Te Akau Monday Update

David writes:

Well, we are well past the shortest day now and every day we get closer to Spring, which is my favourite time of the year.

Historically Te Akau does not have many horses to race in July on heavy tracks, but we still have winners making us proud - Luxuriant winning at Palmerston North On Friday, Baronet going back to back on Sunday at Tauranga - and then Prismatic winning in Warrnambool on the same day.

Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson are now on 166 wins in New Zealand with nearly $8 million in prize money.

In Melbourne, Te Akau has won 22 races and over A$6.5 million in prize money for our owners.  This includes nine black type wins to add to the 21 we have had in New Zealand, making the Te Akau tally 30 black type wins this season.

So 188 wins all up and over $16 million in stakes - we are so happy to achieve this result for our owners! But what really pleases me is the strike rate of one win for every five runners on average in New Zealand and Australia.

Well done to all of our team for these amazing statistics and as I say, a fantastic result for all our owners.

Other great news for Te Akau Racing is we have been given Melody Belle's first foal to train – a Written Tycoon filly owned by Yulong Stud in Victoria. A massive thank you to them and we are so proud to welcome this wee lass, the daughter of our star mare, to the stable in due course.

Last Thursday I had the most interesting day – John Jackson and I were invited to have lunch with Tony Egan, the CEO of Greenlea. Greenlea is the meat works that Te Akau Stud sends all our cattle.

We started the day at its Hamilton plant where we saw bulls and steers being processed, then went over to its Morrinsville plant and then finished up at its Waitoa property which is just amazing.  It includes a big dairy farm, a protein plant, a tannery and an effluent and compost operation. A leading example of innovation in the agricultural industry.

Also with us was  CFO Jack Vollebregt, General Manager of Livestock Greg Clark and Alan Radford. Alan has bought all my sheep and cattle since 1979 and it has been a wonderful association.

The livestock department, which is headed by Greg Clark, is a company that everyone in New Zealand can be proud of. It started as a butcher’s shop in Gisborne and founder Peter Egan and his family have developed it into a world class operation. The family also has put a lot back into the community. For example, it sponsors the Waikato Rescue Helicopter based in Taupo, plus many other charities.

As I say, a company that everyone in New Zealand can be so proud of!

Talking of the farm ... Te Akau Stud is in great shape, I don’t think I have ever seen so much grass in July! We have had six frosts this winter already but the grass is still definitely growing and the stock looks just amazing. Our five-year-old ewes start lambing in five days.

I am so proud of how the yearlings all look that we have bought this year. We are still selling shares literally every day but it’s amazing how we still have a few shares left in some very nice colts and fillies. Just remember – Imperatriz and Avantage were the very last horses to sell in their year.

This morning I sold 5% in a filly that someone bought as a present for his wife for her birthday. I am told he is now held in very high regard!!

If you want to be involved, just call me on 021 925 151. You will be made to feel very welcome.