Te Akau TV - Festive Preview

'TIS THE FESTIVE RACING SEASON!
MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM TE AKAU RACING!

‘Tis the festive racing season, and at Te Akau we’re right in the thick of it — full of Christmas cheer, summer sunshine (sometimes!), and plenty of ho-ho-ho-horses as we race straight through the holidays.

Christmas Day may be here, but the morning at Te Akau begins just like any other. Before most of us wake — and while Santa is still busy delivering gifts — our dedicated team are already at the stables, caring for our horses and making sure every one of them is fed, worked, and well looked after. It’s a 365-day commitment, with a few extra carrots handed out today for good measure.

To our incredible team, thank you for turning up with the same care, pride, and passion every single day. Our horses are lucky to have you — and so are we. And to our owners, friends, and supporters, we hope today is filled with family, laughter, good food, and a well-earned glass (or two). Enjoy every moment, because tomorrow we race.

Welcome to this special Christmas Edition of Te Akau TV, perfectly timed to have your Boxing Day entertainment sorted. As always, this is one of the busiest and most exciting periods on the racing calendar, and while many are putting their feet up, our team is already focused on what matters most — tomorrow we race.

This time of year carries a special energy around the stables, but it also demands an enormous effort from our people. Christmas into the New Year is anything but quiet for our racing team, and we are incredibly grateful to everyone across the operation who continues to show up with care, commitment, and professionalism throughout the hectic summer campaign.

Before we dive into the festive racing ahead, please enjoy a special Christmas message from David and Karyn below, sharing their thanks and appreciation to our team, owners, and supporters for another remarkable year at Te Akau Racing.

Boxing Day sees Te Akau well represented across key meetings, with runners stepping out at Ellerslie, Wingatui, and Ōtaki, alongside Australian representation at Sandown Lakeside. As always over the summer ‘break’, we’ll be here, there, and everywhere.

Otaki features a strong group of Te Akau runners, while Wingatui shapes as a busy southern meeting with depth across staying races, three-year-old features, and the Southern Mile heats, ensuring strong stable representation throughout the afternoon.

Boxing Day at Ellerslie is the festive centrepiece and delivers elite racing and black-type action. Dream Of The Moon kicks things off in BM75 company before the spotlight turns to the Group 2 Auckland Guineas, where He Who Dares steps into top-level three-year-old company. The fillies take centre stage in the Group 2 Eight Carat Classic, with Stella Ma Bella representing the stable, before the day builds to the feature Group 1 Cambridge Stud Zabeel Classic, where Qali Al Farrasha contests the 2000-metre weight-for-age showpiece.

Across the Tasman, Te Akau also features on Boxing Day at Sandown Lakeside, with Stage ’N’ Screen lining up in the Ken Sturt Handicap over 1400 metres.

And the festive racing doesn’t stop there. As the weekend unfolds and we roll toward the New Year, Te Akau will continue to be represented across multiple meetings, with runners stepping out at Pukekohe and Arawa Park on 27 December, alongside Australian runners at Cranbourne. Racing continues on 28 December with further Te Akau representation at Taupō, Timaru, and Seymour, as our summer campaign rolls on at full pace.

So, as you relax over the holiday period, settle into your favourite spot, and enjoy time with family and friends, we hope you’ll join us in soaking up the festive racing action — whether trackside or from afar.

As we close out the year and look ahead to what’s to come, our hearts are filled with gratitude for our wonderful owners and supporters. Your loyalty, enthusiasm, and belief mean everything to us. From Matamata to the farm, Cranbourne to the South Island, the entire Te Akau team joins together to wish you a very Merry Christmas and a New Year filled with excitement, opportunity, and the thrill of the track.

Racing truly is the gift that keeps on giving, and we’ll be back with a special New Year’s Day edition of Te Akau TV to kick-start 2026 on a high note! GO THE TANGERINE!