Latest news with #TeAkau
Herald Sun
21-05-2025
- Sport
- Herald Sun
Samudra prevails in battle of blue bloods at Sandown
Blue-blood juveniles Samudra and I'mateez both made a big impression in their debuts as they fought out a close finish at Sandown on Wednesday. Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News. Rich pedigrees were on display at Sandown on Wednesday with blue-blood juveniles Samudra and I'mateez fighting out a hotly contested 1000m 2YO Handicap. Fast filly Samudra, a $750,000 daughter of super stallion Snitzel out of Group 1 winner Pippie denied I'mateez, the half-brother of 10-time Group 1 winner Imperatriz. • PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet's team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW! Trainer Mark Walker, who ironically conditioned Te Akau champion Imperatriz during her career was most pleased with Samudra's last 100m under pressure from I'mateez and third-placed Latin Boss. Latin Boss went stride for stride with Samurdra through the first 800m and only relented late. '(Samudra) was under a lot of pressure but she really dug deep and found,' Walker said. 'Probably going forward she's going to be a better chaser than leader. 'You would've thought she was all done at the 100m but that natural (talent), mum's (Pippie) ability kicked in and she's going to be a much nicer three-year-old, that's for sure.' â€' (@Racing) May 21, 2025 • Nichols to unveil well-bred filly after breeder's bad luck Samudra is set to be spelled for the spring with attention on stakes success. 'She'll keep improving with a bit more time,' Walker said. Alex Rae, trainer of I'mateez, said the two-year-old Capitalist colt would likely stay in work after a most promising debut. Rae went into the 1000m event unsure how laidback I'mateez would perform under race pressure. 'He's just been a bit plain in his work late,' Rae said. 'It was good he added a string to his bow today so he's going to make a horse.' Originally published as Samudra prevails in battle of blue bloods at Sandown on Wednesday Horse Racing A Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott filly can go back-to-back after breaking her maiden. BEST BETS, INSIDE MAIL Horse Racing Adam Watt of Dynamic Syndications makes a strong case four of their runners at Goulburn starting with Tact and ending with a $10 shot knocking on the door for his first win.
NZ Herald
18-05-2025
- Sport
- NZ Herald
Mick On Monday: No Triple Crown for Journalism but plenty of glory
The modern thoroughbred gets plenty of flak for not being as hardy as the equine heroes of yesteryear but Journalism proved proved himself equal parts brilliant and brave to fight through the interference, shouldering his way out of trouble when many simply would have shouldered arms. That Journalism wanted to do that, regather himself and then run down the leader just two weeks after his narrow loss in the Kentucky mud suggests he is a special horse and now all eyes turn to a possible rematch with Sovereignty in the Belmont Stakes, the last leg of this dead crown, on June 7. The public would usually fixate on the Derby winner heading to the Belmont, but after the heart Journalism showed yesterday, he may have even more supporters than Sovereignty if they clash again to decide who is North America's best 3-year-old. What does it all mean to Kiwis, who rarely bet on US horse racing, a jurisdiction far less important to us than Australia, Hong Kong or even Europe? Probably not a lot. But you could spend the next few years watching the best horse racing from around the world and not see a horse get up off the canvas like Journalism did yesterday. PUTTING THE WIND UP Hāwera provided a new way to nearly lose a race meeting yesterday and, this time, nobody was to blame. While slippery tracks and abandoned meetings have become one of the biggest threats to the financial stability of the thoroughbred industry, it was high winds that caused delays to yesterday's meeting. The wind was gale-like by the middle of the afternoon and raised concerns about safety and fair starts as it was blowing some of the starting gates closed again after they opened. That saw the fifth race delayed so some of the springs that open the starting gates could be replaced but helpfully, the wind dropped and racing continued. NARROW LEAD It is advantage Walker/Bergerson in the battle to be the black-type kings of New Zealand racing. The country's leading trainers had to settle for second with Towering Vision in the Champagne Stakes at Ellerslie on Saturday but won the only other black type race in the country when Francee triumphed in the listed Rangitīkei Cup at Trentham. That takes them to 18 black-type wins in New Zealand for the season, one more than Stephen Marsh, on 17, in his best year. While the premiership matters and total stakes even more, trainers take enormous pride in black-type wins and the Te Akau trainers, whether that be Walker, Bergerson or formerly Jamie Richards, haven't lost the black-type title since 2019 when Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman trained 25 elite-level winners. With only three black-type races remaining for the season, all in Central Districts, Marsh is running out of opportunities to claw the lead back but both stables are going to finish with new personal bests for the season on stakes won. Michael Guerin wrote his first nationally published racing articles while still in school and started writing about horse racing and the gambling industry for the Herald as a 20-year-old in 1990. He became the Herald
NZ Herald
11-05-2025
- Business
- NZ Herald
Mick On Monday: David Ellis joins legends in Hall of Fame
'For me to be inducted alongside so many of the legends of New Zealand racing is a privilege,' Ellis said. The honour comes at a time when the Te Akau business has never been busier, even though Ellis was adamant two years ago he was going to buy less horses. Maybe he meant less than his age, which he narrowly accomplished. Now 71, Ellis purchased 70 horses this season. 'We spent $18.9 million on horses and have about $1m worth of shares left to syndicate. 'It is funny, over the years we have had so many good horses among the last ones we syndicate every season. 'But the business is thriving and we are lucky to have so many great staff and I couldn't do it without Karyn [his wife], who has taken the business to another level.' While Te Akau look set to win yet another domestic premiership, it feels like their expansion into Australia has reinvigorated Ellis with the new Cranbourne stable more than doubling in size in the last year. 'We started this season with 28 horses in training at Cranbourne and will start next season [August 1] with 70 horses there now that our second barn has been built.' Already dubbed the 'King of Karaka' because of his huge spending at New Zealand's home of yearling sales, Ellis is spending up large at Australian sales too and says the make-up of a horse's ownership is a key driver in which country those yearlings are prepared in. 'Some owners want their horses trained closer to where they live so they can see them race more often and that plays a part in where the start their careers,' says Ellis. 'For example, we have a lovely Wootton Bassett filly out of Avantage [named Avantaggia] who cost us A$2.1 million and she is back here in New Zealand. 'She won a trial at Pukekohe recently and will start her career here in September and be set for the 1000 Guineas,' Ellis said. 'But some horses might start out here and then head to Australia when the targets there suit them.' That will be the case for one of Te Akau's brightest stars, Return To Conquer, who was unbeaten in four starts here and having now secured his New Zealand Group 1, he will head to Australia. 'He will go to Cranbourne and be set for group races over there with the main goal to secure an Australian Group 1 which would make him an incredibly valuable stallion. 'So we probably won't see him here next season but Hostility, who we paid big money for at the Ready To Run last year and is already Group 1 placed, he will be one of our 2000 Guineas horses here.'
