Te Akau Tuesday Update
Date: 30 Nov 2021
David writes:
What another great weekend (and Monday) for the team at Te Akau Racing!
I got an incredible thrill with the ‘Te Akau Trifecta' in the 2YO race at Te Aroha on Saturday (photo above).
The juvenile race was certainly one to enjoy - the trifecta was led home by the promising I Choose You (below), an I Am Invincible filly I purchased from the Gold Coast Sale in January. It was her first start and she gave a polished performance to overcome the staunch challenge of stablemate Grace 'N' Grey, with a margin back to Accidental Tourist, the second and third horses also purchased by me, but from Karaka.
What was extra special about the winning debut of I Choose You was that her owners also race Fastnet Rock filly Bright Blue Sky who won a 2YO stakes' race on debut seven days prior. What a tremendous week for these owners - two fillies in their partnership, both purchased from the Gold Coast by me (working with Andrew Williams as we couldn't travel due to COVID restrictions), and both winners of their first start!
Bright Blue Sky (below) is now getting ready to head to Sydney and then on to the Gold Coast to target the A$2 million Magic Millions 2YO race in January 2022.
This Te Aroha success was shortly followed by Aotea Lad taking out the $35,000 Dunstan Feeds Championship Qualifier in Wanganui. He was ridden incredibly well by our apprentice Niranjan Parmar who claimed 4kg in the race. Aotea Lad, a 5yo gelding by Savabeel, has now won over $325,000.
Aotea Lad made his mark by achieving the rare feat of winning a Group 2 race at his first start (below) - the Wakefield Challenge Stakes at Trentham. He then ran second in the Group 3 (now Group 2) Eclipse Stakes and the Karaka 2YO Million at Ellerslie, as well as the Group 3 Matamata Slipper. It is great to see him still winning races this season for his owners.
After having a successful Saturday in New Zealand, more was to follow in Singapore. Our Te Akau Singapore trainer Mark Walker signed off the 2021 Singapore racing season with a good win by King Arthur, a horse we train for John Galvin of Fortuna Racing. It was the last race meeting of the season - and we are thrilled that Mark claimed Trainers' Premiership honours for 2021, his fourth Singapore title. Well done Mark - just an unbelievable effort!
Last night we finally had the NZTR Horse of the Year Awards for the 2020/2021 season. This event had been twice delayed due to changing COVID restrictions' and so NZTR had to make the call to host them virtually.
Sponsored by broadcaster SENZ, Andrew Bensley hosted the special which was broadcast on Trackside - and what a night it was for Te Akau Racing!
Champion 2YO - Sword of State (runner up On the Bubbles)
Champion Sprinter/Miler - Probabeel (runner up Avantage, Melody Belle third)
Champion Middle Distance Horse - Melody Belle
NZB Filly of the Year - Amarelinha (also runner up Champion 3YO)
Stablehand of the Year - Ashley Handley (Te Akau Racing)
Trainer of the Year - Jamie Richards (Te Akau Racing - only nominee)
Horse of the Year - Probabeel (runner up Avantage, Melody Belle third)
WHAT A THRILL!!!! It was the fifth year in a row we have had the Champion 2YO of the Year (our eighth in total) and it is the third year in a row that we have won the Horse of the Year award with horses I have purchased and that we train.
I would also like to congratulate Danielle Johnson on being named Champion Jockey of the Year, with our stable rider Opie Bosson runner up. Also how great to see our good friend David Smith being awarded the NZTR Award for Outstanding Contribution to Racing. There are very few people who put who put as much back into racing as David Smith, who owns Dunstan Feeds.
David is a legend in the industry and in his own right and is also a well-respected former administrator. He is also a passionate owner and was a shareholder in Avantage. NZTR couldn't have picked a more deserving person for this award.
A massive congratulations to all of the winners from the other categories in these awards - the calibre of the nominees was at an all time high, and each winner had certainly earned its accolades and rewards.
Today Stephanie Hyde-Richards started breaking in our homebred yearlings on the farm. She does an amazing job and is an excellent horsewoman. It's always a thoroughly enjoyable time when we start to educate these youngsters and unearth what talent lies within.
Shares in our Ready to Run horses have sold remarkably quickly, yet I can't believe that there are still shares available in the Churchill gelding - who incidentally holds a nomination for the Karaka 2YO and Karaka 3YO Million.
I really like this horse. He has a terrific pedigree, and he has already won everyone's hearts at the stable - the track work riders say he gives them a ‘wicked feel'.
It's not too late to secure a share in this cracking 2YO, which I have to say would make an excellent Christmas present for a loved one! A gift that keeps on giving!! We also have gift vouchers available too!
Life on the farm is always busy. This week we will finish installing the new water system on the farm and we have just about completed our new set of yards and loading bay for the horses.
Now our attention turns to Trentham on Saturday where we have a really good team of horses ready to race! Obviously having a Te Akau trio contest the Group 1 Captain Cook Stakes makes us very proud. This edition promises to be one of the strongest staged for some time.
But the best news for the Te Akau Farmer was we had 6mls of rain this morning! We need all the rain we can get from now on.
Have a great week everyone and ...