Te Akau TV - Weekend Preview

CLOSING OUT A BIG SEASON FOR TE AKAU!

As we bring you our final Te Akau TV for the season, it’s only fitting to pause and reflect on what has been another remarkable chapter for the Tangerine Team and our owners.

Across New Zealand and Australia, this season has delivered at every level and again leads the Trainers' Premiership by every benchmark - for wins, black type wins and prize money won.

Our season has been highlighted by multiple Group 1 success, consistent black type performances, and a strike rate that underlines the strength and depth of our operation. With 110 winners in New Zealand, more than $7.5 million in stake earnings, and further success across Australia, it’s been a campaign defined by performance, resilience, and momentum.

In fact - we have won over $10 million in prizemoney for our owners across our trans-Tasman stables! Behind every result sits the dedication of our team, the belief and loyalty of our owners, and the quality of the horses that continue to carry the Te Akau name so proudly on both sides of the Tasman.

Te Akau Racing heads into another action-packed weekend with runners engaged across New Zealand and Australia, with black type firmly in focus and depth right across the grades.

From Listed and Group features at Te Rapa, Riccarton and Adelaide, to strong representation at Werribee and Ellerslie into Monday, the Tangerine Team will again be well represented on both sides of the Tasman.

Leading the charge early on Friday, Zantabulous lines up in the Listed Jennian Homes ANZAC Mile at Otaki, bringing consistent form into her first stakes' assignment this preparation. She is joined on the card by Emma Twigg, while in Victoria, Future Frankie and Seven Oceans represent the stable at Werribee.

Saturday shapes as the headline day, with a strong Te Rapa contingent led by Qali Al Farrasha in the Group 2 Travis Stakes over 2000m. The talented mare looks to bounce back to her best in a race that suits, while the Group 3 Cambridge Breeders’ Stakes sees a powerful duo engaged - Drops Of God, King’s English, and Avantaggia who currently sits on the ballot - all in the hunt for valuable black type.

Supporting the feature runners at Te Rapa, promising juvenile debutant System Of Play and the experienced Talisker add interest and depth earlier in the programme, while Sense Of Timing and Legally Binding contest the sprint.

Heading to the 'Garden City' also on Saturday at Riccarton, stakes' opportunities continue with What You Wish For targeting the Group 3 Canterbury Gold Cup over 2000m, a race that looks ideal for the genuine stayer. In the Listed Warstep Stakes, Aishiteru and Perlino both step up to 2000m, while Trobriand contests the Listed Great Easter Stakes over 1400m.

In Australia, Te Akau has further representation at Morphettville, including Wonderful Sky in the Group 3 2YO Breeders’ Stakes and Geegees Mistruth in the $1 million Group 1 Robert Sangster Stakes, adding further trans-Tasman interest to the weekend.

Attention then turns to Ellerslie on Monday, where a large team of developing horses line up across the programme. With multiple maidens engaged - including Naughty Grannie, Chica De Oro, Centurial, Luvabeel, Sabatini, Dare To Proisir, Geneva Queen, and Trouble Maker - the stable has strong opportunities to build momentum into the new week. Avantaggia is also entered in the ANZAC Day Handicap 1200m.

It’s a fantastic way to round out the season from Te Akau TV, with a strong line-up of feature racing set to keep everyone entertained across the long weekend.

To all our owners and connections, thank you. Your support, belief, and passion are what drive everything we do, and it’s a privilege to share these moments with you throughout the season. There’s been plenty to celebrate, and plenty of hard work behind the scenes to get us here.

Wishing everyone the very best of luck over the weekend! GO THE TANGERINE!