Te Akau Friday Update

David writes:

I really enjoyed going to the Te Rapa Races on Wednesday. It was great to catch up and see so many friendly faces, and not to mention that we won three of the races!

I got a big thrill seeing Maasir win the race that Karyn and myself sponsor - that was an incredible race!

This week, our trainer Jamie Richards is currently ranked 7^th in the world on the TRC Global Rankings and our stable broke through the $4 million barrier for stakes in New Zealand - this figure does not include the stakes that we have won in Australia - so in excess now of $5 million for our owners - and the season is only half through!

What makes Karyn and me most happy is to see all the incredibly hard work that our team puts in being rewarded. And what a season it has been for our owners! We are so grateful and appreciative of their support.

We have all been so busy over the last few weeks that we have not even had time to celebrate all the big races that we have won this year.

Each year, once the sales come to an end, I have a policy of not having an alcoholic beverage until all our horses that we have purchased are sold. I will admit, I am starting to feel thirsty, and I need my friends to help me out here!

In all seriousness, our shares are selling at record speed - it is unbelievable! We still have shares in several rippers available, and each week, I am going to promote one horse (if the shares are still available by then).

Remember - it's quite freakish how good the record is of the last horse to sell in terms of winning big races! Group 1 winners Avantage, Sword of Osman and Cool Aza Beel were all among the final shares to sell.

This week, we are going to showcase Lot 323, a Pierro colt out of the Not a Single Doubt mare Cosmic Powers. Yesterday, Jamie and I thoroughly inspected every yearling we purchased from the Karaka Sale and Magic Millions Sale in Australia, viewing a total of 45 horses and this colt was a standout.

Jamie just loves this Pierro colt and thinks he is a real Karaka Million contender. He was purchased for $190,000 and Jamie's family has also invested in a share.

Pierro was the Champion 2YO and 3YO in Australia and has been incredibly successful as a sire. He won 11 of his 14 race day starts, including the Golden Slipper. He was the leading second season sire and leading third season sire, making him in, the last season, the third leading sire in Australia.

To date, Pierro has sired 24 black type winners, including six at Group 1 level and his best progeny include the champion mare,Arcadia Queen. Pierro's 2YO stakes runners' to winners' percentage currently sits at a very impressive 25%.

This colt is bred on the successful Pierro/Redoute's Choice cross that has produced nine black type runners from only 54 runners.

He is an ideal type for the Karaka Million and I really rate him.

If you are interested, feel free to give us a call here at Te Akau Stud on 07 825 4701. Remember, hesitation in contacting us only leads to disappointment!

After a few big weekends of racing, we only have one runner here in New Zealand on Saturday. Quattro Quinta is a 2YO homebred by Darci Brahma who some of our friends are involved in. He is the hot favourite with Opie Bosson aboard in the Group 3 2YO race in New Plymouth.

We also have Probabeel running at Caulfield, Australia this Saturday in the Group 3 Bellmaine Stakes.

Good luck to everyone involved and I hope you all have a safe and enjoyable long weekend.