Te Akau Midweek Update

David writes:

Wow, what an incredible week it's been at Te Akau Racing.

It's seldom in horse racing that dreams come true, but on Saturday, my dream did!

To be with Mark Walker on his first day back training the team to win a Group 1 race as well as a Group 3 and be runner up in a Listed race was just so special.

Maven Belle, well what can we say?  A nuggety, home-bred filly that Karyn and I decided to syndicate amongst our owners a couple of years ago.  She joins Group 1, 2 and 3 winner and NZB Filly of the Year Belle En Rouge (who we also offered to our owners) as a home-bred Group 1 girl for the season.

Karyn and I could not be more proud of these fillies and everyone who has helped develop them and get them to the 'big stage' where they have performed with such distinction! Thank you and our very warmest congratulations to their owners.

I also want to pay tribute to Mark and all the team that works in Matamata, and also to all our team at Te Akau Stud that look after all our home-breds so well. To have an Oaks' winner and a Manawatu Sires' Produce winner in two weeks is such a thrill.

Karyn and I would be the proudest breeders you would find i9n New Zealand right now!

Both of these fillies are of course by late Burgundy who I bought and the stable trained. What a season he is having - his progeny is flying - from NZ Cups, to Hong Kong, to a Filly of the Year to a Group 1 2YO winner - what a massive loss he is to this industry.

In 1983, I bought the farm that is now Te Akau Stud and in 1985 I built an office and my first secretary worked four hours a week. Now I need a bigger office as today we have an administration team of four at the farm working full time.

In these early days, I used to get a photo of each win we had and thought, wouldn't it be fun to win enough races to fill the whole room. Now I only get Group 1 photos and the office has no room left.  It's special to reflect on what an incredible record the stable has been able to achieve for our owners.

Our shares are still selling quickly and we actually purchased a new filly yesterday at the Sydney Easter Sale Lot 77 - she is a half sister to our stunning Bright Blue Sky who won a stakes' race on debut.  Sadly Bright Blue Sky succumbed to an injury recently and passed away however we did not buy this filly on sentiment - she is all class and sold herself to us on measure that we insist on.  It's a rare opportunity to get in to a fantastic family.

A 10% share is approx. $29,000 +GST

A 5 % share is approx. $14,500 +GST

A 2.5% share is approx. $7,250 +GST

Your share of transport, insurance and Pearl Bonus Series' entry is additional.

While you won't see the stable racing many through May, June and July, I can assure you we have a fantastic team to race in the Spring.  The majority of our horses do not enjoy the winter tracks New Zealand offers, rather it's the perfect time to let them snuggle up, warmly rugged and have a winter break, then prepare for the Spring.

One thing Karyn and I do enjoy at this time of the year especially is watching the young horses going through their early education and being broken in, I can say without a doubt, this is the best team of young horses we have ever had at the farm.

This year we have so far bought 42 yearlings, and they have sold at record speed but there are still shares available in some real rippers such as, for example:

Lot 77 is a Satono Aladdin colt out of All About The Coin.

A son of sire sensation Deep Impact, Satono Aladdin won the highest rated mile in Japan: the Group 1 Tokyo Yasuda Kinen running an incredible 1:31.5.  Ewe just love those tough Japanese bloodlines - look at how well the Japanese horses perform when they come to Australian carnivals.

We also have a very good sort by the same sire in the stable - debutante two-year-old Kabugee had no trouble providing the first domestic win for Satano Aladdin in January at Te Aroha, and looks a very progressive racehorse.

All About The Coin is by New Zealand bred stallion Starcraft, a world-class galloper and five-time Group 1 winner that claimed titles of Champion 3YO in Australia, Champion Sprinter in New Zealand, and Champion Miler in Europe.

He's a flashy looking colt, with terrific natural athleticism, he really takes the eye. We could see him being a two-year-old type and a 5% share is only $6,750 +GST.

On Saturday, Te Akau Racing celebrated Group/Listed Win No. 30 for the New Zealand season. We have also won five group races in Australia - with stakes won for our owners surpassing an incredible $8 million!  Our NZ prize money alone ($6.3 million that we have won for our owners) is a New Zealand record for any stable ever.

Saturday also saw us winning another race from our Singapore stable too - so well done to Donna Logan and the team!

Looking across the farm today - although the grass is coming away nicely at Te Akau Stud, the hills still need more rain, so fingers crossed tonight!!

Thank you so very much to all our friends who sent texts and emails to us congratulating us on a great weekend.  It was indeed something special that we are proud to share with our owners, friends and family.

Mark Walker is certainly back in town!!