand team and our owners but sadly the weather is something we just can't control!  Nonetheless with the team that is stepping out (given the winter tracks in the North), we are enjoying seeing our owners experiencing plenty of success.  For example Tavi's Star and Imperium both won on Saturday at Ashburton while Heroic Valour went a splendid race for second in the Listed Barneswood Farm Stakes.  This Group 1 winner has finished in the top three at every start and he is right on target for his next assignment, the Group 1 NZ 2000 Guineas.

Speaking of the 2000 Guineas - as we attempt to win our sixth 2000 Guineas in the past 12 years - Hall of Fame will step out tomorrow at Riccarton in the Listed Zacinto Stakes and he is really thriving in the South Island.  Look out for a big effort as this colt has improved in trackwork and I think he will go a very good race.  This will be his final assignment before the Guineas on 5 November.

Hall of Fame is a colt that I purchased from last year's Ready to Run Sale together with Gingernuts (who has just come back in to work) and both were 2YO winners.  Hall of Fame is a Savabeel colt who has a ton of ability which he clearly showed when cruising home to win the Guineas' Trial at Riccarton last start.  This classic 3YO race is shaping up to be a very interesting "battle between the boys" of ours!

Speaking of the Ready to Run Sale, it isn't far away now and I have been very busy going through the catalogue and I can tell you there are some cracking horses that I have my eye on - so keep in touch and if you want to be on our priority list to have first crack at the shares in the horses we will buy - just email Karyn - [email protected]

Speaking of winning races - Te Akau Singapore trainer Mark Walker currently lies third on the Trainers' Premiership there and in recent weekends he has been producing two or three winners every weekend - last Sunday we saw Northern Knight win for the Raffles' Racing team (and Viviano for them the week prior) and that was Mark's 60th win for the season - a great effort by Mark, Gus and Karen and Robbie and the whole team.

Last weekend we actually won four races - two in Singapore and two in New Zealand and well ... Shillelagh in Melbourne, what can I say? If you saw her in the Group 2 Tristarc Stakes at Caulfield, you know that she was lucky to stay on her feet after hitting the running rail - luckily she has come through that terrible misfortune unscathed.  This mare is truly due a change of luck and let's hope she gets that at her next start - she will race again on Melbourne Cup day at Flemington - and we have engaged Joao Moreira to ride her.  Joao had a wonderful relationship with Mark and our Singapore stable when he was based in there and we are really delighted he will be aboard.

Karyn and I are really looking forward to Cup Week in Christchurch - our best chance for a major Carnival race would be the 2000 Guineas with Heroic Valour and Hall of Fame lining up.  I could even see a quinella in the race!  These two colts are really thriving and it is such a huge advantage having them based with our team of Kris and Nicole Shailer and Dan Miller in the South Island.

Yesterday it was the 21st birthday for one of our Te Akau Stud team - Toni Pansier has worked for us for about a year and we all wish her a very happy milestone birthday.  We are just so lucky at Te Akau - at all levels, our staff is so dedicated - working in terrible weather conditions but always with a smile on their faces.  I know how frustrating this extended winter has been for them all.

The breeding season is in full swing and over the weekend we will post some pictures of our foals, and they are arriving thick and fast now.  One question I often have been asked by people is "which stallion do you like best going forward, Rock 'n' Pop or Burgundy?" - the interest probably coming from the fact that they "graduated" to stallion life together.

Well it is too early to say but all indications are very encouraging for both of these stallions.  The Burgundy's that have been to the trials have shown plenty - we were very proud that Burgundy's first trial winner was in fact a filly that we bred.  Yesterday two of his 2YO's ran the quinella in a Central District trial and I know trainers are speaking highly of them.  New Zealand Bloodstock's Danny Rolston also told me that the Rock 'n' Pop's that breezed up at Te Rapa earlier this week in preparation for the Ready to Run Sale were very impressive, good looking types.  You could certainly do a lot worse than sending a mare to one of these two stallions.

A last thought before I sign off - recently we have been using the Taupo track to gallop our horses due to the wet weather in the Waikato.  We find the trip away actually also furthers their fitness.  The track at Taupo has been in magnificent order and I find it so hard to understand why New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing doesn't use it more for racing and trialling in the Spring.  Losing all these racedays (eg Otaki and Matamata on the past two Saturdays) is a very expensive exercise for the galloping code - not just losing the raceday itself but also all the profit from overseas racing is paid out on turnover figures created in New Zealand and having to cancel a Saturday meeting like Matamata Cup Day really costs the industry big time - especially when a track such as Taupo was available.

The point that I am making is that administrators have to be nimble on their feet and be prepared to have contingency plans in place, especially when they know what the potential issues are.  Be prepared!!

There is some great racing this weekend including the Group 1 WS Cox Plate - hasn't the media attention around this race been incredible?  A top racehorse certainly draws the crowds and Winx does that - it would be brilliant to see her extend her winning record but I am sure James McDonald and her other opposition have other plans!  It will be a fascinating contest that is for certain.  As will the All Blacks' game against the Australians as they stand poised to make history for the number of unbeaten games - can't wait for the weekend!