Te Akau Riders on Fire

The weekend just gone was a good one for Te Akau horses and riders, headed by Michael McNab, with wins aboard Melody Belle (Commands) and Burgundy Belle (Burgundy), among three victories on Saturday at Hastings, after winning aboard Bojangles (Coats Choice) on Friday at Ashburton.

Having guided Melody Belle to victory in the Sires' Produce Stakes (Gr. 1, 1400m) in her Champion Two-Year-Old winning season, McNab renewed his association with the star mare to win her seventh Group One victory, when making it back-to-back wins in the Tarzino Trophy (Gr. 1, 1400m) and remaining unbeaten in three starts at Hastings.

Troy Harris won consecutive races on the programme at Hastings, aboard Germanicus (Rip Van Winkle), followed by a very impressive victory on Catalyst (Darci Brahma) in the El Roca - Sir Colin Meads Trophy (Listed, 1200m). While, further North at Ruakaka, Te Akau apprentice Chelsea Burdan won the Rating 82 2100 metres aboard local galloper Kaharau (Ad Valorem).

“These young men and women are working hard on their fitness, diets, and attitudes, and it's paying off in the way they're riding,” said Te Akau principal David Ellis.

“They've been coming up here to the farm, where we have a gym and personal instructor, to work out the right programmes, and also going to the gym in Matamata.

“It's so obvious how far above
their Australian counterparts are in terms of fitness, dedication, and
professionalism to their jobs, and I want to see that improve in New Zealand,
so I'm starting with those that ride our horses at Te Akau Racing.

“It's got to help if these people do everything they can at being better riders and I believe a lot of that hinges around physical fitness and well-being.”

“Troy Harris, a tremendously
gifted rider, has to work hard in order to make riding weights, but the power
of effort he's putting in riding work and trials is showing in his early season
form on the track, and it's the same with Michael.

“I can already see it paying
dividends, as they're making better decisions in races, look polished in their
techniques and the same goes for our apprentice Chelsea Burdan who is getting
stronger in a finish and starting to ride really well for a young person just
starting out in the game.

“I got Chelsea out to the farm to show her Michael and Opie (Bosson) working out in the gym, to give her an idea of the programmes and work they're putting in. And, I said ‘you're not going to beat these guys if you're not as fit as them'. So, she's been training at the Matamata gym with Nicole Shalier, who runs a barn for us, and she's getting very fit now.”

Ellis also aligned his comments
with the state of the racing industry in New Zealand.

“Racing needs a lift in this country, as we all know, with course infrastructure, prize money and media coverage improvements at the top of the tree, but if all the people involved: trainers, jockeys, stable-hands etc, if they're upping their professionalism it goes a long way to helping get the racing industry to a better place. And, that attitude needs to carry over to the administrators of racing as well, because we're relying on them to make things happen at government level.”

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