Te Akau Midweek Update

David writes:

Every month I get sent a very interesting magazine from the Mark Johnston stable in England.  Mark went through vet school in Scotland with Te Akau's veterinarian Dr Doug Black.  Mark is now a very successful trainer in England and this month he makes some very interesting points about how poor stake money is and how it hasn't grown at all in the last twenty five years.

Then I read another article where successful trainer William Haggas said he wouldn't be supporting some racing clubs because of the small stakes, giving an example of a meeting at Southwell with seven races and the horses competing for total prize money of £30,250.

So as you can see, we have similar problems to England and Ireland.

If only other governments could see how the state governments of Victoria and New South Wales support horse racing with grants and reductions in duty.  In New Zealand our Government gives huge amounts of money to boat races, rugby world cups, cricket, golf etc but all this does is take money from racing.

Gee the weather has certainly changed.  It's been very cold on the farm with a couple of frosts this week but the horses that have been spelling here look amazing.

We have just about finished racing for this season and what an unbelievable season it has been.

Te Akau has won more prizemoney in New Zealand than any other stable and we are second on the Premiership.  We have also won a Group One in Sydney and a Group Three in Brisbane plus of course, the big one with Gingernuts - the $1 million Vodafone NZ Derby.  We were also proud to win a further two Group One races with Hall of Fame (Levin Classic) and Melody Belle (Manawatu Sires' Produce Stakes) with the latter of course also winning the Karaka Million!

Although we have very little left to race this season, we do have a fantastic team to race next season and I just can't wait for it all to happen.  So bring it on!

Our attention for the next few weeks is clearly on Brisbane where Jamie Richards, Kerry Jones and Mason Stevens are doing a terrific job with our team of seven horses competing there.

We have finished selling all our yearlings.  In the last six months we have bought and syndicated 55 horses and to have every share sold is a huge thrill.  I would like to congratulate our 100 brand new owners plus our loyal, existing owners as there has been plenty of reinvestment and wish you all the very best of luck with this wonderful group of young horses.

Now is the time of year when we have a well-deserved holiday which some of the staff are now having.

My attention now turns to the Gold Coast sale where we will be buying some yearlings in two weeks' time.  Please get in touch with Karyn if you are interested in being part of our team.  Look at the wonderful success we have had from this sale:-

• Integrate


• Princess Coup


• Costa Viva


• Tell a Tale

All Group One winners/performers.