Te Akau Tuesday Update

David writes:

Isn't it great to see the sun!!  The Waikato is as wet as I have ever seen it but Spring arrives next week and the days are getting longer already - I always say that when you get to 20 August, you are generally past the worst of the New Zealand winter!

The past seven days have been full-on, starting with the Matamata Racing Awards at the beginning of last week.  Te Akau Racing had a huge night - for the second year in a row, Te Akau had the Champion 2YO (last year Heroic Valour, this year Melody Belle), Champion 3YO (Xtravagant and now Gingernuts) and Horse of the Year (Xtravagant and this year Gingernuts).  Te Akau also went back to back for the Champion OwNer of the Year (with the Gingernuts' and the Xtravagant owners) and Champion Trainers' of the Year again for Steve and Jamie.

On Friday night Karyn and I attended the Waikato Racing Club's Lisa Chittick Foxbridge Plate cocktail party at Te Rapa.  This is the fourth year that the Club has staged this event with past speakers being Lee Freedman, John Wheeler and George Simon.  This event heralds in the new season and, as Club Chairman, Karyn gave a snapshot of the past season's successes and the plans for the new season, including new sponsorships.  The Members' Lounge renovations really are top class and the next stage of the renovation is due to open in mid September.

This year the speaker was legend of the turf Greg Miles, the well-known and highly respected former race-caller from Melbourne.  Greg and his wife Alison also came along the next day to enjoy the first Group 2 of the new season, it was such a shame about the weather but that's New Zealand at that time of the year (another plug for an all-weather track)!!

On Saturday it was just great to sit back and relax with another All Black win and then on Sunday, Karyn and I welcomed Greg and Alison to stay at Te Akau Stud.  Greg has called 36 Melbourne Cups and I was on course at Flemington for 27 of them!  It was just fascinating listening to all of Greg's stories about his lifetime in racing - and you wouldn't meet a more engaging, warm guy, and a true raconteur!  We had an excellent night - as you can probably tell from the photo!

Today we have 18 horses (see below) travelling to the Avondale trials and our daughter Julia-Rose will be on hand taking photographs and videos of them all.

On another note - well done to the New Zealand Racing Board (NZRB) for its new Trackside TV programme on a Thursday morning.  Last week it was one of New Zealand's best interviewers in Michael Guerin catching up with NZRB CEO John Allen.  I was delighted to hear John talk about an all-weather track.  When you have 50-60 inches of rain a year such as we have in the Waikato, it is essential that in June, July and August that we race on an all-weather.  I know there are a couple of long-time trainers who are against this concept but by far the greatest majority of people in racing can see that there is simply no alternative, it is a no-brainer.

I believe that the NZRB should use its TV and radio to explain changes that take place in the industry - it is much better to take people with you by explaining why change needs to take (or is taking) place, the rationale and the outcomes it is looking for.  It has the vehicle, it should use it more and this programme is a welcome addition.

Last week I watched Parliament debate the introduction of the "Race Fields' Legislation" as it is known.  National, Labour and New Zealand First all spoke in favour of it however the Green Party was very much against the bill.  I listened to one of its MPs Barry Coates speak against Race Fields - and reflected on the fact that Barry Wake, Barry's grandfather, was a successful racing owner and administrator - how generations' thinking can change.

I am really starting to look forward to the Hawkes Bay Spring Carnival and the first Group 1 race of the season.  Gingernuts is coming up very well and will be on hand for at least the first two days before heading to Melbourne.

The sun is out today which is great news after a bitterly cold night - and everyone, horse and human, is loving it!

TE AKAU'S AVONDALE TRIALISTS

ASTRID
3f Commands - Donna Sienna
FULL OF GRACE
MORE THAN FAST
ORGANZA
SILVER MISSILE
TE AKAU SHARK
TIFFANY'S TIME
CHANCE TO DANCE
GOLD FEVER
HUSHED
LADY ZERAPH
AL HASA
3g Azamour - Franny
COUSTEAU
2c Darci Brahma - Pins 'n' Needles
MONGOLIANCONQUEROR
TE AKAU DRAGON