Te Akau Saturday Update
Date: 2 Jan 2021
David writes:
What an incredible start to the year it has been for everybody associated with Te Akau Racing.
Zouluminous, our final runner for 2020, was a winner and you wouldn't believe it - our first starter for 2021 won the $100,000 Group 2 Barneswood Farm Eclipse Stakes at Ellerslie on New Year's Day - and in race record time we are told.
What an incredible effort it was from Imperatriz, wasn't it! New Year's Day was only her second start, after having won on debut - and she ran a faster time than our Group 1 Sistema Railway Handicap winner Avantage! This filly has such an exciting future. I was also very proud of our 2YO colt Sword of State who had likewise won on debut, and ran into third, with Listed winner Avonallo finishing fourth.
It was also a huge thrill to win the $200,000 Group 3 SkyCity City of Auckland Cup with Savy Yong Blonk. I was so pleased for owners Bill & Margaret Gartshore and Jim & Susan Gartshore because this Savabeel mare, after numerous runner up placings in Group races due to bad luck and wide draws, really deserved to win a major race.
Even on New Year's Day she didn't have the easiest of draws to navigate but she was piloted to the minute by the country's leading rider, Danielle Johnson. I thought In A Twinkling's run was equally as good and our dual Group 3 Counties' Cup victor looks certain to win another major race in the near future. Notable too was the performance in this race by their other stablemate Te Akau Caliburn who was eye catching in the final stages.
The highlight of any race day is to win a Group 1 race, and what a great mare Avantage is. Our winner of the $200,000 Group 1 Sistema Railway on New Year's Day was her fifth Group 1 title - she has won Group 1's at Ellerslie from 1200m - 2000m. How many mares can do that?
I bought this Fastnet Rock mare out of a Zabeel mare for just $210,000 and now she's a very valuable mare indeed..
What a carnival it was for Te Akau at Ellerslie. In total we won nine of the 20 races over the two days, with six of them at Group or Listed level - three each day. Well done to Jamie and all the team.
It's hard to pick a highlight as there were so many - but to become the first stable ever in the history of New Zealand racing to win six consecutive races at Ellerslie on Boxing Day made me super proud - as did winning three stakes' races on New Year's Day.
I was just so proud of Jamie and our whole team - our owners, our horses, all our people.
I also want to congratulate the Auckland Racing Club for staging an outstanding two day carnival. The weather played its part and the crowds were certainly there too, it was great to see so many young families with the next generation of race-goers enjoying the days. Auckland Racing Club CEO Paul Wilcox is one of the very best in the business and Chairman Doug Alderslade, Deputy Chairman Sandy Moore and the Board and all the staff are really doing a terrific job.
Avantage's win was our 16th major black type win this season in New Zealand, plus we've had a Group 1 and Group 3 win in Australia to add to that tally.
Jamie's win today with Burgundy Rose was our 85th New Zealand win for the season, which means he leads the Trainers' Premiership by 50 wins - quite incredible. We are also the only stable to have surpassed the $1 million and now $2 million in prize money for our owners - $3 million if you include our Australian stakes' earnings for this season.
NEW ZEALAND TRAINERS' PREMIERSHIP - as at 2.1.21
| Wins | 2nds | 3rds | Stakes | Starts | G & L | SR | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jamie Richards | 85 | 69 | 45 | $2,397,175 | 437 | 16 | 5.14 |
| 2 | Stephen Marsh | 35 | 37 | 46 | $916,265 | 462 | 2 | 13.2 |
| 3 | Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman | 30 | 31 | 21 | $946,320 | 230 | 3 | 7.67 |
| 4 | Allan Sharrock | 29 | 18 | 12 | $517,165 | 117 | 3 | 4.03 |
| 5 | Michael & Matthew Pitman | 27 | 30 | 23 | $601,200 | 241 | 0 | 8.93 |
| 6 | Tony Pike | 23 | 20 | 28 | $450,370 | 154 | 2 | 6.7 |
| 7 | Kelvin Tyler & Aimee Tyler | 19 | 24 | 13 | $408,345 | 150 | 0 | 7.89 |
| 8 | Team Rogerson | 17 | 22 | 18 | $437,020 | 313 | 2 | 18.41 |
| 9 | Lisa Latta | 16 | 20 | 22 | $340,625 | 210 | 0 | 13.13 |
| 10 | Terri Rae | 16 | 13 | 5 | $304,635 | 75 | 2 | 4.69 |
| 11 | Peter & Dawn Williams | 16 | 10 | 12 | $254,960 | 83 | 1 | 5.19 |
| 12 | Roger James & Robert Wellwood | 15 | 9 | 14 | $600,260 | 98 | 5 | 6.53 |
| 13 | Andrew Carston | 15 | 8 | 19 | $183,867 | 187 | 0 | 12.47 |
| 14 | Kevin Myers | 14 | 24 | 19 | $367,410 | 181 | 0 | 12.93 |
| 15 | Michael Moroney & Pam Gerard | 14 | 11 | 10 | $264,850 | 176 | 0 | 12.57 |
On Tuesday, we start inspecting yearlings again. Tuesday we're in the Te Kawhata area, Wednesday we're in Karaka at Haunui Farm and Westbury Stud, Thursday and Friday we're in the Waikato area.
Then we have two days of further yearling inspections in Matamata and Hamilton and we'll be all finished ahead of the Karaka Sales. Ready to start creating our short-lists!
If you would like to be involved with Te Akau, in a share with a yearling from the sale - it's easy and affordable. Just drop Karyn an email [email protected] - and if you have a specific type of yearling you are keen on, let us know e.g. a filly, a two year old type, a staying type etc.
Have a great week and ...
GO THE TANGERINE!
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