Te Akau Thursday Update

David writes:

What a week of highs and lows we have had at Te Akau Racing.

Mark Walker had three winners from our Singapore stable last weekend which was a huge thrill for us all. However Xtravagant was again disappointing.  My own feeling is that there must be something not 100% with him.  He is coming home on Saturday night and we have a number of advanced veterinary procedures planned to attempt to establish what his problem is.

His Saturday rider Damien Oliver summed up his last start disappointment very well, telling Karyn and Steve who were there, that "I know he is much, much better than that, that is why I stayed with him".  he added that he had given him an awesome feel during the week.

What I will say is that managing a horse like Xtravagant is not for the faint-hearted and naturally there are plenty of critics and most of them love to climb aboard the band wagon when a horse does not perform up to expectations.  One comment that has been promoted through social media is that I have talked Xtravagant up. Well I have been through every comment I have made and that just isn't true.  What people fail to realise is that when a three year old wins two Group One races by 16.5 lengths combined, there is a lot of interest in the horse from the media. So much so you wish sometimes they would go away but I have always thought I have an obligation to keep people informed - if that is an offence I plead guilty.

Does our team wear their hearts on the sleeves and get excited?  Yes -  and we will never apologise for that passion.

Amongst those critics you would struggle to find one who had bought/trained a Group One winner.  So I say to them 'have a try because you will find out it is not that easy'. We are very lucky because all of our owners are so supportive and understanding and without exception take the good with the bad. I am very grateful for that.

Today we have two horses running at Waverley and then our attention turns to Hawkes Bay where we have Heroic Valour racing, although the track would have to improve greatly if he is to start.

On Saturday we also have four runners at Riccarton including the exciting three year old Hall of Fame and also a two year old Pierro colt named Seirios.  Seirios is a colt that we have sent south because I have found a lot of colts love the trip and it is great for their overall development and helps settle them down.  Plus we have Imperium running - he is coming to hand really well and we also have our good sprinting mare and course specialist Madame Jamai also has her first southern race day start.

Tonight we have two special people arriving at Te Akau Stud.  Our second to youngest daughter Lydia and her partner Jamie have flown in from London for our family wedding on Saturday week.  My second daughter Sarah is getting married and all three of our daughters are bridesmaids.

There is plenty happening before then though - Karyn chairs the Waikato Racing Club AGM tonight, tomorrow I head to Hawkes Bay with Julia-Rose and Hamish, Lydia and Jamie while Karyn has a commitment in Wellington.  She will fly to Hastings on Saturday.  Then next week the wedding countdown is on.