Te Akau Monday Update
30 November, 2020
David writes:
It was a pretty busy morning at the farm on Saturday!
On Friday, we cut 135 acres of haylage and by 9.30am on Saturday morning, the weather was absolutely magnificent which allowed us to wrap 509 bales.
The beautiful weather we had on Saturday certainly played its part, as all the bales were stacked by Saturday evening.
This was perfect timing, as the next morning we had 15mls of glorious rain, which will enable the just cut hay paddocks to come away beautifully - we could not have planned a more perfect situation. It won't be long before these paddocks come away with the best grass for our stock.
I planned my day on Saturday so that could be back inside before lunch so I could watch the first race at Ellerslie. I was thinking that we had some good chances in the upcoming races but never in my wildest dreams did I expect to us win the first three races, and quinella the 2YO race (main photo).
Millefiori, our 2YO winner, put in a very good effort from a handy draw, but I also thought Sneaky Shark was quite outstanding - I was very impressed with his performance. From the outside barrier, he had to work very hard and after only one soft trial, it was a really top effort.
It was also great to see Star of Bombay take out the first race. I purchased her at the Ready to Run sale last year for $50,000 and she is already a stakes' winner - and it looks like there is plenty more to come from her!
In the third race it was a great to see You're Welcome back in the winners' circle. This horse has been beautifully trained and placed by Jamie Richards.
You're Welcome's victory was win No.62 for Te Akau Racing in New Zealand for the season (add two Group race wins in Australia too to that tally), and we are only four months in to this season!
Te Akau Racing has now won ten black type races here in New Zealand and two in Australia - three at Group 1 level). What an incredible effort for everyone involved.
NZ TRAINERS' PREMIERSHIP as at 30.11.20
| Wins | 2nds | 3rds | Stakes | Starts | G & L | SR | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jamie Richards | 62 | 51 | 29 | $1,646,045 | 315 | 10 | 5.08 |
| 2 | Stephen Marsh | 25 | 23 | 31 | $619,780 | 339 | 1 | 13.56 |
| 3 | Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman | 23 | 28 | 16 | $790,970 | 178 | 3 | 7.74 |
| 4 | Michael & Matthew Pitman | 23 | 20 | 15 | $524,315 | 180 | 0 | 7.83 |
| 5 | Allan Sharrock | 19 | 13 | 9 | $344,450 | 84 | 2 | 4.42 |
| 6 | Tony Pike | 17 | 11 | 17 | $312,635 | 106 | 1 | 6.24 |
| 7 | Kelvin Tyler & Aimee Tyler | 16 | 16 | 10 | $317,720 | 115 | 0 | 7.19 |
| 8 | Team Rogerson | 14 | 18 | 16 | $354,000 | 239 | 2 | 17.07 |
| 9 | Kevin Myers | 13 | 22 | 19 | $333,210 | 165 | 0 | 12.69 |
| 10 | Peter & Dawn Williams | 13 | 10 | 9 | $207,535 | 63 | 1 | 4.85 |
| 11 | Terri Rae | 13 | 8 | 5 | $268,385 | 60 | 2 | 4.62 |
| 12 | Ken Rae & Krystal Williams-Tuhoro | 12 | 7 | 9 | $234,010 | 96 | 1 | 8 |
| 13 | Stephen Autridge & Kris Shailer | 11 | 16 | 8 | $219,135 | 82 | 0 | 7.45 |
| 14 | Fraser Auret | 11 | 8 | 8 | $119,070 | 78 | 0 | 7.09 |
| 15 | Brian & Shane Anderton | 10 | 9 | 11 | $147,420 | 103 | 0 | 10.3 |
| 16 | Roger James & Robert Wellwood | 10 | 7 | 8 | $383,960 | 66 | 4 | 6.6 |
| 17 | Stephen Ralph | 10 | 6 | 7 | $195,700 | 108 | 0 | 10.8 |
| 18 | Johno Benner & Hollie Wynyard | 10 | 4 | 1 | $127,970 | 29 | 0 | 2.9 |
| 19 | Michael Moroney & Pam Gerard | 9 | 9 | 8 | $158,375 | 133 | 0 | 14.78 |
| 20 | Paul Harris | 9 | 5 | 7 | $113,400 | 96 | 0 | 10.67 |
Te Akau Singapore trainer Mark Walker and his team then capped the winning Saturday off with yet another Kranji victory - Mark currently sits in second place on the Trainers' Premiership.
The big news last week in our industry was the appointment of Cameron George as Chairman of New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing and Te Akau Racing would like to congratulate Cameron on this appointment.
I have known Cameron George since he was appointed as a Chief Stipendiary Steward in New Zealand Racing where he did a truly outstanding job without fear or favour.
Cameron put systems in place and trained staff and took that area of the industry to another level. He was then appointed to the CEO position at the Auckland Racing Club where he really made a lasting impression. He is a clever, articulate, disciplined, well-organised person, and I couldn't be happier to see him in this role.
It was great to see the first communication from him as Chairman to the industry, showing he and new Board have an excellent plan for the industry's future success. In my opinion, we have a very good new board composition at New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing and I am really looking forward to the future.
There is a lot of positive news in the New Zealand Racing Industry at present, and I am really confident that we are putting ourselves in a position where stakes can increase in the next 12 months.
It was also great to listen to an interview by Aidan Rodley, with Dean McKenzie, the Executive Chairman of the TAB. They discussed the huge increases in turnover that we are having at present, as well as the cost savings implemented. The TAB is well ahead on its budgeted income and its turnover, which is terrific to see.
Karyn and I are in Matamata with the team today for our North Island Owners' Event, where we have about 130 people coming to join us at the Matamata Racecourse. This is a day that we always look forward to.
Best of luck to all our owners this week with runners. Have a great week everyone ... and ...
GO THE TANGERINE!
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