Te Akau Rising Stars

Te Akau Racing is so very proud that the stable has two finalists in the inaugural Entain Industry Excellence Awards, held on Sunday 28 July in Auckland.

Last year the global sports betting group Entain joined in a 25-year partnership with TAB NZ, and a commitment to invest $900 million over the next five years, which among a series of initiatives has seen an all-important increase in stakes.

Over 100 entries were received, with 29 finalists announced across the 10 award categories: Leadership, Equine Handling (Stud or Stable), Greyhound Excellence, Dedication to Breeding, Dedication to Racing, Administrative and Ancillary Services, Care and Welfare, Newcomer, and National Racing Woman of the Year.

The finalists and winner of the Entain Excellence Award will be announced at the awards' evening.

Hunter Durrant is a finalist for the Leadership Award, for an individual staff member in a managerial or supervisory role.

You would go a long way to find a young man as genial and perceptive as Hunter in New Zealand racing.

He shows leadership skills purely through his dedication and professionalism to all the tasks he performs, and stepped up in a mammoth way this season as stable foreman, managing the Te Akau Racing stable at Riccarton, for trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson.

In no small way have winners from the Riccarton base added to the overall winning tally (currently 168) this season, with horses presented by Hunter and the team winning 62 races, thus far, in the South Island this season.

A former apprentice jockey and now gifted track work rider, his ability to take heed of the training requirements set for horses by trainers Walker and Bergerson, and implement on the training tracks, has been instrumental in the wins achieved from the Riccarton barn this season.

Importantly, too, he serves as a great ambassador for the stable in the affable manner that he treats owners. He is a good listener and therefore delivers the right feedback to both owners and trainers.

Most of all, he is positive about how good it is to be associated with the racing industry in New Zealand. And one can imagine him continuing in that vein for a lifetime.

Faith Pollock is a finalist for the Equine Handling (Stud or Stable), for an individual staff member that has shown talent for horsemanship.

Faith (19) is a rising star in the thoroughbred racing industry, demonstrating exceptional talent, passion, and determination in her work with horses.

She possesses maturity that earns respect from her peers and her bond with horses is undeniable.

Faith was entrusted with looking after Imperatriz (I Am Invincible) at Te Akau Stud, through countless hours of inspections and media sessions, before the 10-time Group One winner sold in June this year for $6.6 million to become the highest priced filly or mare ever sold in the Southern Hemisphere.

The video Faith recorded, taking her iPad in wintery, dark conditions into Imperatriz's paddock to show the star mare live action of her own sale went viral - inspiring so many young people around the world.

Faith started at Te Akau Stud as an equine assistant in November 2021, and her outstanding skills and unwavering dedication makes her a valuable asset to our industry. She is always striving for greater experience, and excellence in all she does. Just this year, at her own request, she began breaking in homebred horses to further develop her already great skills in this area.

Importantly, Faith is also a fantastic re-homer of thoroughbreds, having found secure and loving forever homes for a number of stable retirees.

Category winners will receive $10,000 with finalists in each category receiving $2,000.

The overall winner of the Entain Excellence Award will receive an extra $5,000 on top of the $10,000 category win and an additional $5,000 educational package.

The awards are also valuably supported by IRT, Windsor Park Stud, Waikato Stud and Breckon Farms.