Tangerine Takeover: An unforgettable Black Type Weekend, and the excitement continues in the South this Weekend!

We've only just managed to come up for air from what would arguably be one of Te Akau's best ever days on the track, taking out some incredible wins that left us in awe on both sides of the Tasman! Unbelievable scenes for Team Tangerine, a feeling that simply can't be matched!

Our Black Type weekend went a little like this:

Group 1 Westbury Stud Tarzino Trophy @ Hawkes Bay Racing:

Skew Wiff, under the expert guidance of our talented stable rider Opie Bosson, secured her victory in style, showcasing her prowess in one of the best Group 1 fields we've witnessed for this race. This win marks Opie Bosson's 91st Group One triumph, and it's also Sam Bergerson’s first Group 1 win as a trainer—a remarkable achievement after just 39 days as our co-trainer! Our heartfelt congratulations go out to team Waikato Stud for entrusting us with this spirited mare. With her eyes now set on some Australian targets, we can't wait to see what the future holds for this exceptional talent.

Group 2 Mitty's McEwen Stakes @ Mooney Valley:

Imperatriz, the reigning queen of our stable, made a spectacular debut, leaving no doubt about her dominance on the turf. The launch of our Australian stable couldn't have been more spectacular with her stepping out as our first runner at The Valley. A big shout out to our Australian Assistant Trainer Ben Gleeson for all his support across the ditch from NZ with her and our team. Imperatriz's performance was breathtaking as she sailed to victory in the Group 2 McEwen Stakes, masterfully ridden by Mick Dee, beating Rothfire and Giga Kick, breaking the 1000m track record in a scoring time! International ratings issues today confirm her as currently the best sprint mare in the world on that effort!

Group 3 HB Thoroughbred Breeders Assn Gold Trail Stakes @ Hawkes Bay Racing:

Quintessa soared to victory at Hastings, with Opie Bosson achieving his second Black Type win of the day. A remarkable feat indeed from the outside gate, marking a hat-trick of wins for this talented filly and delivering a well-deserved victory for part-owner Stacey Jones on the eve of the NZ Warriors' game.

Listed El Roca - Sir Colin Meads Trophy @ Hawkes Bay Racing:

Tokyo Tycoon made a thunderous return for his 3YO career, showcasing his prowess with a superb victory in the Listed El Roca - Sir Colin Meads Trophy. Opie Bosson expertly guided him to this impressive win. Kudos to co-trainer Sam Bergerson for securing his first stakes' win, the first of three on the day, a momentous achievement in itself. But the winning weekend didn't stop there for this flashy horse. At Sunday's NZTR Horse Of The Year Awards, he was crowned Champion 2YO Of The Year, capping off an unbelievable weekend for this rising star and his owners!

Indeed, it has been an incredible start to the season, boasting an impressive 2.85 strike rate and a fantastic 26 wins. This includes two winners at Cambridge yesterday, the perfect way to continue our winning streak after Te Akau's 5-win Saturday.

The winning weekend did not stop there as we descended on the NZTR Horse Of The Year Awards on Sunday. On the back of a record-breaking season, Te Akau Racing was honoured with four prestigious titles for the 2022/23 season:

• Champion Two-Year-Old of the Year: Tokyo Tycoon


• Champion Sprinter/Miler of the Year: Imperatriz


• Trainers’ Premiership: Mark Walker


• Champion Trainer of the Year: Mark Walker 

We are immensely proud of these achievements, which elevate Te Akau’s Awards Honour Roll to a total of 55 titles. We can’t thank our owners enough for all their loyalty and support.

As we gear up for another weekend of thrilling Black Type action, Our Racing Manager, Reece Trumper, takes the stage on Te Akau TV this week to break down the excitement from the past weekend and give you all the details for the upcoming three days of racing — Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

We've got action-packed events happening at Taupo, Riccarton Park, and Te Rapa, so get ready for an exciting ride! Among the highlights, we have our eyes on the talented 3YO fillies Viva Vienna and Rhetorical, both aiming for victory in the Listed New Zealand Bloodstock Canterbury Belle Stakes. We're no strangers to success in this race, having claimed victory four times, including last year with the talented One Kiss. Additionally, keep an eye out for our Group 1 winners, Romancing The Moon on Friday at Taupo and On The Bubbles on Sunday at Te Rapa. A great team in this weekend and we're eagerly anticipating following our brigade of runners.

And don't forget to catch our 'Tangerine Best of the Week' tip of the weekend, which currently boasts an impressive 100% strike rate.

Next week, our focus shifts to Tauranga and Awapuni before circling back to Hastings for the highly anticipated Group 1 Arrowfield Plate Raceday the week after which will feature some key runners for team Te Akau!

Let's maintain the momentum and continue the winning streak! Thank you to everyone for your unwavering support.

GO THE TANGERINE!