Te Akau Monday Update

David writes:

It's a nice 'problem' to have and it must be boring for some people - but once again I am writing about another unbelievable weekend for Te Akau Racing.

Mark Walker (as usual) started the ball rolling on Friday night at Kranji with a win and three good seconds.  King Savinsky is a horse that I bought from the Karaka Select Sale for Fortuna Syndicators.  Now with two wins and six minor placings in Singapore, this 5YO son of Savabeel has earned $68,058.

Mark retains his lead of nine on the Trainers' Premiership with just five weeks of the season to run.  Here are the current standings after Friday's racing (there was no Sunday meeting given it is the Group 1 Gold Cup next weekend):

http://www.turfclub.com.sg/Racing/Pages/Premiership.aspx?Category=Trainer

Speaking of the Gold Cup, it is one of Singapore's most prestigious races and I am just thrilled that Mark will have Sebrose lining up for the event - a good number of his New Zealand owners are heading off to Singapore later this week to enjoy the race.  I know that Sebrose co-owners John and Anne McDonnell from Australia, who actually raced and remain involved with Sebring himself, are also making the trip.  We wish everyone the very best!

However - the big headline for us today is Xtravagant - and the headlines our colt has been making since Saturday!

Karyn and I were thrilled to be on hand at Riccarton to witness another great day's racing.  Our day started well with our first runner winning - we were both just stoked that Barry and Deirdre Neville-White's mare Madame Jamai (bred and raised at Te Akau Stud) won the second race brilliantly.

It reminded Karyn and I why we are in racing.  To see the incredible thrill that Deirdre, who was on hand from Auckland with her daughter-in-law Rowan, got from the performance was just fantastic.  They were both ecstatic.  Then in Race 4 our super-consistent mare Vive La Difference was just narrowly beaten into second - she has paid a dividend at each of her last six starts.

Then the big race came - the Group 1 Sothys NZ 2000 Guineas.  Mark my words, make no mistake, this iconic, classic event is a very difficult race to win!  I am truly proud that in the past 12 years Te Akau has won this race four times - King's Chapel, Darci Brahma, Tell A Tale and Rock 'n' Pop - and we were really hoping that Saturday could make that five wins in 12 years.

And so it was - Xtravagant won with sheer brilliance. I went down to the old public stand to watch the race with my friend Dave McCarthy who, as Racing Editor of the Christchurch Press, has witnessed the last 30+ runnings of the 2000 Guineas.  He told me had had never seen a performance like it in all that time and this was backed up by the scintillating time - the fastest 2000 Guineas ever in New Zealand.

Winning Group 1 races like that can only be achieved through a truly great team effort - and an exceptional horse.

It was a very emotional win for everyone - and yes there were plenty of teary eyes for which no-one needs to apologise - we joined the crowd in just shaking our heads in wonder.  When the first race replay came up on the big screen, silence enveloped the track as people stood and again watched this magnificent performance. It was a rare moment in time. Then the crowd stood and applauded Xtravagant on his return to the winners' circle.

To Stephen Autridge who won the race as a jockey and now as a trainer too - to Jamie Richards who has now won his first Group 1 as a trainer - to Matt Cameron who has ridden his first Group 1 in the Te Akau tangerine - and to all our team members who have looked after him so well - in the south Pam, Dan who travelled him to Trentham and Riccarton and Gary ... in the north Kerry his track work rider who knows him so well and Steve O'Neill - a truly team effort.

Te Akau is now the leading stable in New Zealand for wins, black type races and stake money - what a start to the season - I am hugely proud of everyone, it is a massive effort to lead the Premierships in two countries - for the current New Zealand standings - click on this link:

http://www.nzracing.co.nz/RaceInfo/Trainers.aspx

Many people won't know that we call Xtravagant "Blake" - he was given this name to honour a truly remarkable New Zealander in Sir Peter Blake - a great man, a brave man who crossed frontiers, a man of huge courage - a fitting name we think that really suits this colt well.

Luckily "Blake" loves travelling and lives for his food - so we will be able to give him quite a bit of racing as a three year old.  One thing is for sure, racing in Australia is on the agenda.

We are just so thrilled for his owners - many of whom were at Riccarton (from Auckland, from Sydney, from Tauranga, Christchurch, Oamaru) and in any cases to experience their first Group 1 win as an owner - the day was sheer magic.

Our colt travels back to Te Akau Stud this morning under the care of Gary Ritchie and will have a week in the same paddock where Darci Brahma used to spell and then resume his programme.  I know how much Jason, Katy, Luke and the whole Te Akau Stud team are looking forward to welcoming Xtravagant home and pampering him during his well-earned break!

Time to head to Christchurch airport now, I want to ensure that I am back at the farm when our colt arrives home and I have a busy week ahead.  Karyn and our daughter Julia-Rose are staying in Christchurch this week - racing at Addington tomorrow for them and then Riccarton on Wednesday where we have Opulent in the Group 3 Valachi Downs fillies' and mares' race.  Of course it is Group 1 NZB 1000 Guineas' day on Saturday and we have three very smart fillies competing - Special Memories, Risque and Princess Davone.  Also watch for the promising Sassy 'n' Smart contest the Listed Welcome Stakes.