Te Akau TV Weekend Preview
Date: 5 Oct 2024
It’s been a fantastic week for the team at Te Akau, with our horses delivering exceptional performances that have made us incredibly proud!
Reflecting on the week that was, it all started on Friday at Te Rapa, where My Lips are Sealed secured a well-earned win with a brilliant turn of foot in the final stages. At Riccarton, Age of Discovery lived up to his potential with a classy performance, taking control down the straight to claim victory. This was an especially memorable win, as we celebrated Mark Walker’s 2000th winner! Walker’s stellar career has seen him dominate New Zealand and Singapore, earning 11 Champion Trainer titles and training 36 Group 1 winners. In 2022, he set the fastest 100 wins and the New Zealand record of 203 wins in a season. We couldn’t be prouder of this incredible achievement! Congratulations Mark!
It didn't end there at Riccarton with El Viento proving too strong for his competitors. The week then took us to Matamata for a midweek Group 1 day with the relocation of the Arrowfield Plate Raceday. Despite the change, it was a day to celebrate for the team with winners. Wild Night notched his seventh win and remained unbeaten in three starts on his home track which was a thrill for the team as he had over 240 days off the scene and made a tough comeback. It was fantastic to see him return to winning form. His stablemate What You Wish For also put in a gutsy effort, scanning the field to storm home with a well-deserved victory in a tightly contested race.
Other notable performances included Captured by Love, who ran a solid race to secure third, hinting at even better things to come. Skew Wiff also stood out, finishing a close second in a competitive field, showing she’s right on the verge of a breakthrough win. And then at Cranbourne, Exuberance lived up to her name, bringing home a thrilling victory for the team in Australia.
Looking ahead to this week, although we have a smaller number of runners, the quality remains strong. At Tauranga, our horses are in top shape, and we’re optimistic about some competitive runs. At Flemington, Truth or Dare will step up in the prestigious Listed Super Impose Stakes, a key lead-up to his target, the Victorian Derby. After his recent win at Cranbourne, we’re excited to see how he performs on this big stage.
Saturday also marks the final meeting in Singapore. It’s been bittersweet saying goodbye to our chapter there. Stay tuned next week as we look back at the highlights of our time in Singapore which has been so special. A heartfelt thank you to all our clients and owners who have been part of this journey—we will truly miss it!
Finally, on Sunday, we head to Awapuni’s synthetic. The team is well-prepared, and we look forward to adding to our success with last start winner Moon Rocket stepping out.
As we look towards the following week, excitement is building for the Livamol Classic, now relocated to Te Rapa from Hawkes Bay. Campionessa is primed after her fitness run at Matamata, and we’re eager for Group 1 day, no matter the location. These races are pivotal as a springboard for future form, and we anticipate plenty of exciting performances to emerge.
We’ve got some exciting weeks ahead, so let’s buckle in and look forward to what’s to come. Wishing all our runners and connections the very best of luck this weekend. We’ll be cheering loudly! Go the tangerine!