Te Akau Tuesday Update

David writes:

I am just too upset and disappointed to comment on the shambles at Ashburton yesterday!  Can you imagine Pam Gerard, our Assistant Trainer, loading three horses on to the float on Saturday only to bring them home unraced? - and then doing the whole exercise again on Monday?

Ashburton is only one hour and 20 minutes drive from Christchurch but nonetheless, still a trip for our horses!  Imagine stables from say Wingatui that had a four hour drive on Saturday, went home after the Saturday abandonment only to have to go through that all over again on Monday!

What about Matt Cameron?  Flies down to Christchurch at his own expense, loses a whole book of rides - so no income.  Flies back to Auckland only to find that the races will be held on Monday.  So returns to Christchurch, drives to Ashburton only for a deja-vu experience.  Two days, two flights, no income - jockeys are expected to behave in a professional manner, if they don't they either lose their license or are fined - surely the track should also be up to a professional standard!

Then you have Jason Bridgman who also flew down - and what about two of Flaming's owners as just another example?  They fly from Auckland to Christchurch on Friday after work, they stay the night in Christchurch and hire a rental car to drive to Ashburton on Saturday - no races.  So they drive back to Christchurch and have to stay another two nights - on top of that they have the hassle of extending their car hire - and paying enormous amounts to not once but twice change their flights back!

Thousands and thousands and thousands of dollars involved for all these horses - all the trainers, riders and all the owners who I especially feel really sad for.

Recently I read how a trainer was fined for putting a riding engagement in ten minutes late.  While rules have to be abided by for our industry to work efficiently, it doesn't seem right that no-one is accountable for the Ashburton debacle.

That is all I am going to say about Ashburton because there are so many positive things happening around Te Akau and for our wider industry.

Turnovers are increasing which should equate to really good stake increases.  Looking at the Auckland Racing Club's accounts, I see that they are in great shape and are in a situation where they will be seriously able to increase stakes in the next 12 months - great job by Chairman Paul Kenny, his Board and CEO Cameron George.

At Te Akau Racing we have reached the time of the year that I live for - we have some really exciting horses to race in the next week and coming weeks.  We have a talented team to race at Riccarton over the next month.  We were waiting for the nominations for Riccarton on Saturday to close at lunchtime today to see if Wolfwhistle would make the field for the Listed Spring Classic - which he has!  His work has been of a very high standard.

Rockfast will likely race at Trentham this Saturday on his way to the Group 1 NZ 2000 Guineas - he will be ridden by Hayden Tinsley.  Vive La Difference will race at Te Rapa on Labour day Monday on her way to the Group 1 NZ 1000 Guineas.

Windborne will start either this Saturday at Ellerslie or at Trentham in the Listed Wellesley Stakes - she is a Darci Brahma filly who has trialled and looked very impressive.  She is also a full sister to recent stakes' winning filly Darci's Dream who lines up (finally after two aborted Ashburton attempts) in the Listed Ray Coupland Stakes which will now be raced at Riccarton on Saturday.  David Walsh retains the mount on Darci's Dream after winning the Listed Canterbury Belle Stakes on her and stablemate Flaming, likewise a Ray Coupland contender, will be ridden by Matthew Cameron.

Madame Jamai, sadly twice inconvenienced by Ashburton now heads to Motukarara on Sunday 2 November for a maiden 3YO race - plus we will be sending Costa Viva to Christchurch for the Group 3 Valachi Downs Sprint and Chambord heads to the Group 2 Coupland's Bakeries Mile during Cup Week.  The other horse that we are looking to take down is Longbeach who will more than likely race at Riccarton on 8 November.

At Ellerslie we have three really nice chances - King's Rock, debut winner No Tricks and possibly Windborne.

So as you can see it is a a very busy racing week ahead for the Te Akau team - presently Pam Gerard and Tom Hazlett are looking after team at Riccarton and Jamie Richards will take Rockfast to Trentham for the 3YO race on Saturday and then he travels to Riccarton to assist Pam with the carnival horses.

Today I am also posting some photos below (and the main picture) of some of our yearlings on the farm - they are by Alamosa and I thought you would enjoy seeing them.  These yearlings are mainly owned by Te Akau Stud and are loving being in a 30 acre paddock and as you can see, the grass is amazing for them.

I will stay in touch!