Te Akau Thursday Update

David writes:

Well I guess two weeks ago before I had open heart surgery I knew nothing about what I was in for.

It is certainly a major operation and it takes a lot of time to get over, mainly because of the way they have to open you up from your neck to your navel and that is what takes the time to heal.  It's one heck of a long opening.  For some reason I seem to have good days and very bad nights - the pain starts coming in about 6.00pm and I just can't seem to shake it.  The good news is that all of doctors keep telling me that within six weeks I will simply not be able to recognise myself and the extra energy I will have will be unbelievable.

Ginger Tankard, a good friend of mine from Hamilton, who successfully trained horses and was on the Board of the Waikato Racing Club when I was Chairman also rang to say that he had had a similar operation and within 10 weeks he was travelling overseas and it was the best thing that he had ever done.

I have been farming in Te Akau since 1979 and this is easily the best winter/early Spring that we have ever had.  The cattle are much heavier than normal and the bulls are already putting on 2kgs a day.  We finished all the docking two weeks ago and the lambs will be ready for drafting off their mothers in about four weeks' time.

Our broodmares are foaling very quickly now and 90% of the foals are colts this year which is our preference - we have some beautiful Alamosa foals and both Burgundy and Rock ‘n' Pop are firing on all cylinders (live shots) and have positive pregnancy tests virtually every day.

I am thrilled with the start that our racing stable at Matamata has made to the new season remember we no longer have our South Island stable but it doesn't seem to have mattered.  We have had a fabulous start to the season with many different 3YOs winning on debut or at their second start and most are horses that will go on with it.

It is particularly satisfying for me to see a horse like Chambord win his last start by six lengths - Mat Cameron, our stable rider, told me that he was never out of second gear when he won and we have always held this horse in very high regard.  So to see him win like this was really thrilling and he could finish up being an ideal Group 1 NZ 2000 Guineas horse.  He is about at the same stage Rock ‘n' Pop was at, the year he won the Guineas.

We also have some lovely chances for the Group 1 NZ 1000 Guineas and fillies races including Spellbinder, Dreamer, Ruthless Lady and Costa Viva.  We are really looking forward to taking on Bounding with one of them at Te Rapa in James and Annie Sarten Memorial at Group 3 Level.

Bounding is a top class filly who has been very well trained by Ken and Bev Kelso at Matamata but I have a feeling that both Spellbinding and Costa Viva could have it over her in the 1000 Guineas - she gives the impression she could be suspect over the 1600m - so bring on the big day - there is certainly going to be some great racing.

Isn't it an exciting time of the year to be following racing?  Not only in New Zealand with the New Zealand Cup Carnival nigh, but the next couple of weeks in Sydney and then Melbourne for its Spring Carnival is must-see viewing.

Tomorrow at Te Rapa will be one of the very few meetings I have missed in 35 years - I can count on one hand those I have missed. I just don't feel strong enough to go tomorrow but it won't be long before I am back on track - literally and figuratively!

Te Akau has some very exciting maiden horses about to come out - no more so than King Savinsky, a Savabeel colt from Lynisky who was bred by Gavin and Shane Wealleans. I liked this horse since the day he was born and followed him right through and bought him at Karaka in January.  He is a pretty smart horse in the making for Fortuna Syndicators and could well finish up running in Group 1 New Zealand Derby.

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