Te Akau Friday Update

David writes:

The farmer from Te Akau hasn't stopped smiling for the past 48 hours - this morning there was 27mls in the rain gauge and we now have beautiful green paddocks for our yearlings who come home to Te Akau Stud following the Karaka Sale - it is just such an exciting time of the year.  It's made even better now that we are in quite good shape grass-wise!

These have been very challenging months.  We were still in Winter at the end of October and then went straight in to Summer - we literally didn't have a Spring.  However you can't control Mother Nature and, as it can generally happen, it all balances out - eventually.  It's just the in-between time that is so difficult.

I am really looking forward to attending Wellington's Cup Day tomorrow at Trentham.  I have already agreed to allowing Opie to ride Heroic Valour .5kg over weight.  This is the first time that I have ever done this and the reasons are quite straightforward - firstly Opie is trying so hard and is really now starting to get his weight down; secondly, he is riding in great form; and finally, I would rather have this Champion jockey half over in a fit state, than off-colour and feeling weak in a tight finish.  Half a kilo might not sound much but when you are only 55.5kgs after having sweated for four hours, it's a massive amount.

We have Heroic Valour and Chambord contesting the Group 1 Telegraph Handicap and Splurge takes on the Group 1 Thorndon Mile.  The fields are tough for sure but these three do have the credentials to be very competitive.  Heroic Valour had been flying in his work before we had to scratch him out of the Group 1 Railway when the rain came, it was just devastating as he was primed to go a super race.  Chambord of course has had an interrupted, injury-plagued career so to see him back in such great form is truly heart-warming.  It was a special moment when he won the Listed Levin Stakes but unfortunately he has drawn the carpark (17) tomorrow in the capacity 18-strong field.  Splurge has continued the great success of our Te Akau 2014 Breeding Syndicate - his owners also raced dual Group 1 winner Xtravagant and Splurge has now won three times at Group level.  All of these horses were bought by me from Karaka.

In other great news, Gingernuts' rehabilitation is coming along really well.  "Jerry" (main picture), as we know him, has a massive fan club from around the world and the daily messages we receive on facebook and twitter and by email are just mind-blowing.  So many people care about his progress and I know this has been a great support to his owners as well as our team.  In continuing positive news, Jerry is full of life, being walked by hand with no pain and is putting on weight.  He is on schedule to return back to Te Akau Stud in the next month - I can't tell you how pleased everyone will be to see him safely home with us.

From Sunday I re-locate to Auckland and I am at Karaka each day looking and re-looking at all of my short-listed yearlings.  I am going to buy more Group 1 yearlings this year - so why don't you join the team instead of bidding against us - be smart and join us!  and have some fun too!

Have a great day and GO THE TANGERINE THIS WEEKEND!