Te Akau Top of the Tables

David writes:

It has been an incredible 48 hours for Te Akau Racing in both New Zealand and Singapore.  

The outstanding results now have our stable LEADING the Trainers' Premiership in both countries!  We could not be more proud of both of our teams!

Thank you everyone for so many excited and congratulatory calls and emails - your messages of support and your enthusiasm is just so special to us.

In New Zealand our five wins on Saturday took Stephen and Jamie's total to 24 for the new season which is now almost three months in.  With 17 runners up and 13 third placings, the team is on fire - and there is plenty more horsepower yet to be unleashed.

Saturday's bumper result included victory by Risque in the $50,000 Listed Armadillo Stakes at Riccarton and the wins took the team four clear on the New Zealand Trainers' Premiership. Four of the five winners were selected and purchased by David Ellis - three from Karaka and one from the Sydney Easter Sale.

Here are the current New Zealand standings:

http://www.nzracing.co.nz/RaceInfo/Trainer-Premierships.aspx

In Singapore Mark Walker had Sebrose trained to the minute to claim victory in the S$150,000 Group 3 El Dorado Classic over 2200m.  It was Mark's 71st winner for this season and was a huge result for the horse, trainer, young NSW rider Tim Bell and of course our wonderful Sebrose owners.

The son of Sebring is out of the Group 1 winning NZ Oaks' mare Bramble Rose and was bought by David from the Gold Coast Sale.  He is now on target to take his place in the Group 1 Singapore Gold Cup.  This gelding has great timing - he of course also delivered a win for us in Singapore when we had our owners' tour in May.

Mark remains eight wins clear on the Trainers' Premiership - the countdown is on - not long to go now until the season's end - so we are hopeful that he and the team with withstand any late challenges!

Here are the latest Singapore standings:

http://www.turfclub.com.sg/Racing/Pages/Premiership.aspx?Category=Trainer

Finally it was almost a triple country treat as our Irish-trained horse Torcedor that I bought in Deauville was beaten into second by the smallest of margins in a Listed event at Leopardstown - carrying a top weight from yet another wide draw.

The son of Fastnet Rock and a full sister to Yeats, Torcedor has done us proud this season winning on two major racedates at The Curragh - Irish Oaks' Day and St Ledger Day.