Te Akau Thursday Update
10 September, 2015
David writes:
It was another good day for Te Akau at Te Rapa yesterday with all bar one of our horses racing really well - and of course two winning nicely too!
I thought it was a great effort by Steve and Jamie to have Imperium ready to win first up over a mile courtesy of a typical, really good Matt Cameron ride. Tatters, our second winner, franked her two third placings by breaking maiden ranks in a very determined fashion. Michael Coleman rode her well, much to the delight of her owners - who include his parents!
Apart from our two winners, there were other runners who had "next up" written all over them.
Also given the amount of rain we have had, I thought that the track wasn't too bad and most horses seemed to handle it, despite it being a Slow8.
So far this week I have bought 75 yearling bulls from Kaitaia, 18 steers out of the Wellsford sale and 13 bulls and three steers out of Frankton yesterday. I think that yearling cattle are still good buying as within two weeks when the Spring grass takes off, there won't be many for sale.
We have had a big week docking on the farm and have done 1000 lambs already. They are in good condition without really blossoming. They need some warm sunshine for this to happen which will come in the next couple of weeks (and it can't come soon enough for racing too)!
We have now planted and fenced off 75 new trees and they look terrific as you can see!
I also wanted to again highlight the final couple of shares remaining in our really promising South Island filly by Iffraaj - as we all know, Iffraaj fillies really do the business and this girl was a steal at the price.
Iffraaj is one of New Zealand's most exciting young sires. The Champion Second Season Sire of New Zealand in 2012/2013 and Champion 2YO Sire of 2013/2014 by winners his statistics are impressive. Iffraaj's pedigree and racetrack performance is high class - a multiple Group 2 winner and Group 1 performer himself, he attained an International Classification of 128 and a Timeform Rating of 127 at the end of his five-year-old season.
The names of Iffraaj daughters that you will be familiar with include RIZEENA (dual Group 1 winning Champion 2YO Filly in Ireland in 2013), CHRISELLIAM (Group 1 winning Champion 2YO Filly in Europe & GB in 2013), FIX (New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year in 2012-13), SERENA MISS (winner Group 2 Matamata Breeders' Stakes), BELLE MIRAAJ (winner Listed Gore and Listed Southland Guineas, 3rd Group 1 NZ 1000 Guineas), KISSES (winner Listed Airfreight Stakes and Listed Easter Cup, 2nd Group 2 Rich Hill Mile), TWILIGHT GRANITA (winner Listed Fordell O'Leary Stakes and 2nd Group 1 NZ Thoroughbred Breeders' Stakes), IF I CAN I CAN (winner Listed Warstep Stakes).
His “Boys†include WOOTTON BASSETT (Champion 2YO colt in France 2010), TURN ME LOOSE (winner Group 1 NZ 2000 Guineas'), SO WOTIF (winner Group 3 Mr Tiz Trophy) and RIDING SHOTGUN (winner Listed Ray Coupland Stakes and Karaka Million runner up).
The dam of our filly - Lady Sakura - raced 30 times from Te Akau's stable and had 21 top four placings in her career, including five wins.
Other close relatives include LET'S CRUISE (also bought by me and trained by Te Akau) - she won the Group 2 Championship Stakes at Ellerslie before finishing 3rd in the Group 3 Doomben Classic and she was 4th in the Group 1 Queensland Oaks. Group 2 Wellington Guineas winner SKIRMISH also features in this filly's family.
Karaka Million and Pearl Series nominated, the purchase price for a share in this filly includes ALL costs to 31.3.16 - nothing more to pay for 12 months (except insurance renewal to 31.1.16).
She broke in really well, has plenty of character and has done everything so far, so good!
The last 10% share is only $7,575 plus GST or a 5% share just $3,787.50 plus GST. This includes purchase, veterinary inspection, transport to New Zealand, breaking in, gear, insurance and Pearl Series' nomination plus ALL COSTS to 31 March 2016 - you will not need to make any further payment for 12 months.
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