David writes:

 

It was another great weekend of racing with the Te Akau team winning races at Te Rapa and Ashburton and Singapore - plus there were some very good efforts in Australia from the likes of (Lord) Dynastic.

Kai kicked off the winning at Te Rapa on Saturday and what a gutsy mare she is.  That was her fourth career win and so good to see for the Beatson's and their friends who race her - she never gives up and always tries so hard, in every race, she is such a pleasure to train.

On a soft to heavy track at Ashburton, I thought Talisker went a super to claim his third win in a row! He is a different horse on a firm track so I am predicting lots of improvement when he takes his place in the Group 1 NZ Guineas in three weeks’ time. It was a top ride too from Sam Weatherley who only went south for that single riding engagement!

 

 

Talisker is by Embellish, a Savabeel colt I bought at Karaka that himself won the 2000 Guineas. Gee he looks an exciting stallion.

Our other Group 1 NZ 2000 Guineas' runner is Trobriand (below) and he too has been south for a while now - likewise he too is racing well.  Both horses are well and truly settled in the south, living life and absolutely thriving.

 

 

In Australia we had a couple of exciting performances with Zourion finishing third in the Group 2 1000 Guineas' Prelude at Caulfield, and also Lord Dynastic. I would say Zourion must be a big chance in the 1000 Guineas on that performance.

Skew Wiff went a handy race in the Group 2 Tristarc Stakes with the great news being the significant improvement in her barrier manners.  I am confident she too will earn black type in Australia.

Karyn left this morning with Julia-Rose for Melbourne. Julia-Rose will spend quite a lot of time filming our Cranbourne stable so it won't be long until we will be visually sharing with you what a marvellous set-up we have at Cranbourne, which is an outstanding training centre.

Karyn will be one of the guest speakers at the Moonee Valley Racing Club's "Racing and Fashion Lunch" tomorrow.  She will also be a guest speaker at the Club's sponsors/partners event on Thursday and is meeting with some VRC contacts on Friday - so the ladies are both very busy before heading to Moonee Valley to cheer on Imperatriz in the Group 1 Manikato Stakes.

There are seven starters in the Manikato and Imperatriz is the red hot favourite after her two track record breaking wins at The Valley in the past month.  She has drawn perfectly in barrier four and I know how nervous - but proud - all her owners are.  A reasonable number will be in attendance too - it's Cox Plate day and that's always one of the best on the calendar.

Mark Walker took Imperatriz to Mooney Valley for a good gallop this morning for "Breakfast with the Best". She galloped with Fortuna's Rubicon Crossing who won on her Australian debut at Mornington.  She took it all in her stride and strips fit and well for Saturday.

 

 

This weekend we have horses racing at Riccarton, Counties, Moonee Valley, Mornington and Singapore – so there is plenty to look forward to.

The news at Te Akau Stud is very good too - the grass is taking off! We are selling our first unit of prime steers on Friday. The lambs have all been docked and drenched and the ewes have all been crutched and we start shearing and drenching in 10 days. The sheep & cattle have never looked better!

The horses that have been spelling have really thrived in this warm weather too. They just love the spring grass!

Best of luck to all our owners with runners this weekend, especially to our girl "Berri" - Imperatriz - who Australia is already calling its horse!!!!  A fine compliment, although we will concede she is Australian bred, and there are two lovely Australian couples involved in her ownership along with the Kiwis!

Mark has already trained 47 winners this season for a winning strike rate of 3.7.  That's a phenomenal effort for a major stable and underlines the careful and well-thought out placement of our horses.

 

NEW ZEALAND TRAINERS' PREMIERSHIP as at 24.10.23 ~ source NZTR

 

		Wins	2nds	3rds	Stakes	Starts	G & L	SR
1	Mark Walker & Sam Bergerson	47	20	23	$1,417,420	174	5	3.7
2	Stephen Marsh	18	24	15	$649,205	164	0	9.11
3	Kevin Myers	15	18	16	$539,775	137	0	9.13
4	Lisa Latta	14	14	9	$710,430	128	4	9.14
5	Andrew Carston	12	15	11	$314,795	146	0	12.17
6	Ralph Manning	11	8	6	$241,830	83	0	7.55
7	Lance O'Sullivan & Andrew Scott	11	6	3	$376,405	39	1	3.55
8	Andrew Forsman	10	7	8	$525,390	75	1	7.5
9	Tony Pike	10	6	9	$282,005	66	0	6.6
10	Mark Oulaghan	7	4	6	$360,380	35	3	5

 

I heard Kate Hawkesby say on Newstalk ZB today that there are only nine more Friday's until Christmas! The year is disappearing rapidly but the good news is, we have an abundance of exciting racing to come between now and then, and all through summer!

Good luck to all our owners with runners this weekend and ....

 

GO THE TANGERINE!!

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