David writes:

While we didn't have luck in the Group 1 races on Saturday trans-Tasman, we still celebrated two really staunch wins on NZ Cup Day at Riccarton - culminating in a very successful southern carnival for the tangerine team.  I thought the Trackside coverage of the day was outstanding and well done to those involved.

The wins by home-bred Highly Recommended mare Elegant Lady, and 6YO Iffraaj gelding Perfect Scenario were a highlight on what was a huge day of racing at Riccarton - where the crowd was well over 20,000 on the day.

Elegant Lady, who had been bridesmaid in her last three starts, truly deserved her win and a gritty performance it was too with our stable rider Opie Bosson back in the saddle.  Only a bob of the head in it in the $65,000 R65 2000m, but it was a tough, dour effort from the mare and, having bred her, I know how thrilled her owners (which include Karyn my wife) all are.

It was quite appropriate that Elegant Lady won in the South Island on Cup Day as I purchased her dam Lady Masako from the South Island Sale for $23,000.

Perfect Scenario also showed a lot of ticker in the $75,000 Wuhan Jockey Club Trophy (1400m) and it was a huge effort given his somewhat interrupted preparation.  He was supposed to race at Trentham but the conditions meant that couldn't happen, so he continued south and under 62kgs (60kgs thanks to Lily Sutherland's claim) he really displayed all his fighting qualities.

All kudos to Lily, she rode the horse a treat and is riding very well currently.  She is currently the country's co-leading apprentice, tied on 22 wins for the season with our own apprentice Niranjan Parmar.

Perfect Scenario was the Group 3 White Robe Lodge winner at Dunedin in February, and third in a Listed Timaru Stakes - he loves travel, and is a very adaptable horse, thriving on his racing.  I purchased him from the Karaka yearling sale and he now won seven of his 30 starts, with 11 other top five placings, and stakes' earnings of $253,445.

Perfect Scenario became Mark and Sam's 60th New Zealand winner for the season - what an incredible achievement that is with only 3.5 months of the season completed - and look at the terrific strike rate too - so proud of our whole team:

NEW ZEALAND TRAINERS' PREMIERSHIP (source NZTR as at 19.11.23)

Added to this are the wins from our new Australian stable which has a terrific strike rate - and you can see what an amazing season our owners have had thus far!

Te Akau's Cranbourne stable has had six winners, one runner up and three third placings from only 19 starters - and already has amassed A$3,930,050 in prize money - add that to the $2,184,080 won for owners in New Zealand and that's ...

approx. NZ$6,448,567 in just 3.5 months!

With NZ Cup Week now concluded, I want to give a huge shout out to our southern team of Hunter, Kendyll, Amit, Shane and Hannah for their incredible dedication and hard work.  Ashley too, prior to having a fall from a horse, was an integral member of our southern team.

The good news is, Te Akau will now once again have a permanent southern presence with our stable continuing to operate there under the experienced eye of senior foreman Hunter Durrant who has returned to us from Australia recently.

This week our big focus is on the Ready to Run Sale at Karaka and I head there on Monday with the team to finalise our inspections of these two year olds.  I think the a quality this year is as good as I can remember.

The sale starts at 11am on Wednesday and continues through Thursday so if you would like to be involved, make sure you follow our website for the shares we will have available.  They will not last long, so if one catches your eye, email [email protected] as soon as you can.

We would welcome you to come and join us at the sale if you are in the Auckland area - we will also have our Australian assistant trainer Ben Gleeson with us - and you can always call me on +64 21 925 151 if you have any questions or want any further information.

This is the sale from where I have purchased horses like Group 1 winners Gingernuts, Te Akau Shark and Hall of Fame - Flying Fulton, Singapore Polytrack Horse of the Year, was another I purchased from this sale (pictured below in that order).

We have had 40mls of rain in the past 48 hours at Te Akau Stud with a bit more forecast yet.  Our first foals have arrived home and we have also finished shearing and all the lambs have now been weaned and drenched.

The prices for ewes, lambs and beef are all dropping every week, so it's certainly not the best time to be farming - but the good news is, we love what we do, and enjoy living in such a wonderful part of the world.

Have a great week and we will be in touch from the sale and ...

GO THE TANGERINE