Te Akau Tuesday Update

David writes:

One of the best things about going away, is arriving back home.  It was a beautiful afternoon at Te Akau Stud this afternoon when we got home and I am just staggered at how much the grass has grown.  All the staff have everything in tip-top condition and I couldn't be happier.  Karyn of course was delighted to see her three dogs all waiting eagerly at the gate!

The trip to Singapore can only be described as being amazing, in every way possible.  The 20 tour members all got on incredibly well and had plenty of laughs too!

It was just so exciting on Sunday night at Kranji when Mark produced Sebrose to win in such stunning fashion.  Fifty metres out it looked like he was going to get beaten - them with some manoeuvering by champion rider Manuel Nunes, the 4YO came down the outside to win with lots of courage and heart.

Sebrose really looks an exciting horse to me - I bought him on the Gold Coast for $230,000 and he's by a really top sire in Sebring out of a Group 1 Oaks' winning mare.  At the time I thought he was great value for money.  He has certainly has grown and developed as I hoped he would and I am thrilled for his owners who look to have a horse who can compete at the highest level and certainly be a great chance in the Group 1 Singapore Derby in July.

We had a number of really good performances from our horses in Singapore over the weekend without kicking further goals, although I did think the run of Jimmy Rea to finish runner up in the Group 1 Singapore Guineas (from a nightmare draw) was a stand out.

Another super run came from Aspen who was fourth in his 1400m event, a distance short of his best and he too is on target to contest the Derby.  It was efforts such as these that showed me exactly what we have got to look forward to in the months ahead.  The horses mostly all ran well and Mark, together with Gus and Karen Clutterbuck have done a sensational job with them all.

It was also great for everyone to spend time with Mark and Julia Walker and as I have said, it was a trip filled with laughter and fun.

I am lucky that I can sleep well on planes (you bet he can - Ed!) as, as soon as we landed at Auckland airport, we hit the ground running and have been flat stick working ever since.

Back in the office, one of the first things I looked at was the Gold Coast catalogue.  I am excited because at this sale I have bought some serious horses over the years including Integrate, Princess Coup, Minstrel Court, Tell A Tale and Costa Viva ... and of course Sebrose.

All the team at Te Akau Stud have, as I said earlier, got the property looking spick and span for our 2015 Te Akau Breeding Syndicate catch up on Thursday at the farm.  This is when we invite the owners who bought into our major syndicate this year to come and enjoy seeing their trio being ridden - the Karaka top price Fastnet Rock/Il Quello Veloce filly and the Fastnet Rock/Myrrh and Snitzel/Mini Tales colts.  After that we will enjoy some fellowship.

On my way to Singapore I met up with my very good friends Lance and Paul O'Sullivan and their great pal Robbie Hewitson in Hong Kong.   We had a very enjoyable lunch and Paul was getting ready to head to Singapore with his very good horse Aerovelocity for the Group 1 International Sprint race.  Everything Paul told me would happen, did happen.  This is a world class sprinter and the way the O'Sullivans have handled him, set him up for this success, they left no stone unturned.

Also on the trip to Singapore was our youngest daughter Julia-Rose and her partner Hamish Hayes.  Julia of course is in charge of our technology and is in charge of our videos so look out for plenty of interesting Singapore coverage to come!

While we were in Singapore, the O'Reilly colt that I bought from the Sydney Sale completed his breaking in and is now in our main stable. Everyone who has ridden this colt is really impressed and there is now only one share remaining in him.  It will be sold on the basis of first in/first served.  Our breaking staff think he is one of the best colts we have broken in and we are receiving the same feedback from the stable.

Back in New Zealand our stable is quietening down with winter nigh, although we do have some nice chances at Ruakaka tomorrow with seven runners lining up there and then on Thursday we will have 11 at the Cambridge trials.

Everyone has a spring in their step and can't wait for the new season - we have an outstanding team of horses to race and we can't wait!

Have a great week everyone and it's good to be home, sweet home!