Te Akau Friday Update

David writes:

I love this time of the year!  

Spring is here, the days are slowly getting longer, and it's lighter earlier in the mornings.  We know that Spring has certainly arrived as the farm is flat out with lambing, our mares have started foaling and the horses are preparing for their new campaigns. Our yearlings of 2025 have turned two years of age and their education continues as we patiently uncover their potential. Of course the racing excitement is building with the first New Zealand Group 1 of the season just on a week away!

Before that, we are looking forward to another busy weekend of racing action on both sides of the Tasman.

Our programme began today (Friday) with one runner at Cambridge. Brazen Affair lined up on the Cambridge synthetic and won confidently in the hands of our stable rider Opie Bosson - our eighth winner from just 30 starters so a superb strike rate to kick off this new season.  This time of the year is always traditionally a little quieter for our team but gee we have some fire power waiting to launch in coming weeks and months!

On Saturday, all eyes will turn to Caulfield in Melbourne as our Karaka Millions 3YO and inaugural $3.5 million NZB Kiwi winner Damask Rose makes her eagerly anticipated Australian debut. She will again be partnered by Victoria’s Champion Jockey Blake Shinn, who was aboard for both of her major New Zealand wins. She has drawn barrier one which, on paper, looks ideal – but with her race later in the day, we will be hoping the forecast rain stays away so that the inside draw remains a genuine advantage.

Damask Rose contests the Group 3 Cockram Stakes, a race Te Akau has twice won previously – with dual Horse of the Year Probabeel, and most recently with Quintessa last year. It is a red-hot field this season, but “Carrie” has earned her spot, and we wish her ownership family the very best of luck. We know how much pride you take in your filly and we will all be cheering her home.

Back in New Zealand on Saturday, we have a 10-strong team stepping out at Riccarton. Stable rider Opie Bosson and senior rider Vinnie Colgan both head south to take the majority of our mounts. 

At Wanganui, another highlight is seeing the talented To Bravery Born in the Listed HS Dyke Wanganui Guineas. This talented son of Snitzel has already won three of his six starts. He won the very first 2YO race of last season on this same track almost exactly a year ago, then followed up with another victory. After that, he ran a good fourth in the Karaka Millions, third in our Snitzel quinella in the Group 3 Matamata Slipper, and was a stylish fresh-up winner at Taupo earlier this month. It promises to be a very exciting season for him.

The Guineas itself is special to me, as it honoured a great friend of mine, the late Herbie Dyke, a true icon of the industry.  It is wonderful to see Herbie's sons Steven and Simon and their families keeping Herbie’s legacy alive, respected and celebrated in such an appropriate way.

On Sunday, the action stretches across both sides of the Tasman again, with runners engaged at Te Aroha in New Zealand and Seymour in Victoria.

Since my last update, much of our time has been devoted to welcoming horses back from their winter breaks, as well as continuing the education of our now two-year-olds. There are some really precocious youngsters already putting their hands up as early runners, and interestingly, a few of them still have shares available. I am sure the eagle-eyed amongst you will recognise their potential, and those shares won’t last long.

There is no rhyme or reason as to why some horses still have shares available – sometimes it is just timing. A great example is our Tivaci gelding out of the talented stakes' winner Cornflower Blue, whom we also trained - I purchased him at Karaka for our daughter Julia-Rose to syndicate as part of her “Tangerine Army” and what a trial he produced at Te Awamutu last Tuesday! 

Now named Out of the Blue, he is very close to racing and we will follow a similar pathway with him to that of nine-time Group 1 winner Avantage, with an eye on the Karaka Millions. It’s not often shares in a horse of this calibre are still available – he is an absolute ripper.

Likewise, our 3YO gelding One True King, already a trial winner and runner-up, is close to racing. He is by King’s Legacy, a sire I have enormous confidence in and one I believe will make a major impact this season. We saw further proof of that earlier this week when our 2YO filly Queen’s Evidence, also by King’s Legacy, won her trial very stylishly. 

There were too many eye-catching trial performances to mention in detail, but another one that stood out was Sword of Stars, the first trialist for Sword of State. She and a Hello Youmzain filly called Enchantment that we train made up the quinella in their heat - Sword of Stars is out of the very good race mare Angelica Hall and is showing us plenty of ability, she's is a name to watch.

Another filly I am so surprised we still have shares available in is now named Power of Pleasure – she is by Wootton Bassett, a stallion who is truly on fire globally. His progeny is making a massive impact internationally, and this filly is already showing us plenty. I would encourage anyone looking to get involved to take a close look at her – she is an outstanding opportunity - you can check her out here:

https://www.teakauracing.com/yearling/lot-788-wootton-bassett-gb-pleasurable-ire-bay-filly

More trials ...

This trials continued at Ellerslie on Thursday, with several Group and Listed heats. We were thrilled with the performances from our team, including Group 1 performer Hostility, who quinellaed his heat alongside the Xtravagant mare Celestial Wonder. Both look in for a very exciting season ahead.

People often ask whether trial results matter. For us, trials are primarily about education and experience for the younger horses, and fitness and race conditioning for the more experienced ones. Winning a trial is not everything, particularly as horses often carry varying weights. But they are an invaluable part of our preparation and learning process for each horse.

Awards & Recognition ...

We were also very proud this week when Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson were again named Trainers of the Year at Wednesday’s Matamata Training Centre Awards. With Matamata being one of the most significant training centres in New Zealand, there is real pride in seeing horses trained here succeed.

How proud we were to see our budding apprentice Hayley Hassman receive the Apprentice Honours too.  Hayley is an incredibly diligent, hard-working and dedicated member of our team - she joined us from Australia and her future looks very bright!

It was also especially pleasing to see La Dorada, winner of the Karaka Millions 2YO and the Group 1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes, crowned Champion 2YO of the Year. Congratulations again to her ownership group – what a season she has given us all. 

On Sunday week, she will go head-to-head with our unbeaten colt Return to Conquer as both attempt to secure the national title of New Zealand’s Champion 2YO for 2024/25 at the Horse of the Year Awards. That promises to be another special occasion.

Karyn and I were so disappointed not to be able to attend Wednesday’s awards - the first time in many years we’ve missed them - but we look forward to celebrating together very soon at our annual stable dinner, where we can thank our whole team for their incredible work last season and set our sights on the one ahead.

Farm News ...

As we head into spring, the grass is slowly starting to come away. We are fortunate that all our stock is in terrific order. On Monday, we processed another 40 steers (one unit) with Greenlea, achieving a record price of $3,344.63 each plus GST. That is not only a record for Te Akau but also for Greenlea itself. We are very humbled by this result - it is a testament to the land, the stock, and the care and professionalism of our farm team.

Looking Ahead ...

On a personal note, I continue to make steady progress in my recovery. Every day I am feeling stronger, and I remain deeply grateful for the thoughtful messages, cards, emails, and kindnesses we have received. They mean more than I can express.

It has been a busy and rewarding start to the season, and the weekend ahead looks equally exciting. With Damask Rose in Melbourne, a big Riccarton team, To Bravery Born chasing Listed honours at Wanganui, and so many promising young horses emerging from their spells, while our 'babies' continue to learn their craft, there is so much to look forward to.

Thank you as always for your support - it is a privilege to share all our news and happenings with you - we very much appreciate the interest and the great feedback we receive!

GO THE TANGERINE!