Te Akau TV - 1000 Reasons to Support the Girls This Weekend!

It’s finally here - one of our favourite carnivals of the year, Christchurch Cup and Show Week - one of the most exciting and tradition-rich weeks on the New Zealand racing calendar!

Before looking ahead, let's reflect on last weekend’s exciting results. Te Akau recorded four winners in Australia within 24 hours, including a polished maiden win by Melody Belle's daughter Lyrics ’n’ Song, continuing a terrific Spring run for our Cranbourne stable. The team’s consistency across both countries reflects the hard work of every team member and the loyalty of every owner involved - a truly collective effort that defines the Tangerine culture.

This weekend ahead for Te Akau Racing, it’s a weekend loaded with opportunity, and the perfect stage to celebrate the strength of our team on both sides of the Tasman and some of our best results for Te Akau over the years have come through this week!

Fun fact: Did you know that Te Akau has had seven Group 1 NZ 2000 Guineas and seven Group 1 NZ 1000 Guineas' winners!

As you will hear from Sam Bergerson in this weeks Te Akau TV we start our Saturday action at Pukekohe Park, where four Tangerine runners will line up, but all eyes will soon turn south to Riccarton Park, the beating heart of this year’s Cup and Show Week. It’s a special meeting for everyone involved - a blend of history, excitement and black-type racing that defines the Spring carnival.

The main stage has been set as all eyes turn to Riccarton with 12 Te Akau runners take to the track, including several headline acts.

Insatiable continues his strong form as he lines up in the Listed Donaldson Brown Pegasus Stakes, looking to add another win to his record. In the Group 3 Windsor Park Stud Canterbury Breeders’ Stakes, our attention turns to Captured By Love, back in the South Island where she thrives. Very clear memories here of her brilliant Group 1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas victory this time last season! We’re also well represented in the Listed Metropolitan Trophy, with both Elegant Lady and Court of Appeal stepping up in distance and shaping as strong contenders over 2600 metres.

Then comes the feature everyone waits for - the Group 1 Barneswood Farm New Zealand 1000 Guineas, the 53rd running of this prestigious fillies’ classic. It’s a race Te Akau knows well and has won before, and this year we line up a formidable four-strong attack: Cool Aza Rene, Belle Du Monde, Origin Of Love, and Belle Cheval. Each filly brings her own style and story, and together they underline the depth of our 3YO team this spring.

While Riccarton commands the spotlight, the northern stable fields a smart supporting team at Pukekohe Park. Several progressive types resume or continue their campaigns there, ensuring the stable will be represented from morning until evening across the country.

Trans-Tasman weekend also pushes forward as from our Australian team this weekend, we’re looking forward to having runners across several venues - starting tonight at Pakenham, where Stage ’n’ Screen lines up in the Benchmark 66 (1200 m).

On Saturday, Tower Bridge lines up at Geelong, while Jenni’s Meadow takes her place at Flemington on the final day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival - both of which Ben Gleeson will preview on Te Akau TV. It follows an exciting Derby Day for the stable, highlighted by Geegees Mistruth’s brave second in the Group 3 Rising Fast Stakes, as we proudly saddled five runners on one of the most prestigious days in Australian racing.

Looking ahead, we’re Ready To Run! Next week, the focus briefly shifts from the racetrack to the sales' ring, with the NZB Ready to Run Sale taking place on Wednesday 13 and Thursday 14 November at Karaka.

We warmly invite owners and followers to join us on-site. David Ellis CNZM is looking forward to returning to Karaka, inspecting the next generation of yearlings and identifying future Te Akau stars such as Gingernuts, Hall of Fame and Te Akau Shark. It’s always an exciting time - a chance to see the future before it unfolds.

From Group 1 racing at Riccarton to Cup and Show Week celebrations, and runners right across New Zealand and Australia, it’s a weekend that encapsulates everything we love about racing.

We wish all our owners, connections, and team members the very best of luck, and we look forward to celebrating another memorable weekend together. GO THE TANGERINE!