Te Akau Monday Update

David writes:

What a lovely and exciting day we had on Saturday.

It was the sort of day that that the whole team lives and works for. I was thrilled for so many people who have helped make it all happen. Four wins in one day is hard to achieve, including two at Group level,  and left the Te Akau farmer in a very good mood, and here are the reasons why.

Firstly, because these results have given Jamie an unbelievable start to his solo career as a trainer.

Isn't it amazing what happen in a week. The previous Saturday saw Jamie in hospital, in a lot of pain. The following Saturday, he was in the Hawkes Bay, having one of the best days of his career. What was so great to see was how all the team pulled together while Jamie was in hospital - thanks team, you're all champions.

Secondly, for all our team members who look after all the horses and who have supported us so well.  Everyone plays their part in this success, so it would be unfair to single out any one of our team because everyone, as I say, contributes so much!

Thirdly, to all our owners who supported my decision to let Jamie train on his own - your support has been greatly appreciated.

And finally, it was such a thrill for me to have purchased all four of Saturday's winners, three of them at the Karaka Sale, and Miss Scandinavia (below) privately in Australia. Her story is a fascinating one that I thought you would find interesting.

I was at the Sydney Easter Sale two years ago and picked out one filly that I fell in love with. She had one of the finest pedigrees in the sale, being out of a daughter of Miss Finland - a mare who, as a racehorse, had won the Golden Slipper and trained on to win the 1000 Guineas and The Oaks in Melbourne. Plus, she was a beautiful type.

I put a limit of $600,000 on this filly, and she was passed in at this price. There were two great judges also bidding against me on this filly - two guys who are equal to any judges of yearlings I have ever met and they both thought she looked a natural 2YO as I did.

As soon as she was passed in, I went to John Messara from Arrowfield Stud, who owned the filly, and asked what the reserve was. I was disappointed to learn it was $750,000 which was more than I could pay. Each night I would wake up and thinking about this beautiful filly, and a couple of weeks later, I thought ‘bugger it', and rang up and bought her.

I brought her home but saw she started to change and could see that she would was going to need time. So, I was delighted to see my very patient owners be rewarded for their patience - well done team and thank you for your giving your filly all the time she has needed.

What a great job Paul Richards and the team have done from our Riccarton base. The horses are flying down there!

Have you noticed how well our apprentice, Nik Bakar, is doing? He has only had 13 rides for seven wins - how amazing is that, a strike rate of 1.86.

Well done Nik, we are all enjoying your great run of winners - a four kilo claim is a huge help to a young horse and Nik really seems to get the horses to run well for him.

Another Te Akau apprentice starting to impress me at the trials was Chelsea Burdan. Chelsea is ready for her first ride in the next ten days. Te Akau has had huge success with our apprentices - Opie Bosson, Troy Harris, Sam Collett and Shafiq Rusof, just to name a few. A three and four kilogram claim is a massive help, and is the reason for many winners over the years.

Melody Belle (today, below) has arrived at Te Akau Stud where she will spell for two weeks. We have a special paddock all saved up for her with beautiful grass for this special mare. Well done to John Galvin and his team on a dream result.

Didn't Avantage show some heart! Again, beautifully trained, Jamie had her looking "pretty" but with a huge season coming up, that's what she needs to be like. She will improve lengths with that run and will now head to the Soliloquy Stakes at Ellerslie. However, before then, Avantage will more than likely race next at Matamata in a 3YO race over 1400 on Matamata Cup Day.

Karyn went to Hastings as her syndicate manager and Avantage of course has now earned the first points in the prestigious NZB Filly of Year series - a contest that Te Akau has won five times previously.

I want also to make a special mention of Our Abbadean who we train for the Hawkins' family of Wentwood Grange.  After settling at the back of the field in the Group 1 Windsor Park Plate on Saturday, she rattled home with an eye catching run for fifth - this followed on from her third placing in the Group 1 Tarzino Trophy, also behind her stable mate Melody Belle.  A dual Group 2 winner last season - Our Abbadean has the Group 1 Livamol, her main Spring target, well in her sights.

Also, congratulations to the owners of Remington. Isn't he is putting a consistent record together?

You wouldn't believe it, but the rain forecast this week is just what we need. To grow the maximum rate of grass, you need rain every week during the season of spring.

Have a great week.