Te Akau Tuesday Update

It's been a busy past few days with member sof the team everywhere!

David and Mark travelled to the Gold Coast last Tuesday and attended the red-hot broodmare sale.  It was a sale that broke all Southern Hemisphere records with the top priced mare Monsoon Wedding selling for A$2.3 million.

Interestingly we have a gorgeous rising 3YO filly called Opulent (Keeper/Silk Slipper) - and her dam is the half sister to the dam of this mega-priced mare.  Great family ties to have!  Opulent has already won a trial and heads back to the stable this week to prepare for her 3YO campaign which we are eagerly anticipating.

After the broodmare sale Jamie Richards joined the team which includes our vet Dr Doug Black and our great friend Sam Boyd as they began inspecting the yearlings we had earmarked.

With Singapore racing over the weekend, Mark returned there on Saturday.  On the same day, Jason flew to Brisbane as we had Precious Time and Costa Viva running at Eagle Farm.  If Viva ever gets a decent draw she will show the Australian racegoers what a talent she is.  She showed so much courage from her carpark draw after being posted three wide for much of the trip, she tried her heart out to be within two lengths of the winner.  As Australian form analyst Brett Davidson said to Karyn "really tough run from your filly - she has some guts".  She will now stay in Australia to target the Group 1 Tiara later in June.

Yesterday Karyn was up at 3.15am to drive to Auckland to meet our daughter Lydia and her partner Mitch off the plane from London at 5.45am - Lydia is home for four weeks. She is home as, to return to her job at Battersea in London for another two years, she had to come all the way home and apply in person to the British High Commission in Wellington for another two year visa.

We thought the British government would encourage such talented young people to apply for extensions whilst they are there (and have employer endorsement)  ... her task has been very demanding in terms of paperwork and having to come all the way back to reapply.  Left we forget those Commonwealth ties and the sacrifices so many Kiwis and Australians made for Britain in the World Wars.

Anyway it was a brief 15 minute reunion as Karyn had to get Lydia and Mitch straight on the 7.30am plane to Wellington - we are really looking forward to her arriving home to the farm on Saturday - Te Rapa races first and then a beautiful leg of lamb is on the agenda!

Today David has updated:

Just because I am on the Gold Coast at a horse sale doesn't mean the show doesn't keep  going …we won three of the first four trials today at Te Teko and Matt Cameron reported he rode some nice gallops at track work this morning.

At the stud we are busy sending 200 bulls to kill for export this week so Steve and Luke will be very busy.

The sale this week on the Gold Coast has been just enormous record- breaking wise - about 12 broodmares made over $1 million.  I have never seen such a strong sale.  Weanlings were making exceptional money - the industry here is in such great shape and we are only three hours away.

Yes I am here to buy more horses.  I have huge confidence in our industry and the future of racing and breeding in New Zealand and Australia.

We have now sold every yearling we bought from Karaka and Sydney and the South Island sale and we need more. That's right, we have bought 45 yearlings so far and all are sold.

It is simply heart-breaking to buy a colt or filly and have to turn people away who weren't quick enough. If you are keen to be involved in a yearling from this sale then please email Karyn now otherwise there is a chance you will miss out.  There are some really good types at this sale.

We have spent the morning at the sale looking at horses and then we have a lunch booking … today is our vet Dr Doug Black's turn to shout.  He is a Scotsman of course and he only shouts once a year so I can tell you that we make the most of that!

Tomorrow the National Yearling sale starts at 10.00am - if you would like to ring me please feel free to on +64 21 925151 or or if you are in NZ 021925151.

Be watching our website for updates of our yearling purchases - and again if you want to be involved, you better email Karyn now [email protected] or call me.