Te Akau TV Weekend Preview
28 February, 2025
TANGERINE DREAMS: A WEEKEND OF BLACK TYPE EXCITEMENT AWAITS!
As we approach the end of the summer racing season, the Te Akau team shows no signs of slowing down! Let’s take a look at the highlights from the past week and what’s on the horizon for the team this weekend!
It was another successful week for Te Akau owners, with strong performances across the board, including four winners recorded from the Wanganui and Taupo meetings.
At Wanganui, Santarelli showed plenty of promise, securing victory in impressive fashion. Meanwhile, it was a dominant day at Taupo with Shockabella, Lady of Court and Court of Appeal all producing winning efforts, adding to the stable’s momentum as we head into another exciting week of racing. The win of Court of Appeal brought our New Zealand season win tally to 90 - a mighty effort by our team and congratulations to the connections of those winners!
In other news this week, you may have seen David Ellis CNZM sit down with Michael on the Guerin Report to talk about all things Te Akau - from growth, to his love of and success at the sales, plus his thoughts on the industry, his Hall of Fame induction, and what’s next for the Tangerine! If you missed it, please click here to view.
This weekend it's another a busy schedule, with key racing at Matamata, Wingatui and Trentham. The southern team will be well represented on Saturday with strong contenders across three feature races at Wingatui:
Listed Property Brokers Ray Kean Dunedin Guineas – Star Shadow steps up to stakes' company after an encouraging start to the season but she will need two scratchings to make the field.
Listed Positive Signs + Print Dunedin Gold Cup – Elegant Lady and Family Ties take on the staying feature, both bringing good form into the race.
Group 3 White Robe Lodge Weight For Age – Perfect Scenario looks to add another stakes' victory to his record in the time-honoured WFA event. Having won this in both 2023 and 2024, he is hunting down a rare 'three-peat' and the WFA conditions will suit.
The team will also be in action at Trentham on Sunday with Insatiable poised for action.
Looking Ahead: Next week, all eyes turn to Barfoot & Thompson Champions' Day at Auckland Thoroughbred Racing's Ellerslie track. Bring on what will be a pinnacle day for New Zealand racing with the introduction of the NZB Kiwi - we simply can't wait and are thrilled to be involved in the first edition of the Southern Hemisphere's richest 3YO race - our slot holder Damask Rose is primed and ready to pounce! Quality galloper Class will step out in the new Windsor Park Stud 3YO Trophy - the racefrom where the emergencies from the NZB Kiwi will be nominated.
We are excited to see some of our other stable stars take their place on the day, including Matamata Group winners Return To Conquer and La Dorada will face off in the Group 1 Sistema Stakes joined by He Who Dares and Marokopa Falls. Hakkinen, Qali Al Farrasha, Campionessa and Midnight Blue will also chase Group 1 spoils. I'm A Dirty Rascal is Group 2 Barfoot & Thompson Auckland Cup bound while this week's winner Shockabella has her black type chance in the Group 3 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Sunline Vase.
Thank you once again to all our owners for your unwavering support as we look forward to another quality weekend ahead! GO THE TANGERINE!