Te Akau Racing: Tangerine Team To Tackle New Frontiers

Written by Keely Mckitterick

TDN AusNZ caught up with Te Akau Racing principal David Ellis CNZM about the announcement of Te Akau Racing opening a satellite stable at Cranbourne Racecourse in Victoria, Australia.

New Zealand's leading stable, Te Akau Racing, is set to open a satellite stable at Cranbourne Racecourse's training facility.

The facilities at Cranbourne have continued to garner attention, with leading stables such as the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace camp located on the course and Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr training successfully from the complex.

Ideally located under 50 kilometres southeast of Melbourne, it is the largest training venue in the Southern Hemisphere, built on 98 hectares, with state-of-the-art facilities to train thoroughbreds for racing.

Te Akau Racing principal David Ellis said, “It has been a big week for New Zealand and Te Akau Racing. There will be big announcements in the next week about increased stakes that we anticipate in New Zealand, which will be great news.

“The Australian stable will complement our New Zealand operation.

“Cranbourne was the place we wanted to be. We looked at several areas but were very impressed with the management at Cranbourne and the track facilities. The facilities there for horse training are as good as I've seen anywhere,” Ellis told TDN AusNZ.

“The Cranbourne Turf Club has innovative, future-focused leadership. Like us, it's ambitious, and we have been highly impressed with its master plan and drive for future sustainability and success.”

Whole new landscape

Te Akau Racing's purpose-built stabling is set to start immediately. It will have room to accommodate 20 horses permanently with room for increased capacity in the coming 24 months, which naturally has Ellis excited given the success of Te Akau Racing Australia when travelling.

“We have campaigned the likes of Imperatriz, Te Akau Shark, Probabeel, Princess Coup and many others over many years with success in Australia before having our own stable.

“It will be business as usual for Mark (Walker) and the team. We will still have a big team of horses in New Zealand and haven't finalised what horses and who will be at the helm in Australia; all those will be key announcements in the coming days,” Ellis shared with TDN AusNZ.

“The Australian stable opening presents a whole new landscape of opportunities for our owners.”

Ellis is looking forward to welcoming new members to the ‘tangerine team' and investing in more horses and offered a strategy for those looking to get involved in the six of 51 horses that still have shares remaining.

“We will be offering horse shares to Kiwis and Australians and anybody in the world that wants to race a horse in Melbourne, Australia and join the tangerine team,” Ellis commented.

“We bought 51 horses in the last few months and still have shares in six horses available.

“The interesting thing is, Avantage, who won nine Group 1s, was the last horse sold in her year, as was Cool Aza Beel in his season and Tokyo Tycoon last year; all have gone on to be outstanding gallopers for connections.

“We will be looking to buy more horses suited to Australian conditions. This will include precocious types from Australian speed sires and tried European horses that have been successful in races such as the Melbourne Cup, Queen Elizabeth Stakes and Cox Plate in recent years. This will provide a plethora of unique ownership opportunities for our existing ownership base and new owners worldwide who would like to see their horses race in Australia.”

Star mares set for Melbourne

Ellis also provided an update on the star mare Imperatriz (I Am Invincible) and the recently purchased Wolverine (NZ) (Tivaci).

Imperatriz, who has won five Group 1 contests, was last seen breaking her Australian duck with a stunning victory in the G1 William Reid S.

The star mare is anticipated to be on the wishlists of many The Everest slotholders. However, Ellis is taking a cautious approach.

“We are looking at all opportunities. However, at this stage, Imperatriz will likely do the bulk of her racing in Melbourne in the spring.”

With the likelihood that Imperatriz will race in Melbourne during the spring sure to excite local racegoers, Ellis and Walker are also pencilling in potential targets for their new acquisition Wolverine.

Ellis purchased the daughter of Tivaci for $850,000 from last month's Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale when offered by Yarraman Park on behalf of Australian Bloodstock.

Shares are still available in the exciting rising 4-year-old mare, a dual Group 2 winner in New Zealand.

“Wolverine arrived back in her homeland (New Zealand) on Saturday morning. She's in a paddock at Te Akau Stud,” Ellis told TDN AusNZ.

“The plan is to syndicate her, and we have been. There are still shares available for anybody interested in being involved. The goal is to target Group 1 races in New Zealand, and then she will join Imperatriz in Melbourne for the spring.

“We strongly feel Wolverine is a Group 1 winner in waiting. We have been very impressed with her, and I feel she's as exciting as a horse we've ever bought at Te Akau Racing.”

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