Te Akau Travel Update

David writes:

What an amazing continent Europe is - so many countries and each with such different cultures and experiences.

I had an amazing weekend in Ireland.  I simply love the racing at the Curragh, it has to be one of the very best racecourses in the world.  It is a huge course with a one mile straight chute,  It is such a big course that the Derby start is about where the 1200m start at Te Rapa is, with a big rise for the last 800m or four furlongs.

Outside of our own folks, there wouldn't be a better group of people than the Irish, they are world-class horsemen/women and just top people - genuine, fun, passionate.

The racing was so enjoyable although it wasn't exactly warm!  It was similar to being at Riccarton at the end of September, very brisk.  There were only eight runners in the Group 1 Irish Derby and the average field size I would guess was only about seven horses.  The big 2YO even on Derby Day only had five starters with only four finishing the race.

Fastnet Rock is a sire really gaining momentum in Europe now that his oldest progeny have turned three they are really making an impact and it is obvious that the Fastnet Rock/Galileo is a great cross.

I went to Ireland with Sir Peter Vela and my great friends Mohammed Moussa from Canada and Ian Farrelly from New Zealand.  We stayed with another friend Hubie de Burgh who is one of the most successful bloodstock agents in the world.  He spent twenty years developing the bloodstock interests of HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai in his role as manager of Sheikh Hamdan's, Derrinstown Stud and associated farms in Ireland.

He left Derrinstown Stud to set up his own stud farm and bloodstock consultancy business in 2003. During his time with Sheikh Hamdan he was directly associated with the purchasing or raising the winners of 61 Group 1 races including 15 Classics and in Australia horses including Zabeel, Almaraad, At Talaq, Jeune and many others.

The countryside in Ireland is very reminiscent of New Zealand and looks just amazing at this time of the year - you can see why they breed such great horses there.

On Sunday afternoon we flew back to London (Karyn flew back from Portugal to meet us) and we are in London until Sunday.  Tomorrow we are going to lunch with James McDonald and Charlie Hills.  Charlie is a very successful young trainer with his own establishment at Lambourn and was successful with Muhaarar, winner of the inaugural Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot.

Charlie took over the training license from his father in August 2011 and trained his first classic winner less than two years later in May 2013, when Just The Judge won the Irish 1,000 Guineas. Other high class horses who have won races for Charlie include Breeders Cup and Fillies Mile winner Chriselliam (Group 1), Commonwealth Cup (Group 1) winner Muhaarar, Ransom Note (Group 2), Cable Bay (Group 3), Dutch Connection (Group 3), Cotai Glory (Group 3), Hazel Lavery (Group 3), Kiyoshi (Group 3),  Coral Mist (Group 3), Angels Will Fall (Listed), Red Jazz (Listed), Slumber (Listed), Sajwah (Listed) and Letsgoroundagain (Listed), along with high class handicappers Captain Bertie, Shropshire, Forgotten Hero and Glenard.

His private training facilities are at Faringdon Place, a mile outside Lambourn. There are three indoor barns which house the horses, an indoor school and 125 acres of private gallops which comprise of two woodchip gallops, a polytrack gallop and extensive grass gallops.  He trains about 150 horses and I am looking forward to visiting there later this week.

James McDonald is really highly regarded in Europe which is great to see - he is such a top ambassador for New Zealand internationally and is always warmly welcomed wherever he goes.

The weekend just past was a hugely successful one for Te Akau Racing in both New Zealand and in Singapore - with one winners from one starter in New Zealand and three winners in Singapore.  Mark Walker is on fire and is picking up a lot of new clients every week.  Mark is now 10 wins in front on the Trainers' Premiership which is a truly remarkable effort by him and our team.

I was thrilled to see Opulent win at Ruakaka for Steve and Jamie - she is raced by a lovely group of people, many girlfriends of Karyn that she got together to be involved in this Keeper filly.

Our two daughters Lydia and Julia-Rose have been at Glastonbury Music Festival - it sounds like they didn't have much sleep over the weekend that's for sure!  (on the music scene we would have to add that David's highlight undoubtedly is Taylor Swift staying at our hotel - Ed)!   It's lovely weather today in London and of course Wimbledon is on the agenda and there is really creative theming all over the city.