Te Akau Sunday Update

David writes:

What an unbelievable result it was for the New Zealand racing and breeding industries with Melody Belle claiming the A$250,000 Group 2 BRC Sires' Produce Stakes in Brisbane yesterday - against a capacity, talented field - and boy did she blitz them!

This result helps to show the world that even our two year olds can compete on the international stage and it gives further credibility to our Group races.

All credit to John and Jessica Galvin who syndicated this filly to their clients.  I think I have selected and bought four Champion two year olds - Maroofity, Darci Brahma, War Affair and Warhorse.  This filly is as good, if not better and after her dominant Karaka Million win, followed by her superb Group 1 Manawatu Sires' Produce win and now the stellar Group 2 victory in Brisbane, she has to be a serious contender for the Champion 2YO honours in August this year.

I bought this filly for just $57,500 from the Karaka Premier Sale and she has now won well over $800,000 in her very first season of racing.

It's funny that when you buy a good number of yearlings, some people think that you might not remember when you first inspected each one.  Funnily enough I do, and I clearly remember seeing Melody Belle for the first time.  I remember phoning Jamie Richards and telling him how I had just inspected a ripper of  filly.

What impressed me again yesterday was the unbelievable job Steve and Jamie have done training this filly!  This was her first start since she won the Group 1 Manawatu Sires' Produce Stakes at Awapuni and to have her spot on to win like she did yesterday was a truly wonderful achievement.  She is not the best track worker and you have to know every quirk of every horse to be sure you are going to get the best out of them - well done team, especially Jamie, Kerry and Mason who are based in Queensland, I could not be more proud of you.

Credit also goes to Opie Bosson, our stable rider, for another gun ride.  He rode Melody Belle to perfection.  Unfortunately for Opie, another ride for an Australian stable has seen him suspended for 11 days, so his hit and run riding mission to Singapore next weekend is now off.

Whilst Shocking Luck didn't have everything go his way, and Jimmy Rea went a good race back at the races after a long lay off - how good was the performance from Zambezi Warrior?  He almost made it back to back wins for Te Akau after he bravely raced four and three wide in the Premier's Cup and fought on like a tiger in the straight to just be denied the win.  It was an effort full of heart by this son of Pentire I also bought from Karaka and he really is a talented stayer.

There has been a lot of talk about the condition of the track at Eagle Farm in recent weeks with international rider Kerrin McEvoy calling it 'the worst track I have ever ridden on'.  A lot of horses quite simply didn't handle it - we harboured deep concerns about the heavy conditions (after two weeks of no rain as well) and elected not to start our valuable Group 1 winning colts Heroic Valour and Hall of Fame.

That should get us all thinking - aren't we lucky in the Waikato to have such a wonderful track at Te Rapa - and I have been stunned recently at the unbelievable talk going around from some people who are promoting closing down Te Rapa, selling off its valuable land and moving to a 'super track' at Cambridge.

I am completely against this concept - which interestingly was investigated a few years ago.  An expensive, professional report was commissioned and it quite simply did not stack up.  From Auckland to Wellington, Te Rapa is our best track without question - so let's get behind it and support it as an industry.  I have long talked about the need for an all-weather track - with Te Rapa's location to the horse population as well as the public, wouldn't it be great to see this investment there?  Being right in the middle of one of the biggest growing cities in New Zealand - Te Rapa is also ideally positioned to promote racing and get people back on course.

So I say to those people who are talking about selling off Te Rapa and moving out of Hamilton, put your effort into things that need to happen, rather than things that won't happen.

Today we are looking forward to welcoming Mark Walker home for a short stay - it will be great to watch the Singapore races with him tonight and cheer his runners home. He has some good chances to increase his lead on the Trainers' Premiership.