Te Akau Weekend Update

David writes:

Last Sunday will go down as one of the most memorable in Te Akau Racing’s proud history. 

Te Akau's Australian trainer Mark Walker and assistant trainer Ben Gleeson achieved something truly extraordinary when they saddled three runners in the A$400,000 Australian Grand National Steeplechase – and came home with our runners finishing first, second and third. 

Leaderboard, the former Wellington Cup and St Leger winner, was so brave when winning by 25 lengths with The Mighty Spar and Prismatic (a young jumper) filling the dividend placings behind him. 

A clean sweep in this prestigious race has never been achieved in the race's proud history - it was a performance that will be talked about for years to come. Both Mark and Ben were on course to witness the triumph first-hand, and they deserve every accolade.

Meanwhile, back home in New Zealand, Sam Bergerson produced a perfect result of his own, with the Matamata team taking three horses to the races at Taupo and coming home with three winners - a 100% strike rate. 

Achieving that on the same day as the Grand National trifecta was a remarkable double for Te Akau and a huge credit to the Matamata team, whose hard work is paying dividends.

August is always the toughest month of the year to train horses in New Zealand, with heavy tracks and challenging conditions, but our team has risen to the challenge magnificently. Their commitment and care are second to none, and Karyn and I couldn’t be prouder of them all - from Matamata to Cranbourne, Christchurch to the farm.

Another thrill for us all was seeing Opie Bosson ONZM back in the winner’s circle. At Taupo, he rode four winners on the programme – proof that he is enjoying his riding more than ever and he is fit and m motivated so watch out for the new season ahead. 

Opie also made the trip south to Riccarton mid-week, where he steered home Celtic Bling, an Embellish mare bred by Glenn and Catherine Holmes in partnership with Karyn and me. It was particularly satisfying to see a homebred salute, and for such good friends who we enjoy breeding and racing with.

On Thursday we had one horse step out on the Cambridge synthetic - and he returned a winner too.  Congratulations to our long-term, loyal client Ronald Lau on the win with Colonel Warden, a Russian Revolution gelding purchased by me from the Magic Millions' Sale.

An interesting statistic that was pointed out to me after that win - every horse I purchased from that sale has now won at least one race, some winning more - among them Group 1 winners Captured By Love and Move To Strike.

This race day success has given Te Akau a flying start to the new season. Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson currently sit at the top of the Trainers’ Premiership with seven wins and a strike rate of 3.8, while Opie has already ridden six winners at an impressive strike rate of 4.8.

Speaking of Move To Strike, I have taken great satisfaction from the way Lovatsville has been promoting our new stallion across Australasia. Based in Victoria ahead of this new breeding season, the professional marketing of this new sire has been led by Sam White – one of the most dynamic and energetic young men I have met. Sam is doing a simply outstanding job promoting Move To Strike and thanks to his efforts, Move To Strike has almost a full book of mares this season, and I look forward to seeing him again in the flesh in the Spring.

While the racing has been wonderful, it has been a more challenging time for me personally. In July, Karyn and I headed away for our winter holiday. The day before our return I began feeling unwell, and though I felt better by the time we flew home, within two days I was very sick and admitted to hospital. 

The result was major surgery to remove a kidney. I spent almost two weeks in hospital before being discharged in recent days, and I am now slowly recovering. To be back in my own bed was the best feeling, and each day I am regaining a little more strength.

I want to thank everyone who has sent messages and well wishes – they have meant a lot to me and Karyn. I also want to acknowledge the excellent care I received at Auckland Hospital. At one point I had a drip in each arm, lines in my stomach and in my back, but the specialists and nursing professionals looked after me with great knowledge and compassion. And of course, I cannot thank Karyn enough for being by my side and taking such wonderful care of me during this time.

On the farm, it has been an interesting month as winter loosens its grip. We endured very wet conditions, followed by eight frosts in ten days, and right now the grass cover is as short as we’ve seen in August for many years. But the days are lengthening, we’ve applied fertiliser, and with some rain the pastures will soon respond.  

We also had some excellent results with the cattle. This past week we sold a unit of 40 steers which fetched $3,257.10 each (plus GST), a figure that Greenlea Premier Meats told me was the highest they had ever paid for a line of cattle. Congratulations to Luke Copeland and Mick Morrison for their outstanding stockmanship – you don’t achieve those results unless animals are cared for to the highest standard.

I must also acknowledge Greenlea Premier Meats Ltd and its CEO Tony Egan. Greenlea is one of the best-operated companies in New Zealand, with exceptional staff, strong values, community and social responsibility, with a generous approach to community giving. 

As a family-owned and operated business, Greenlea invests in so many important initiatives - over the years, it has established the Greenlea Foundation Trust, become the principal sponsor of the Greenlea Rescue Helicopter and supported New Zealand throughout the Covid-19 pandemic with over 10 tonnes of beef mince in collaboration with The Salvation Army and St Vincent de Paul.

I am a proud to be a client of Greenlea, and my agent Alan Radford - who has been buying for me since 1979 and who bought these steers as yearlings – remains the finest fat stock buyer I have ever known. Alan’s skill, judgement and communication are world-class, and I greatly respect him.

Looking ahead, I am eager to get back to the farm in the coming week. Ironically, we are hoping for rain now, as pasture growth does not resume after a frost until moisture arrives. With Spring just around the corner, I am confident conditions will soon improve.

There has need another quite incredible success story recently - one that doesn't involve racing! I also want to congratulate Hugh Jackson (the son of our Business Manager Jenny Jackson JP and her husband John) who was recently crowned New Zealand Young Farmer of the Year. 

Hugh is an outstanding young man with a big future ahead, and it was wonderful to see him interviewed by Jack Tame on his Q & A programme on the Jackson's coastal property last Sunday. We are proud to count the Jackson family amongst our very close friends, and it was terrific to see Hugh’s achievement, dedication and knowledge recognised nationally.

Although August is traditionally a quieter month for racing, we have some very exciting prospects aimed at the big spring races in September, October, and November. This is always an exhilarating time of year also watching our new stars emerge, alongside proven names, and we cannot wait to see what unfolds.

I hope you are having a great weekend, and as always – Go the Tangerine!