Te Akau Monday Update

David writes:

After the best holiday ever, it is just wonderful to be home.

The farm looks in terrific order and the team at Te Akau Stud has done an amazing job looking after the farm and the horses.

The cattle farm is pretty wet and with all these frosts and cold weather, the grass is short enough but we are only four weeks away from the first day of Spring and the days are already starting to get longer.

I have also started buying some yearling bulls and steers.  The store price is very strong but there is a big demand for them (unfortunately).

Tomorrow all the horses have a birthday and it is also the Te Teko trials.  As we have 38 trialling I intend to go over with Karyn for the day.  It sure is an exciting time of the year seeing all these horses come out.

Gingernuts, the star of the show and a finalist in the Champion 3YO of the Year and Champion Stayer of the Year at the upcoming Horse of the Year Awards, will be having his first trial tomorrow as he begins his path towards the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups.

It has been well documented that Gingernuts' owners have turned down $3 million for this remarkable horse who we know as "Jerry" - so it would be wonderful to see their commitment to Gingernuts be rewarded this season.  Tomorrow he is just having  a quiet day out but everything will start to get more serious after Tuesday.

We take horses to the trials for two reasons - to educate them and/or for fitness.  Where they finish in a trial is effectively immaterial, as what is important is that they enjoy the day out and either (in the case of young horses) learn from the experience or (for more experienced horses) add to their fitness regime!

How exciting is Te Akau Singapore at the moment?  Mark and the team are just flying with another three winners this weekend and Mark is now 22 wins out in front of the Trainers' Premiership  - just incredible.

What is even more incredible is that the last five Darci Brahmas to race from our stable have all won in Singapore - yes again he is the leading sire in Singapore - so he looks on song to make it his fifth Champion Sire title in Singapore.

Another sire Te Akau is supporting, and that had a most impressive winner last night in Singapore, is Rock 'N' Pop.  I always said that it wasn't until he turned three that Rock 'N' Pop started to explode so look out for them this new season. Te Akau has some of his progeny that can really gallop and he looks great value at just $9,000 - you could not miss sending your mare to this very exciting young stallion at Waikato Stud.

To all of our Te Akau owners - best of luck with your horses this coming season which kicks off tomorrow Tuesday 1 August.

Go the tangerine!!

Te Akau's Tuesday Te Teko Trialists

AVANTAGE
1f Burgundy - A La Votre
CABARET (Majic) Te Teko Trials August 1
2f Commands - Donna Sienna
DAME MARGO FONTEYN
EPIC TALE
GRIFFIN
GRAZIA
INSPIRE ME
ITS OUR SHOWTIME
MISS SCANDINAVIA
MORE THAN FAST
ORGANZA
PINULTIMATE
PIPER
POPPIN' BUBBLES
QUATTRO KATIE
SILVER MISSILE
TE AKAU SHARK
TIFFANY'S TIME
WINEHOUSE
ZAVISTIC
COUP BRADMAN
GINGERNUTS
LADY ZERAPH
SWING NOTE
WITCHERY
AGE OF FIRE
2g Azamour - Franny
BEAUMARCHAIS
HEART OF COURAGE
IMPERIUM
JET SET
MONGOLIANCONQUEROR
REMINGTON
SUMMER MONSOON
WANDERING EYE
WIDE AWAKE