Te Akau Travel Update

David writes:

I really enjoyed our time in Europe and can't stop thinking about what I learned there.  Looking at more horses, talking to breeders, owners and trainers - I have certainly learned a huge amount.  Quite an experience.

I read this week in a racing newspaper that James McDonald was rated the first equal top jockey internationally - equal currently with the great Ryan Moore - what an unbelievable achievement by James.

James - a former Te Akau stable rider - is held in huge regard by everyone in British racing and is a real credit to (and a very impressive ambassador of) the New Zealand racing industry where his career began.

Speaking of apprentices - Te Akau apprentice Dan Miller had a great day on Monday at the jumping trials at Cambridge.  He won every single jumpers' trial!  Dan is a very important member of our team and is a great rider and a very good judge of a horse.

Back in New Zealand - I get daily reports from our team at both Matamata and at Te Akau Stud.  Our horses coats are just about ready to start moving (which is always a great sign Spring is on its way) so it is an exciting time of the year.

We have an impressive team of horses getting ready to trial at Te Teko on 4 August and we can't wait to see them step out.   I am confident that we have as exciting a team of horses to race this season as we have ever had in our stable, so it is a very exciting time.

Meanwhile Mark Walker is unstoppable in Singapore and this weekend we have 25 Te Akau owners going to Singapore for Derby weekend.  I purchased two of the first three favourites for this year's Derby - War Affair for $70,000 and Sebrose for $240,000.

Mark has a strong contingent in this weekend on Friday and Sunday so good luck to the Singapore team - Karyn and I will be listening.  We will also have our ears to the computer/phone for our two Ruakaka runners on Saturday.  It would be great to see Stella Di Paco and Opulent go back to back.

The weather in Honolulu as usual is just amazing and Karyn and I are having a great time - tonight we are going to have dinner at Nobu with Bill Gleeson and his family which will be fun.