Te Akau Tuesday Update

David writes:

With Karyn in the South Island visiting her mother, I went to Raglan to stay for the weekend.  Jamie Richards came and stayed on Saturday night and we spent the afternoon watching the races and in between races talking about each horse and our plans for each horse in the new season

When I started looking at the fields at Wellington, Melbourne and Doomben I thought I wouldn't have a bet.  That all changed when I saw Mazzuro, trained by Jamie's father Paul, in the parade ring in Melbourne.  I thought he looked just amazing and I was shell-shocked when I saw he was at 40/1.  A very impressive last start winner too, so I reached for my iPad and did something I seldom do - I put $500 on him at odds of $40 - yes I now have our winter holiday well and truly taken care of!

So well done to Paul Richards - a truly great training performance and we can't wait for you to join the Te Akau team.

After a few weeks of pretty miserable weather, it has all changed and this morning we had out first frost for the year and a magnificent day has followed.  It is meant to be a beautiful week.

On the farm we are flat stick putting on lime at 2.5 ton to the hectare.  Te Akau Stud has its own all-weather airstrip which at this time of the year is very popular with all the local farmers as all of the other airstrips are grass and cannot be used in the winter.

Today on the farm also were drenching and crutching all of our ewe hoggets.  They are going into the winter in great condition.

We are sending about ten horses that have been spelling at Te Akau Stud into the stable each week.  Gee it is so rewarding seeing our horses in such beautiful condition when they return to training. I am really looking forward  to next season.  Te Akau has the best line up of young horses I have seen for a while.

The shares in our Sydney yearlings have been very popular. All of our fillies are truly classy individuals and I have to say I really love the Redoute's Choice filly out of Aware.  I just love Redoute's Choice as a sire.  He is a super star and has been Champion Sire no fewer than three times - they rightly call him the King of Australian Sires. He has already left 31 Group One winners and this filly is a ripper of a filly.

Everybody who rides her just loves her and her grandmother was one of the fastest horses of her year,winning two lead up races to the Group 1 Golden Slipper before finishing third in the iconic race itself.  This filly is entered for the Golden Slipper and this is our goal with her.  She has a great attitude and a wonderful constitution - there are only two shares now available in her.

On Saturday Jamie and I are off to the Gold Coast for the Magic Millions' Yearling Sales, returning next Saturday and then I am taking Karyn to see the All  Blacks play France in the first test at Eden Park.

June and July are always quieter months at Te Akau but have no fear we are all gearing up for the new season which kicks off on 1 August and which we are all looking forward to.

Have a great week and enjoy the fine weather while it lasts!!