Te Akau Friday Update

David writes:

What a beautiful week it has been weather wise on the farm. I just hope the weather stays fine for the big race day at Te Rapa tomorrow - Waikato Cup Day is always one of the best days of racing of the year, and we are all really looking forward to being part of it. 

This year we have the favourite in the race - In a Twinkling - who won the Counties Cup at his last start.

The Waikato Cup is a race that I have always wanted to win. We have had seconds on at least two occasions that I can remember, so let's hope our luck changes tomorrow.

In a Twinkling will be ridden by Troy Harris, who is a former Te Akau apprentice. Troy is riding in fantastic touch at the moment, and with our stable jockey Opie Bosson being suspended, Troy is taking over the reins. Troy rides work every morning at Te Akau Racing in Matamata and is riding in great form.

If you remember, In A Twinkling was beaten by a nose in the New Zealand Derby, while another horse that was also very narrowly beaten in the same race for us the year prior was Mongolianconqueror. Both are racing at Te Rapa tomorrow, along with Karaka 3YO Million winner Scott Base - a horse who is having his second start for our stable. 

The stable has had a really good last two weeks. We have had nine wins from our last 21 runners which is just a fantastic achievement from all our team. 

We have had a really busy week on the farm too, with many of our mares and foals arriving back to the Stud. Our Equine Manager Enzo Di Leoni and his team of Deane Lowcay and Stephanie Hyde-Richards have been very busy handling the foals, and they are doing a fantastic job of it too. 

On the farm side, we have been busy sending a unit of cattle each day. We have also dipped all our breeding ewes and drenched them. Next week we will be doing our lambs. We are also having our second and final pick of our lambs this Tuesday.

After next week the Greenlea freezing works is closing down for two weeks and are giving all their staff a decent break over Christmas, so we won't be sending any stock over the holiday period after next week.

We have plenty of good quality grass, but let's hope that the forecast is accurate as they are predicting, namely 75mls of rain over the next week - if we get half of that, we would be very happy.

This year we have put about 60 acres into a summer crop called plantain, as well as clover. It is a great summer crop to fatten lambs on. It is coming through beautifully and it is quite exciting to see it develop. However, any rain would be incredibly beneficial for it so let's hope the forecast is on the mark. 

Another big focus this week has been selling the remaining shares in the 2YOs we bought in the Ready to Run Sale. Selling has gone particularly well and there are very few shares remaining - and there is only one share left in the colt syndicate. I just love these two colts, there is a Savabeel and Pierro colt - two of the best sires in the Southern Hemisphere. These are two absolutely stunning colts who are both in the stable preparing for trials in the new year.  Boy are the impressing everyone who handles them.

We have a really nice Proisir gelding who was only purchased for $72,500, that would make an excellent Christmas present for a loved one - imagine the brownie points you would get if you bought your partner a share in a racehorse?

If you would like to be involved in these young horses who have enormous quality, please do not hesitate to contact us, as these shares are selling out extremely fast.

Have a great weekend everyone and best of luck to all our owners with runners at Te Rapa, Awapuni and Ellerslie on Sunday - and GO THE TANGERINE!

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