Te Akau Team Member of the Month

Te Akau Racing is proud to announce our November "Team Member of the Month" - Nicole Shailer ... Assistant Foreman at Te Akau's 'Middle Racecourse Barn' ...

“She's a champion and very important part of our team,” said trainer Jamie Richards. “She's always on time, ready to feed breakfast, and does whatever needs to be done no matter how long it takes. 

“She works to a very high standard and she and Mason (Stevens) are in charge of a lot of valuable fillies and mares. Nicole is not only an integral part of our team but she's also raising two lovely young children and doing an outstanding job there too. 

“It's a privilege to have Nicole as part of our team and it's a credit to her and all our team that they can turn these lovely horses out in such good order.”

Nicole Shailer:

My job is to make sure things run smoothly in the mornings. Swimming horses, putting them on the treadmill if Mason (Stevens) is not there, saddling, feeding, everything bar riding.

The horses are definitely  what I like most about my job. When you've got horses like Melody Belle, Avantage and Probabeel in the barn it's great to watch them progress through the grades and, obviously, if they're very good and going to big race days, fingers crossed they're winning. 

Everybody is a hard worker  and everyone at Te Akau is dedicated to their job. We're very focussed on racing and I think working with people like that, day in and day out, there for the welfare of the horses and making sure the job is done well. Working alongside like-minded people makes the job most enjoyable.

Working for Te Akau Racing is actually the best.  I've never worked for a stable like Te Akau before. I think the way we are treated is second to none. Obviously, the same for the owners with communications and our horses don't want for anything. They've got the best possible care from staff, vets, farriers, equipment, walkers, treadmills, and the facilities at the Matamata racecourse are great. It helps makes it the best having Jamie (Richards) in the position that he's in. He's an outstanding trainer and they buy the best horses.

We've got the best horses made available for us to work with and get results and everyone is prepared to give 110 percent to help achieve that. We've got a very good staff morale and we all get along great. We have breakfasts together and staff communication between the barns and main stable is very, very good. 

David (Ellis) is the best boss to work for.  The amount of thought that goes into the staff is huge. We are very well taken care of and we're included in a lot of events that are put on for owners. Even if it's just nibbles and a drink to celebrate some good results, we are very lucky at Te Akau.

Definitely Melody Belle winning a Group One (Empire Rose Stakes) in Australia, and then running second a week later in the Mackinnon, has been the highlight of the season so far for me. I think, to have a horse like her do so well here, first, and then go overseas and really show what a quality mare she is. And for Jamie as the trainer to be successful over a week like that in Melbourne, was definitely a highlight. 

Melody Belle is right up there as a favourite horse. I've had quite a bit to do with her since Teina (Walters) left. Luminous, she's one of my favourites. She's tough. She's not a people horse and can be really hard going, a really strong-willed individual - being a white horse. But I get along with her quite well. She makes you work for her, but once you get through to her she's actually not that difficult at all.

Do you know what?  If I wasn't working for Te Akau, I wouldn't be working in the racing industry. Obviously, being a mother to two small children, they allow me the flexibility to be a mum and work at the same time. I've got a good balance. 

I started in the industry when I was 15  and have always loved the horses. They are what keep everybody here. We're just looking for that next good one and being a part of that. It's very hard to give up the racing game and everyone is waiting for that next thrill.

Matamata is a good little town.  It's close enough to everywhere else: Hamilton, Tauranga, Auckland is not far away. I've been here since I was 17 and I think it's a good town. 

David (Ellis) and Karyn (Fenton-Ellis) introduced the monthly award as a way of saying thanks to all the team, from themselves and also on behalf of the owners, in appreciation that the horses are given every opportunity to fulfil their potential. 

“I keep saying that because these people love horses they're prepared to get up at 3.30 a.m. in winter and summer, rain, hail, and shine,” Ellis said. 

“We create opportunities for young people to get involved in a thoroughbred business that we try to run as professionally as we can, and also employ people that have spent their careers working in the industry and bring enormous amounts of experience.”

The Team Member of the Month receives a cash prize and the overall annual winner receives an all expenses paid trip for two to the Gold Coast.

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