Te Akau TV - Weekend Preview

IT'S A MAGIC START TO 2026 FROM THE SALE TO THE SADDLE FOR TE AKAU!

Welcome to this week’s edition of Te Akau TV - and we have a very special little guest joining NZ Co-Trainer Reece Trumper this week, none other than our very own Poppy!

We have certainly set the tone for 2026 the way Te Akau means to continue - celebrating quality horses, great rides, and winning performances. Racing into the New Year in winning style, it was a statement start across both our New Zealand and Australian stables.

Four wins on New Year’s Day delivered an unforgettable opening to the year, highlighted by success at Ellerslie and capped off with a sharp debut victory at Mornington in Australia.

At Ellerslie, Drops Of God dazzled once again, stepping up in grade and putting her rivals away in style under a confident ride from Opie Bosson, recording her second win. Kinnaird then stamped himself as a serious talent with a powerful victory in the Group 2 SkyCity Auckland Eclipse Stakes, securing Te Akau’s sixth Eclipse Stakes win. It was a textbook ride from Opie Bosson and a performance that firmly announced Kinnaird as a major TAB Karaka Millions 2YO contender, while also becoming the first stakes winner by Home Affairs for Coolmore.

Completing a brilliant Ellerslie four-fold for Opie Bosson and three winners on the day for Te Akau, Towering Vision charged home from last to score impressively, confirming he remains right on track for his Group 1 Trackside New Zealand Derby preparation.

The winning momentum continued the following weekend, with Zantabulous saluting at Te Aroha, before La Dorada delivered a performance befitting her Champion Two-Year-Old title. Quality prevailed as the Super Seth filly returned to winning form in the $400,000 Levin Track Supporters Levin Classic (Gr. 2, 1400m) at Trentham with Craig Grylls, marking Te Akau’s second Group 2 victory in just 72 hours following Kinnaird’s Eclipse Stakes success.

Across the Tasman, the celebrations were continued as Sheanadh made it four wins for the day with a sharp debut victory at Mornington - a perfect exclamation point on a memorable start to the year. The winning did not stop there as just yesterday we also had When Stars Align winning again at Tauranga - remaining unbeaten on the course!

While we have a slightly quieter weekend in terms of runner numbers, the quality is still oozing. These are important days as we continue to build toward the bigger targets on the horizon, with several horses stepping out as part of their preparations at this time of year. There are also some key movers racing across New Zealand and Australia, giving us plenty to look forward to.

We have runners racing from Friday through Sunday, and it’s great to see such depth across the team. Racing gets underway today at Otaki, where Man Of Style kicks things off in the opening race over the mile. Zambrosia steps out shortly after in the Aquashield Roofing Maiden over 1200m.

Saturday is a true Trans-Tasman day, with runners at Wanganui, Flemington, and Kumara. The action begins at Wanganui with Petite Rocher, followed by Queen’s Evidence in the three-year-old event and Egyptian Queen contesting the BM75. Across the Tasman, Seven Oceans represents the team at Flemington in the Jockey Celebration Sprint, stepping up to a high-quality sprint assignment.

Later in the day, Cognoscenti lines up in the Speights / Super Liquor BM75 over 1810m at Kumara on the famous Kumara Gold Nuggets Day - a day well worth adding to the racing bucket list for those who haven’t experienced it before.

Sunday sees all eyes turn to Ellerslie, featuring a strong line-up. Zaharias steps out in the Stella Artois 2YO in what shapes as an exciting race ahead of the Karaka Millions, where she will be aiming to earn prize money toward a start in the big dance on 24 January. King’s English follows in the Elsdon Park 3YO, before Day One contests the Listed Gingernuts Salver over 2100m, having won impressively when last seen at Ellerslie in December. Dream Of The Moon rounds out the weekend for the team.

Off the track, the focus shifts to the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, where the Te Akau team is now on the ground and ready to strike.

From this very sale, Te Akau Racing has sourced an extraordinary roll-call of elite performers, including Group 1 winners Imperatriz, Sword Of State, Captured By Love, Move To Strike, Return To Conquer, Campionessa, Princess Coup, Costa Viva, and Tell A Tale - horses that went on to achieve success at the highest level.

Independent research conducted by Magic Millions over the past five years places David Ellis CNZM at the top when it comes to yearling purchases that progress to black-type winners. It’s a powerful endorsement of a simple philosophy: buy the right horse, from the right sale, with the right preparation and people behind it - alongside the loyal owners who make it all possible.

That’s why we encourage you to watch what we buy.

If you’d like to be involved, you can join our Te Akau Priority List. Those on the list receive daily, personalised emails throughout the sale, outlining the horses we have purchased, our thoughts on them, and opportunities to take part. It’s the closest you can be to the action without being ringside. Simply email [email protected] and we’ll make sure you’re on the list.

The 2026 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale is shaping as a sale like no other, with an incredible catalogue of racing’s next generation of stars. Across Books One and Two, 1,221 yearlings will be offered from 13–18 January, featuring progeny of 122 sires, strong representation from first-season stallions, and outstanding depth from stakes and Group One-winning mares.

While the sale officially begins on Tuesday, our work has been well underway. The team conducted extensive on-farm inspections late last year and is now completing final inspections on the ground, assessing athleticism, temperament, scope, and suitability for elite racing programmes.

This sale continues to produce champions - from sprint stars to Classic winners, and even a Melbourne Cup winner. For Te Akau, the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale has long been a cornerstone of our success, and the results speak for themselves.

There is plenty to look forward to over the coming weeks so buckle on in and enjoy the ride alongside us. Best of luck to our owners and connections the very best of luck across the weekend! GO THE TANGERINE!