Te Akau Tuesday Update

David writes:

Gee what a great start to the season Te Akau New Zealand trainers Steve and Jamie and all the team at Matamata are having!

I am still buzzing after our wonderful carnival at Riccarton.

The Group 1 NZ 2000 Guineas has always been a great race for us but this is the first time that we have quinellaed a Group 1.  I think we had the trifecta in the Listed Canterbury Belle Stakes one year but to go within a nose of the trifecta in the 2000 Guineas Saturday week ago, is something very special.  How exciting is that?  Those three horses are all having a terrific time, relaxing here at Te Akau Stud on their well-earned break!

There is also nothing more rewarding than seeing a two year old like Al Hasa win by six lengths in a stakes' race at just his second start.  In fact that was our sixth win in the Listed Welcome Stakes at Riccarton too.

Our two year olds are going great guns - Irish Cream won her only start by seven lengths; Pinot Grey (below) won her only start thus far by five lengths and is set to chase black type this weekend; Al Hasa won his second start, a stakes' race, by six lengths; and Avantage won both of her starts and is now back spelling at Te Akau Stud - she won her second start at Riccarton by five lengths too.  The exciting news is that all of these horses are eligible for the Karaka Million at the end of January 2018.

The Te Akau policy has always been to let the two year olds tell us when they are ready to go.  We have many other very good youngsters still to race and some that have won trials but who we have elected to spell.  We are always patient with our young horses and will never put them under any pressure.

I was interested to read on social media how some people thought the Group 1 NZ 1000 Guineas' field was a weak one.  Let me promise you that it wasn't a poor field.  Our filly Swing Note, who finished fifth, is a certain black type winner next year.  How many runners in the race did these critics have lining up?  It is easy to criticise but I like to take the positives out too.  It was great to see the Go Racing filly Hasahalo win in such a dominant fashion.  Well done to her trainer Stephen McKee and the owners.

What a thrilling week it has also been for Mark Chittick and the team at Waikato Stud with Savabeel siring the winners of both the Group 1 NZ 2000 and 1000 Guineas.  He is a really good, and very versatile, sire.  Talking of sires, isn't it also amazing just how well Burgundy is going?  He has been fully booked for some time now and has a really good book of quality mares going to him this season.

Today has been the really first hot day at Te Akau Stud - today we drafted 350 more fat lambs to go to Wilson and Hellaby in Auckland.  This morning we also sent our first truck and trailer of ox to Greenlea and we will be selling a unit of cattle each day now until Christmas.

I cannot believe what I am about to say - we actually would all love a little bit of rain for the farm - now that is hard to believe isn't it??

By the time you read this I will be at Karaka looking more closely at the horses for the Ready to Run Sale where we will be very active buying some quality two year olds.

We have terrific demand from people wanting to invest with Te Akau so if you are keen to be part of our team, just call us or email Karyn [email protected].  You are welcome to call me at any time 021 925 151 - as I always say, you are best to bid with me than agaibnst me!!  We will all make you feel very welcome so p[lease come and see us - Karyn, Mark, Jamie and Julia-Rose will all be with me.

Last week I met a guy who has a share in a horse with Te Akau.  He told me that he was involved with horses in eight different stables and that Te Akau easily had the very best communication.  We do because I have always believed that it is one of the most important parts of the equation - owner information.  Owners have the right to receive the good news and the bad news as it happens.

Speaking about updates - I have good news on Gingernuts (main picture and below) which we have shared with his owners over the weekend and this morning - he is coming along as well as can be expected and the veterinary team at Werribee is very happy with his progress.  People have been so kind and we just can't believe all of the messages and cards and calls - he sure is one very popular horse is Jerry!  A special call-out to the team at the Victorian Racing Club too who actually went and visited him last week with apples and carrots - how thoughtful was that!

Have a great day - I will be at Karaka inspecting horses all day - and if you can't make the Ready to Run Sale then you can follow the events on line at www.nzb.co.nz which will have a live stream.