Te Akau TV - All Eyes on the Track: Our Weekend Racing Preview Is Here
Date: 12 Oct 2023
Rev up for Racing! We're ready for another stellar weekend as the team takes the plunge, aiming to add to our tally of 4 Group & Listed race victories in New Zealand this season!
Welcome to this episode of Te Akau TV, where we dive into another exciting Group 1 weekend in the world of horse racing. Our NZ co-trainer Sam Bergerson walks us through the black-type races you won't want to miss on Saturday and we will also see some fantastic 'supporting acts' at four different venues this weekend.
Our team kept its winning momentum going over the weekend, starting with a Te Akau treble in the south: Talisker, Insatiable and Our Milly Bee all saluted at Timaru, the treble bringing up Te Akau's southern win tally to 17 this season. What a terrific achievement, and testament to the hard work and planning by Mark and Sam, with our southern team of Ashley, Kendyll, Amit and recent arrival Steph really flying!
In the North, talented mare Petrucci was on song on her home track, to the delight of her owners Trelawney Stud. Well done to Cherry and Brent, and Faith Taylor.
No time for rest following last weekend, the team taking 58 of our horses to the Matamata trials. This was an exciting opportunity to showcase our new season two-year-olds and the horses preparing for their upcoming campaigns. Te Akau horses impressed, winning around a third of the trials. But what's equally exciting are the eye-catching performances by our other horses in behind the winners. Our team has our horses fit, healthy happy and primed for their new assignments over Spring and into Summer!
So, as commentator and recent Outstanding Contribution to Racing Excellence honouree George Simon would say "let's bring it on"!
This weekend we’re treated to another round of great racing and a special mention to our super-consistent striking grey mare Aromatic as she hunts down Group 1 glory at Hastings. Like a fine wine, she's improved with age. With six wins, 11 second placings, and five other placings to her credit, let's raise a toast to her - 'good luck for the Livamol Vino' (as we know her)!
Te Akau also lines up two starters in the Group 3 Valley D’Vine Restaurant Spring Sprint. Romancing The Moon, last season's Group 1 Levin Classic winner, is looking to continue her winning streak, and she'll be facing competition from her in-form stablemate Puketiro.
Meanwhile, in the mighty South Island, Viva Vienna and Star of Justice vie for black-type honours in the Group 3 Barneswood Farm Stakes at the Ashburton meeting. Te Akau has won this race seven times, with three of those winners going on to claim Group 1 honours during Cup Week at Riccarton.
We close off Saturday evening with nine runners from our Singapore stable at Kranji - while we settle in to watch New Zealand's General Election results.. and if that's not enough to keep you awake - GO THE ALL BLACKS on Sunday morning too!
Don't forget to catch our 'Tangerine Tip of The Weekend' - the team have a pretty good strike rate!
A special shoutout goes to the New Zealand connection representing us in Sydney for The Everest. We wish Mark and Pippa, Garry and Mary Chittick, and the entire Waikato Stud team the best of luck. It was a pleasure to train I Wish I Win before he made his move to Sydney so we will all be cheering for you all the way!
Best wishes to all our runners and connections this weekend. Go Team Tangerine!
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