Te Akau Tuesday Update

David writes:

Well at first light this morning we had Costa Viva arrive back at Te Akau Stud after a disappointing campaign in Australia.  I say disappointing NOT because of the way she performed but because at each of her three starts she practically drew the outside which made it just impossible for us to see the best of this very good filly.

Seeing "Viva" (as we know her) arrive home made me think what a terrific result we have had with our three year olds this year - so I went through and had a look at the performance of the three year olds that I had bought at public auction as yearlings and it makes interesting reading:

Vilanova won the Group 2 Autumn Classic in Victoria and the Group 3 Grand Prix Stakes in Queensland. He was also third in the Group 1 Queensland Derby. He was purchased by me for $150,000 from draft of Haunui Farm.

War Affair as a 3YO won the Group 3 Singapore Sprint, the Group 2 Singapore Classic and the Group 1 Singapore Guineas.  Following on from this crown as Singapore's Champion 2YO, he is now Singapore 3YO Champion.  I bought him from the draft of Trelawney Stud for $70,000.

Then there was Spellbinder who won the Listed NZB Insurance Karaka Mile and the Listed Soliloquy Stakes - I purchased her from the draft of Mapperley Stud for $60,000.

Costa Viva won the Group 1 NZ 1000 Guineas and I purchased her from the Magic Million Gold Coast sale for $100,000 from the draft of Coolmore Stud who had pin hooked her. She also won the Listed Ray Coupland Stakes. She is the NZB Filly of the Year - Te Akau's fifth title winner.

The 3YOs of this season that I have bought have won a total of nine black type races including two Group 1's.  Then I looked down and saw what "could have been" and those results just underline the strength of this group:

Costa Viva was also second in the Group 2 Eight Carat and the Group 3 Gold Trail Stakes as well as third in the Group 3 Desert Gold Stakes.

Chambord was runner up in the Group 1 2000 Guineas and the Listed Ray Coupland Stakes (the latter being a Te Akau quinella).  He was also third in the Group 2 Great Northern Guineas.

Spellbinder (pictured) finished second in the Group 2 Sir Tristram Fillies' Classic and the Group 3 James and Annie Sarten Memorial.  She was also third in the Group 1 NZ 1000 Guineas.

Aspen was third in the Group 1 Levin Classic.

Dreamer was second in the Listed Canterbury Belle Stakes.

Ruthless Lady was second in the Listed Soliloquy Stakes (a stable quinella).

It is to be remembered that while selected and purchased by me, War Affair and Vilanova are not currently trained at Te Akau.  However I think you will agree that is a great effort from this line up and there is a lot more in store for these horses for sure as they turn four.

Today I have a couple of great friends coming for lunch to inspect the two yearlings that I bought on the Gold Coast.  The Fastnet Rock filly is simply magnificent and is breaking in superbly. Currently our head breaker James Jackson is putting the finishing breaking-in touches on the final group of yearlings that I have bought.