Te Akau Midweek Update

David writes:

The Karaka Premier Sale finished last night at Karaka and the sale can only be described as very successful.

On the back of Te Akau winning Trainers' Premierships in two countries, the interest from people wanting to get involved with Te Akau is at a record level and it is such a thrill to be welcoming new owners and to see the level of reinvestment from our existing owners.

We bought horses at the Premier Sale from $62,500 to $625,000 and I am over the moon at the quality of bloodstock that we have been able to secure for our owners.

This year, as we normally do, we tended to concentrate on proven sires but we did buy some by exciting up and coming sires - we bought yearlings by Redoute's Choice, O'Reilly (six), Savabeel (four), Fastnet Rock (two), Darci Brahma (two), Power (two), Tavistock (two), Exceed and Excel, I am Invincible, Declaration of War, Reliable Man, Dundeel and Ocean Park.

I was very proud to be the leading buyer for the sale for the 11th year - by buying these quality young horses, we have the best to train and the best to offer shares in to our owners.

The Select Sale was quite interesting today because the prices weren't nearly so good but it is important to realise that the quality at the Select and Festival Sales is nowhere near as good as the Premier Sale in general terms on type and pedigree.

I am often asked who decides whether a horse is sold in a Premier sale, Select sale or Festival sale. The process that takes place is that the New Zealand Bloodstock team of Joe Walls, Danny Rolston, Mike Kneebone, Morgan Carter and Regan Donnison go around and inspect every yearling in April/May and again in September.

All the strong and correct horses with good pedigrees go to the Premier Sale, while the horses with lesser pedigrees, and in some cases the yearlings that may have some issues go to the Select and Festival sales. So the chances of getting a good horse in the Premier Sale is obviously so much greater than it is in the Select Sale but of course over the years there have been good racehorses come out of the Select Sale .  However in percentage terms the Premier Sale is definitely the place to be.

All of our horses from the Premier Sale (26) have now arrived safely at Te Akau Stud and are out in beautiful, green paddocks and are settled and are all eating well.

If you would like to have a share in one of the 26 youngsters that we purchased from the Premier Sale please feel free to ring me on 07 825 4701. You will be made to feel very welcome.

Now my attention turns to the races at Te Rapa on Saturday where we have some excellent chances including the favourite in the Group 2 Darci Brahma Waikato Guineas - Hall of Fame. All going well Hall of Fame will back up in the Group 2 Avondale Guineas before running in the Group 1 New Zealand Derby.

We have taken a completely opposite plan with Heroic Valour and my plan with him is to run him in the Group 1 NRM Sprint at Te Rapa, a race that Xtravagant won by eight lengths last year. Our plan is to then spell him and set him for the Stradbroke Handicap at Eagle Farm in June. I am thrilled in the interest from studs wishing to stand Heroic Valour when his racing career concludes and I am also excited at how well his full brother has been galloping in track work - he is called Heart of Courage.

News from all the trainers at the Karaka seems to be how they are all so impressed with the Burgundy's. One very successful trainer told me how he had a couple who had greatly impressed him so he sent four mares to the stallion this last season.

Please read our 'Yearlings & Shares' page on our website and have a look at the beautiful yearlings that we have bought and the ones who still have shares available.  If you are keen, act quickly because I can tell you that the shares are flying out of the door!

Have a great week and I hope you can come to Te Rapa on Saturday.