Te Akau Thursday Update

David writes:

I haven't stopped thinking this week about what a successful meeting Racing Matamata staged on Saturday - the track was in great shape,the atmosphere was terrific and the Club had gone out of its way to put on a top class race day.

Every race on the day had a genuine cash sponsor and it is great to see the locals get in behind the Matamata club - the community all supports racing there. An example of this was veterinary firm Marks, Ewen and Associates.  Bill Ewen, who is now the senior partner, was at Massey University doing his vet science degree when I was there doing my diploma and we have been friends for a long time.  There are many other examples of the locals getting in behind racing.

Last year Te Akau Racing put $60,000 back into various sponsorships as we believe that it is a responsibility and a privilege because we are fortunate to be in a position to put something back into our great industry.  It is important to contribute.

It is all systems go at Te Akau Stud at the moment as we are in the middle of breaking in.  One stallion who is really surprising me is Minstrel Court -  we had two Minstrel Courts trial on Tuesday at Cambridge and they both showed very good ability.  The Minstrel Court/La Conga filly missed the jump badly, but rallied very well and shows some talent. Tommy Hazlett tells me he thinks she will make a top class filly.

Another Minstrel Court filly is out of Palais Jamais and she was second in her trial doing it nicely under a hold at the finish, indicating that Minstrel Court could yet be a surprise package and leave some really good racehorses.

Minstrel Court was a very good racehorse himself, being by Danehill Dancer out the Rory's Jester mare Tregurrian - he won his first start at Otaki by six lengths, easing down to a canter. he also won the Listed Matamata Slipper (the race in which Rockfast was second last weekend) and was third in the Group 1 NZ 2000 Guineas which was won by his stablemate.

We are also breaking a couple of nice Saperavis in at the moment and probably our best Saperavi racing is Riedel who is racing in Singapore Sunday night, having his first start back after a break.

The yearlings from Karaka are all selling really well and today we are having four different owners coming to inspect their new young horses.  When you consider I purchased 43 yearlings, the shares are selling much quicker than Karyn and I had dreamed of and we are thrilled to have the support of so many people.

Te Akau Racing didn't have much luck with the draws in the Derby on Saturday - both of our starters are horses that I bought at auction.  The first is Spellbinder, an O'Reilly filly out of Scenic Sprint who I purchased for $60,000 and the second is King Savinsky, a Savabeel gelding out of Lynisky who was bought by me for $90,000.

You wouldn't believe it but they drew 19 and 20.  Never mind there is nothing you can do about the draw and we just have to go out and try and win the race.  However it does make it harder for sure.

It is going to be a great Auckland Cup Carnival at at Ellerslie and I hope as many of you as possible can come and join us.