Te Akau Monday Update
Date: 22 Nov 2021
David writes:
It was another great weekend for Te Akau Racing.
Gee, I am so looking forward to life returning back to normal so we can go to the races and celebrate with our owners!
The big thrill on Saturday for me came through our 2021 Fillies' Syndicate owners with our 2YO filly Bright Blue Sky. This filly was not only the first runner for this syndicate but she also provided them with their first stakes' win. I bought this filly at the Magic Million's Sale last year, working with good friend Andrew Williams as we could not be 'on the ground' on the Gold Coast due to the Covid travel restrictions.
When you see Senior Foreperson Nicole Shailer strapping a horse, you need to head to the tote. They don't come any better that Nicole and she loves this filly! If you didn't need any more proof that she is a good filly, Opie Bosson made sure he was 54.5kg to ride her.
It's not often you will see a 2YO win on debut but we have done it before with Aotea Lad in 2018. He went to Trentham for his first start and won the Group 2 Wakefield Challenge Stakes. It takes a special youngster to do that, so we can't wait to see what the future holds for this filly.
Well done to our trainer Jamie Richards - not many trainers in the world win a stakes' race with a first starter.
Bright Blue Sky's win was followed shortly by another win for the tangerine with a mare called Image of You, who has had an entirely different preparation when compared to her barn mate. This Pins mare has needed plenty of time to mature but is starting to make her mark on the racetrack. Her owners have been amazing and so patient, and that patience is now being rewarded (that's her in the main picture).
It has been a very busy week here at Te Akau Stud.
Last Thursday we had our first fat lamb draft with 556 lambs weighing in an average at 17.3kg, making them worth close to $170 each. After drafting, our lambs were all weaned and both ewes and lambs were shorn. We are lucky we have a six-stand woolshed to make the job more easier and faster. Once the wether lambs are shorn and drenched, they will be spread out on my plantain and clover crop. This is the busiest time of the year for us on the farm, and the weekends soon become weekdays. On Sunday, we sent a unit of cattle at 8am and of course our stud team was feeding out to our spelling horses as they do every weekend. Then we had all hands-on deck for shearing.
But it doesn't stop there! When we get a spare minute, we are busy on the phone discussing share availability of the Ready to Run horses we purchased.
Before the sale came to a close on Thursday evening, we had shares selling at record speed. We only have a few shares now available, so I would suggest calling us urgently to save the disappointment of missing out.
One horse that I really like is Lot 93, a gelding by Churchill, out of the top mare Diamond Earth. I purchased this horse for just $160,000 which I thought was unbelievable value.
Churchill is a stallion that I have been watching for the last year, as his progeny are going very well in the Northern Hemisphere. This gelding is out of a Group 3 and Listed winning mare, and after missing out on a Churchill yearling at the Karaka sales this year, this athletic gelding was too good of an opportunity not to purchase! Call me today if you would like to know more about this strapping young horse.
Tomorrow evening we are doing something different to introduce newcomers to Te Akau as well as deliver our owners some more in depth information about our Ready To Run purchases. We're having an exclusive Te Akau TV event with Andrew Bensley airing at 7:00pm NZT to chat all things Te Akau with David Ellis CNZM, how racehorse syndication works with Karyn Fenton Ellis MNZM and catch up with trainer Jamie Richards. To join the live event and watch on Facebook please click here - alternately if you're not on social media the stream will be on our website from 7.00pm.
In Singapore, champion trainer Mark Walker is currently leading the Premiership by eight wins. There is only one meeting left to go for the Singapore season and let's hope Mark continues on the winning form to end it on a high. We wish Mark, his team and our owners who have runners in this last race meeting the very best of luck!
In New Zealand, Jamie is currently first equal with winners on the Premiership, but nearly $1.5million ahead when it comes to stake money. Te Akau has won nine Group/Listed races with the next best on the Premiership table having won two. That in itself is quite remarkable.
We have a big team heading to Tauranga this week and I would like to wish all our owners the best of luck and ...