Te Akau Tuesday Update

David writes:

Yesterday afternoon Stephen Autridge and I inspected all of the yearlings at Cambridge Stud and what a pleasure it was - an amazing draft of beautiful, sound yearlings and I think it would be one of the best drafts of young racehorses in the making that I have seen from Cambridge Stud in the past 10 years.

Sir Patrick very sensibly sent his mares to stallions such as O'Reilly, Savabeel, Snitzel, Exceed & Excel, Fastnet Rock and Redoute's Choice just to name a few and when you add to that some yearlings by his resident stallions Tavistock, Power and Burgundy - he really did have a draft that was a pleasure to inspect.

You have to hand it to Sir Patrick who at 77 years of age has absolutely no interest in slowing down - his only goal is to do everything better than anybody else.  He has terrific staff and the yearlings paraded in top class order.

We also saw Burgundy himself parade at the end of the yearling inspection and what a magnificent stallion he has grown into - just a beautiful example of equine excellence - those of us who saw him could understand why he is leaving such exciting young progeny.

Sir Patrick also told us that he had given Zabeel's box to Burgundy - that is such a huge honour as Sir Patrick never thought he would give that to another stallion in his career.

So to say we are excited is an understatement.  It is certainly really difficult for a young sire to get going in New Zealand but once the progeny start showing some ability, breeders really start to get interested and already broodmare owners are starting to book mares in for next season.

Today I am off to the Magic Millions' sale on the Gold Coast - the sale last year which I bought some very promising young horses including Gold Fever who is already a winner and is stakes' placed- if you would like to be involved with a young horse from this sale, we would love to talk to you - so please give Karyn a call or drop her an email.