Te Akau Friday Update

David writes:

Yesterday we had the horses from the first day of the NZ Cup Carnival at Riccarton arrive home safely to Te Akau Stud.

The three horses that ran 1-2-4 in the Group 1 NZ 2000 Guineas are all in lush, green paddocks next to each other - when I went down to see them yesterday afternoon, I thought 'what three beautiful young horses they are'.

They are all different types of individuals - Age of Fire is a great 'doing' colt so he gets a smaller feed while Embellish is on a medium feed and Te Akau Shark, being a gelding, gets a massive feed!  Each meal is designed for the individual horse's requirements and needs, and this is particularly important with colts so that they do not get too heavy.

These three are very valuable boys, even Te Akau Shark (who is a gelding as I mentioned) has been valued at over $1 million.

Our sixth Group 1 NZ 2000 Guineas' winner Embellish will now be set for the $1 million Karaka Mile - this is a race for 3YO graduates of the Karaka Sale and is over the 1600m.  All going well, he will then travel to Melbourne for the Group 1 Australian Guineas then up to Sydney for the major 3YO events there.  He does look 'the real deal' this colt and the phone hasn't stopped ringing with studs showing real interest in him.

When I was interviewed by Trackside after purchasing Embellish at Karaka, I said that I bought him to win the 2000 Guineas - you can't imagine how satisfying it is when a plan such as this comes off.

Embellish was purchased for my 2016 Te Akau Breeding Syndicate and what a thrill all of his owners had on Saturday.  Well done to these friends, many of whom have invested in our colt syndicate each year and have had success with the likes of Group 1 winners Darci Brahma, Rock 'n' Pop, Burgundy, Xtravagant, Heroic Valour and now Embellish.

Our 2017 Te Akau Breeding Syndicate comprises four colts from this year's sale and we are really looking forward to seeing the first one to race step out for his second start tomorrow in a stakes' race at Riccarton - keep an eye on Exceed and Excel colt Al Hasa, I think he is a young colt with huge upside.

Back to this year's Guineas' boys though - Age of Fire looks a Derby colt to me however, having been purchased by me in Sydney, he is not eligible for the Karaka Mile.  He is also a lovely colt with a beautiful temperament, a really relaxed character - he won't need long out in the spelling paddock this boy.  He too has a stallion pedigree being by Fastnet Rock out of a Galileo mare.

Te Akau Shark is a top horse in the making and I thought his was one of the runs of the race - you have to remember it was just his third start and he is still learning about this racing business.  He is out of a mare who was a top stayer that won a Waikato Gold Cup - he really looks an exciting racehorse that also could well line up in the Group 1 NZ Derby.

The other two horses that came home to the farm were the girls - Avantage, our unbeaten 2YO filly, and Grazia, the full sister to Group 1 winner Shillelagh who had a top carnival securing valuable black type when winning the Listed Spring Classic.

Gee it's exciting having such quality horses to race over summer - and there are plenty of others in the wings too - some of whom we have already seen in winning form.

A special mention here to our daughter Julia-Rose - she was the driving force behind me buying Gris Dame as she wanted to syndicate her amongst friends and clients - her first horse, and she is the manager too.  What a thrill to see this flashy grey daughter of Reliable Man win so convincingly at just her second start at Te Aroha on Tuesday.  Julia-Rose was on course with a number of owners and was absolutely delighted.  I have this feeling that Julia-Rose will be active at next week's Ready to Run Sale with this successful venture under her belt!

Karyn and Julia-Rose and her fiance Hamish are off to Christchurch today for tomorrow's NZ Cup Day at Riccarton where we have some really good chances.  Julia-Rose bought Hamish a share in a filly a couple of years ago for his birthday.  She is called Swing Note and of course will contest the Group 1 NZ 1000 Guineas - a race we have won four times previously - there is a lot of excitement in the house I can tell you!  We also of course have Imperium in the NZ Cup looking to go better than his third placing last year and Al Hasa, who I mentioned before, will contest the Listed Welcome Stakes, a race we are looking to win for the sixth time!

I am staying here to concentrate on the Ready to Run Sale - the horses are being sold on Wednesday and Thursday next week and I will be hunting down another Gingernuts, Hall of Fame and Te Akau Shark.  With over 400 horses for Mark, Jamie and me to inspect, it is a busy time but one we really enjoy.

If you would like to come out to the sale and join us, we will make you feel very welcome!

What a beautiful spell of weather (finally) we are having at present - the grass is finally growing (as is Beaudy the beauty - Julia-Rose and Hamish's pup) - but I told you before, farmers are hard to please and can you believe we now need some rain??!!

Just a quick update on Gingernuts - we have this morning received some new photos thanks to Mark Gatt in Australia who has visited Jerry and we will post them on our website later when we have first sent them through to his owners.  We are told he has a massive fan club at the veterinary hospital and is loving the cuddles - and there are cards arriving daily for him, together some some special visitors who pop in to see him from the Victorian Racing Club - we so appreciate everything that is being done for this special boy.

As I said, we have some great chances at Riccarton tomorrow and also at Tauranga where you will see Splurge and Royal Success chase black type - best of luck to all our owners.

Have a great weekend and - go the tangerine!