Te Akau Thursday Update

David writes:

It has been a marvellous holiday so far in Hawaii but the one thing I enjoy most about having a break is being able to spend time reflecting on what we have achieved for our owners in the season that is almost over - and most importantly, further plan and strategise the upcoming, new season.

There are no two ways about it - Te Akau has had a wonderful season, winning 14 black type races and I would like to express a huge thank you to our owners for the massive part you have played in making this season the very best that Te Akau Racing has ever had!

Te Akau has won races in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Ireland, Singapore and the North and the South Islands of New Zealand.

The highlights have undoubtedly been:

L.R. Karaka Million $1,000,000
Grp 1 NZ Derby $1,000,000
Grp 1 Rosehill Guineas A$600,000
Grp 1 Levin Classic $225,000
Grp 1 Manawatu Sires' Produce Stakes $200,000
Grp 2 BRC Sires' Produce Stakes A$250,000
Grp 2 Avondale Guineas $100,000
Grp 2 Tauranga Stakes $100,000
Grp 2 Matamata Breeders' Stakes $100,000
Grp 3 Rough Habit Plate A$125,000
Grp 3 Vintage Crop Coolmore Stud Stakes euro 100,000
Grp 3 Darley Plate $100,000
Listed Zacinto Stakes $50,000
Listed Northern Breeders' Stakes $50,000

So in total that is four Group 1 races, four Group 2 races, three Group 3 races and three Listed stakes' races - 14 black type races for the season - including both of New Zealand's $1 million races, the NZ Derby and the Karaka Million.

I am hugely proud too that Gingernuts is a finalist in the Champion 3YO of the Year and Champion Stayer of the Year at September's Horse of the Year awards and Melody Belle is joined by Gold Fever as a finalist in the Champion 2YO of the Year category  This means all three are eligible to be voted as Horse of the Year - the trio was purchased by me and well done to their respective owners, what a thrill for them all.

In fact Stephen and Jamie have won races in the South Island, North Island, Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane this season.

Te Akau has also won more prize money in New Zealand than any other stable - so you can see how proud I am, and delighted for our owners.

When you consider that a good number of our horses go to Singapore, it can only be described as an unbelievable achievement.   Even though the season is not over until 31 December in Singapore, Te Akau Racing is really dominating through the deeds of Mark Walker and our Kranji team - Mark is dominating the Trainers' Premiership. Mark has had a phenomenal month, winning one, two and even three at practically every single race meeting.

Mark has already trained 55 winners this season with 51 second and 48 third placings and stake money of $2.65 million - Mark is now 18 wins ahead on the Trainers' Premiership!

If you combine Te Akau's New Zealand season with the first six months of our Singapore season, we have won well over $6 million for our owners in prize money.

When I reflect on the season that is now winding down - it is difficult and wrong to single out the highlights - there have been so many. Group success, and particularly Group 1 success, is what we all dream of and aspire to, and we have seen plenty of that for the stable this season.

The results that I have mentioned above only happen if you have the very best staff and this is something we sure do - so to all of my team - WELL DONE GUYS!!!  Our team has worked hard to deliver these results and I know while we reflect on these that not every horse has been successful - I can promise all of our owners that our team has worked their tails off to try and bring out the very best in your horse - in fact in every horse in our stable.

Our planning for the new season in New Zealand is already well underway and we will again be looking to attack the Australian carnivals.  Look out for horses such as Beaumarchais who may have flown just below the radar this season - these types of horses will join the well known names such as Gingernuts in Group 1 races on both sides of the Tasman - and there are a good number of other Te Akau horses with the right credentials to join them.

Melody Belle, our Karaka Million, Group 1 Manawatu Sires and Group 2 BRC Sires' (Brisbane) winner is enjoying her spell at Te Akau Stud and while she won't be heading to the early 3YO races, look out for her return.  Her main two goals will be the Group 1 Railway at Ellerslie and then the now $1 million Karaka Mile also at Ellerslie.  We then plan to campaign her in Sydney in the autumn.

One other thing that is giving Mark Walker and me a huge thrill is seeing Troy Harris' return to riding going so well.  He is one of the best horsemen I have ever seen.  When he first came to work for me, he had literally never been on a horse.  However his balance on a horse was both natural and freakish and in no time his career was taking off.

Troy was on fire at Ruakaka last week which was also the scene of his very first career win which was in the Te Akau tangerine.  Troy is not only a top horseman but he is also a terrific person and I just love people that show the dedication that he is - to go from 70kgs to 57 kgs certainly takes truckloads of that!

We currently have four apprentices at Te Akau in New Zealand ready to go in the new season - they are all very promising young people with their careers ahead of them and I am sure they will be successful.  Te Akau has a great track record with gun apprentices - Opie Bosson, Troy Harris, Daniel Miller, Daniel Stackhouse, Shafiq Rizuan (twice Singapore Champion apprentice) and likewise Razali Zawari in Singapore (who is currently one off the Apprentice Premiership lead) and many others ...

Another apprentice new to Te Akau that you can expect to hear more of in the new season is Tegan Newman - this young woman joined the Te Akau team a couple of weeks ago and really looks a very capable rider to me.

The other big news is that the Ellis clan is expanding rapidly (and no - not just too much holiday indulgence - Ed) - my eldest daughter Joanna and her husband Leon had a baby girl late last month and my second daughter Sarah and her husband Nick welcomed baby Benjamin last week.

In the last 24 hours, we have been promoting shares in a Camelot filly that I bought at the Magic Millions' sale in June - she is a belter of a filly as you will see below - and there is a video and further details on our "Yearlings and Shares" page ... there are only two shares available so please get in touch with Karyn urgently if you are keen on being involved with her - and with Karyn who has taken a share.  That's the filly at the top of my update and below.

A 10% share is $16,500 plus GST and a 5% share only $8,250 plus GST
this includes every expense (except insurance) up to 31 July 2018 -
yes 12 months!

 

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