Te Akau Tuesday Update

David writes:

Last night at Te Akau Stud, Mark Walker and I sat down to reflect on the time that we have had together and it was not long before we worked out that it was literally 25 years to the day that we started working together at Te Akau Stud!  So out came the champagne and a true celebration of what has been a wonderful success story.  Karyn arrived home late after chairing the Waikato Racing Club Board meeting and we were lucky that our youngest daughter Julia-Rose was here to join in the celebration.

It is wonderful having Mark home from Singapore for the next two weeks for the sales.  Today is my last day at the farm because tomorrow I will be at Karaka for the next ten days.

Firstly I will be having a look at our second-look at horses and I have a small handful still to have a first look at before the sales.

I am frequently asked what is my view on social media.  Well lately I have been taking a pounding on social media and I really love this because it generates discussion and more and more people read our website which means we sell more and more horses.  It is always very curious that this goes on primarily around sales' time - you have to wonder about motives don't you?  The bottom line is we always focus on what we do best - buying top class yearlings and believing in the New Zealand industry - looking after our wonderful owners and bringing out the very best in their horses for them!

After all we have a record in the last 11 years that no body certainly in New Zealand could compare with. For example four Champion 2YOs, four Champion 3YOs, five New Zealand Bloodstock Fillies of the Year, two Champion Sprinters of the Year, one Champion Middle Distance Horse of the year, one Champion New Zealand Stayer of the year plus many other highest rated two year old fillies, highest rated three year old fillies and highest rated three year old colts that are not included in this tally.

So the record that we have is something that we are truly proud of and I love the way the opposition try and distort the statistics but thankfully in horse racing there is a winning post every Saturday and that winning post does not tell lies.

This morning I am walking with a real spring in my step because we have just had 18 mls of really good rain that will help green the paddocks up I am sure and the paddocks are going to be in just absolutely pristine condition for the yearlings that arrive in from the sale.

The horses that we intend to buy this year will be the same as last year.  If you want an early two year old that is burnt out by Christmas you are best not to buy it through me because our goal is to buy horses that compete from 1600m to 2400m.  Horses that race as 3 year olds, 4 year olds, 5 year olds and 6 year olds. Sure we will get the odd two year old winner like we have had with Windborne and Unsurpassed last week but generally we do not put pressure on our two year olds until they tell us they are ready.

The New Zealand Bloodstock sale complex at Karaka is undoubtedly the best in the world so if you are anywhere near Auckland do come out and see us.  Give me a call, I would love to have a chat about the sales and help you in any way that I can.  I have seen some really top quality horses in the sale that I will be looking to win Sires Produces with, 2000 Guineas with and be competitive to take to Australia and Singapore as older horses.  So give Karyn or myself a call at Te Akau Stud 07 825 4701.

Today we are drafting fat lambs at Te Akau Stud and after all the rain we have had the sun is now out so you can just imagine how the grass is growing.