Te Akau Monday Update

David writes:

Gee we had some heavy rain and wind last night, it kept us awake for much of the night - and after a beautiful autumn, winter has finally arrived and the fire is going each night.

It is always exciting having Mark Walker home and he flies in this morning and our youngest daughter Julia-Rose is picking him up at the airport so he is assured of an entertaining trip back to the farm (hope she cleaned out her car too - Ed)! Won't Mark notice a change in temperature!!  It is very cold today at Te Akau Stud!!

Last week we sold three of our really good mares and are looking forward to their next life chapters as broodmares -

Costa Viva (below) who won the Group 1 NZ 1000 Guineas and was Te Akau's fifth NZB Filly of the Year title winner

Spellbinder (below) who was a dual stakes' winner and third in the Group 1 NZ 1000 Guineas behind Costa Viva

Darci's Dream (below) who was a stakes' winner and finished runner up in last year's Group 1 NZ 1000 Guineas.

I found it quite sad however that all have been sold to Australian breeders and will have their broodmare careers across the Tasman.

Last night I started adding it up and I think something like 14 out of the last 16 good mares we have sold have gone to Australia - you just needed to look at the catalogue for the WM Inglis Sale and see how many yearlings were out of mares either trained by Te Akau or bought by Te Akau.

For our breeding industry to have any hope going forward, the Inland Revenue Department needs to provide an environment of policy certainty as that will encourage investment in our industry.  At present it does everything possible to make it difficult.  It really is very sad and, despite our government having meeting after meeting, nothing changes.