Te Akau Monday Update

David writes:

This morning at the Matamata track we had two important gallops with Imperium and Rockfast working on the course proper the reverse way around which gives them a beautiful gallop up the back straight.

We hope to have both of these horses in the New Zealand Derby at the end of February so everything that is done at present is really important in terms of achieving this goal. Jason was very happy with the way that both of these talented horses worked this morning with Imperium ridden by Dan Miller and Rockfast with Kate Hercock aboard. Imperium will race next at Ellerslie on 28 December over 1600m and Rockfast steps out on New Year's Day in the Group 2 Great Northern Guineas and James McDonald is over from Sydney to ride him.

It's not quite the same without Singapore racing on Friday nights and Sundays.  Singapore closes down for two weeks over Christmas and we are really looking forward to the new season with some nice horse set to go. With many people on holiday in Singapore, Mark is at the track every morning putting on the finishing touches on these horses.

We had more good rain on the farm over the weekend with 10mls on Saturday night. I can safely say I have never seen more grass in the Waikato than there is at the present.

Yesterday we had our Christmas Party at Te Akau Stud. It was great to have Jason and Stacey Bridgman, Pam Gerard and Tommy Hazlett, Dan Miller, Jeff Dore, Steve O'Neil and Jamie Richards who enjoyed mixing with the team here at Te Akau Stud. We had a really fun day - we put an entire lamb on the spit that was beautifully done but before lunch we went and had a look at the Burgandy and Rock ‘n' Pop foals. I think everyone was very impressed with what we have here at the farm.

 
Jason with a Rock 'n' Pop foal

Tom and broodmare La Conga

Dan with Mexican Rose and her Burgundy filly

Jamie up close and personal - scratch time ...

Steve and Jeff plus Pam

Dan with some of our foals

David with some of our foals

Affectionate lads ...

Pam with "the other Tommy"

Today we are going around all the horses inspecting the ones that are spelling. Rating the foals and taking photos of most of the horses spelling.

We are also getting everything in place for Christmas day here at the farm - I am head chef so I have a beautiful turkey and all the trimmings organised.  Karyn's mother Sylvia arrives tomorrow for a week and we are looking forward to having her to stay.  Our Christmas day is always a fairly low key affair, given we will be racing the next day at Ellerslie.  This year Karyn has to go to Auckland to host The First Call on Boxing Day for the first time, so a very early start for her.

So yes, the centre of attention this week (outside of Christmas) are the Boxing Day races at Ellerslie.  All going well we will have eight runners which is very exciting. Boxing Day at Ellerslie is an unbelievably great day and is probably the biggest day of racing in New Zealand and certainly the biggest day at Ellerslie. The fields will be absolutely fantastic so if you are in Auckland make sure you come along to the races, I can guarantee you will have a lot of fun!

Have a great week!  (and thanks to Stacey for the photos)