Te Akau Weekend Wrap

David writes:

The weekend started a little early when Karyn and I went to Auckland on Friday afternoon to take our youngest daughter Julia-Rose out for dinner for her birthday - her birthday is actually today, Sunday, but Friday was the most suitable for everyone and we had a lovely time together.  Lots of laughs.

Then on Saturday morning I was up early and back to the farm while Karyn stayed in Auckland and went to the races at Ellerslie and then had Weigh In today.

The most special time of the week for me is early on a Saturday morning when I get up at 4.30-4.45am - the first thing I do is go on the internet to see how Mark has gone on Friday night at Kranji.

Yesterday morning I was hoping that he would have another win to cement his first international Trainers' Premiership however I was just over the moon, so happy to see he had trained three winners on Friday night.  He is now 12 wins in front on the Premiership with and with just one weekend of racing to go - he looks home!

Next weekend is the final weekend of racing for the 2015 Singapore season as the Singapore Turf Club works to a calendar year - and what an unbelievable achievement it has been from Mark and all of his team to win the Singapore Trainers' Premiership.

We all know how good the prize money is in Singapore too and as of Saturday morning, our Singapore stable has won a phenomenal $4.67 million in stakes for our owners during the season.

On Saturday morning I thought back to the very first day that Mark started work as a young 17 year old boy at Te Akau (about 24-25 years ago) and what an unbelievable 'ride' it has been since.

Talking about good rides - it is not just our Singapore stable that is on fire.  Steve and Jamie and all the team at Matamata are also having a fantastic run and not just at the New Zealand Cup Carnival - but up north too!  In the past couple of weeks, all of the horses have raced well and I saw a lot of horses that will win over Christmas and the New Year.

Tomorrow I will be out on the farm nice and early before daylight, making sure all the sheep and cattle and horses are in good shape because tomorrow I start my yearling inspections with Joe Walls.

Our first stop is Blandford Lodge and we are also seeing two other smaller drafts in Matamata.  Then we have our annual Owners' Event in Matamata where we show our owners their horses and have some drinks and nibbles to celebrate the festive season and the success that our owners have helped us achieve in the past few months.

November was a vintage month for the Te Akau New Zealand team and Steve and Jamie are leading the Premiership by five, with 38 wins including five at Group and Listed level, stakes' earnings of $961,095 and a strike rate of 4.82.  Those are unbelievable statistics and I am so proud of how the whole team is going.

Talking about racing this weekend - wasn't it incredible to see Darci Brahma sire the winners of the Group 1 Captain Cook Stakes and Group 2 Wakefield Challenge Stakes at Trentham on Saturday?

At the risk of repeating myself, Darci Brahma is a truly great sire and for a very long time, I have been telling that to anyone who will listen.  It just surprises me the lack of support that Darci gets from New Zealand breeders - afterall he leaves WFA performers, he leaves two year olds, he leaves Oak's winners, he leaves horses that win from 880m to 2600m - he is just a top class and versatile sire.

I remember the day in 2004 when Mark and I bought Darci at Karaka.  It was very late in the sale and we literally didn't have one owner for him when we bought him for $1.1 million.  But I knew he had what it took, he was royally bred and was a magnificent individual and I was determined to try and turn him into a sire who could stand in New Zealand.  We worked hard that night and the next day and within 48 hours, Darci was fully syndicated.  What a great journey it has been for his team of owners.

At the Karaka Sales in January this year, we bought seven Darci Brahma's and they all have great attitudes and are all good chances to win races.  If you have a broodmare, it is not too late to send her to Darci - just ring Rick Williams and talk to him.  A mare served in December still relates to a November foal and there have been a lot of Nov/Dec foals who have been very good horses indeed.

It is time now to settle in and enjoy the racing coming in from Kranji - good luck to Mark and the team and HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Julia-Rose!

WHAT A GREAT IDEA FOR A XMAS PRESENT

Don't know what to get for your husband? your wife? your significant other? Your aunt, your grand-dad, your brother? Your son, your daughter, or someone you just oughta'!

A share in a horse - the gift that gives so much excitement - remember that we now only have three shares available in our striking Iffraaj gelding from the Ready to Run Sale - at only $4,250 plus GST for a 10% share or $2125 plus GST for a 5% share - this is FUN waiting to happen for a very small investment!  

We will gift wrap your share beautifully all ready for you too!

Email Karyn now [email protected]

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