Te Akau chasing the spotlight on New Zealand’s biggest stage

Cover image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock

They are the sport’s grandest stages - the days where reputations are built, ownership dreams are realised, and the brightest horses are expected to perform. For powerhouse operation Te Akau Racing, ensuring the tangerine silks are represented on those days has become an essential part of the stable’s philosophy.

The importance of shining on the big days for Te Akau

Few understand the importance - and the feeling of success, on the sport’s biggest days in New Zealand better than Te Akau principal David Ellis, whose passion for competing on racing’s grandest stages remains central to the organisation’s success.

“It is really important that Te Akau Racing are racing and competing on these big days when we buy the quality horses that we do, and with them being trained by the great team that we do.” Ellis said.

“Our business needs owners that invest and they love seeing them run on big days.

“It is the ultimate day and the ultimate stage, and the results we have got in the past on big days like Kiwi Day last year or Karaka Millions nights is just fantastic for our group of very loyal owners.”

Those moments carry special significance for a syndicator whose business is built around delivering experiences as much as results.

“Nothing beats, as a syndicator, seeing the look on your owners’ faces after winning big races and that’s what our team strives to do,” Ellis said.

“Success is important as you need to keep getting results. We are selling shares at the moment on a bunch of outstanding horses that are the future of the years to come for the Te Akau team.

“I get a big thrill walking around the farm seeing the quality. Having another big Kiwi day will only help getting those shares sold.”

Memories of a defining day

The importance of those marquee racedays was underlined twelve months ago when Te Akau played a starring role on the inaugural Champions Day card at Ellerslie.

Victory in the G1 Sistema Stakes by Return To Conquer brought up the stable’s landmark 100th Group 1 win, before Damask Rose (NZ) (Savabeel) delivered a thrilling success in the inaugural NZ$3.5 million R. Listed The NZB Kiwi lasy year under a dashing Blake Shinn ride.

For co-trainer Sam Bergerson, the memories of that day remain vivid.

“I still look back at that day last year very proudly with what we were able to achieve,” Bergerson said.

“It unfolded very well with Francee winning the opener and then Return To Conquer getting the job done in a very important Group 1 race, and then Damask Rose winning after settling way back after missing the kick.

“There were great scenes afterwards.

“It was a great day for the whole team, now we have to try and follow it up.”

Four chances in the Kiwi

Te Akau will once again be strongly represented in the NZ$4 million R. Listed The NZB Kiwi, with To Bravery Born (NZ) (Snitzel), La Dorada (NZ) (Super Seth), He Who Dares (NZ) (Snitzel), and Belle Cheval (NZ) (Savabeel) all lining up.

All four arrive with strong credentials, though they face a significant obstacle in the form of the Stephen Marsh-trained filly Well Written (Written Tycoon), the unbeaten star who has cast a long shadow over the race in the build-up.

“There is a bit of a strange feeling about the Kiwi this year,” Bergerson said.

“We have four very good horses in, but we are very much the underdog due to the influence of Well Written, who looks very good.

“We are stoked to have them all in and they are there on their own merits and ready to run well.”

To Bravery Born was an impressive winner at Te Rapa when fresh in December and has produced encouraging efforts since, despite racing in difficult positions.

“He is probably going to line up as one of the outsiders but his last two runs have been better than they have looked as he has been well back in the field in horrible positions,” Bergerson said.

“He has a good horse’s record, a good gate, a good senior jockey in Rory (Hutchings) aboard and he will run better than his odds.”

La Dorada was an outstanding 2-year-old, completing a hat-trick in the R. Listed Karaka Million 2YO, G2 Matamata Breeders’ Stakes and the G1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes over 1400 metres.

After an unsuccessful spring campaign in Australia, she has bounced back to form, winning the G2 Levin Classic at Trentham and running third in the NZ$1.5 million R. Listed Karaka Millions 3YO at her last start behind Well Written.

“La Dorada has been there and done that before,” Bergerson said.

“She loves Ellerslie, has a positive racing style, has a nice gate and should be able to settle in the first couple of pairs.

“One negative is she has the Group 1 winners’ penalty. The set weights and penalties nature of the race does change the dynamic of the race when you look right into it.

“We have followed a similar line of thinking to Damask Rose last year, and gave her a quiet trial before the Kiwi, and she trialled well at Taupo.”

He Who Dares has been a model of consistency and brings arguably the most relevant formline after finishing runner-up to Well Written at his last two starts.

“He Who Dares has run into Well Written his last two and ran great."

“His tick-over trial was very good. He has Opie on board and gets in very well at the weights being only a maiden winner so therefore no penalty.”

Belle Cheval looks the class runner outside the favourite. Since finishing third behind Well Written in the G1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas, she has continued to improve with victories in the G3 Almanzor Trophy and the G3 Uncle Remus Stakes at her last start and interestingly, both at Ellerslie.

“Belle Cheval just keeps going from strength to strength,” Bergerson commented.

“It’s easy to forget she has only had five starts as she is very professional and knows what to do.

“She will appreciate getting to 1500 metres, has a great record at Ellerslie, only has a small penalty and Mick Dee on board is a positive.”

While the challenge is clear and some what daunting when there is a long odds-on favourite competitor to beat, Bergerson remains hopeful.

“We know that Well Written is the benchmark, she is clearly the one to beat, but with a bit of luck on the day you never know.”

A growing stage for New Zealand racing

For Bergerson, the significance of Champions Day reflects a broader surge in momentum across the industry.

With 11 runners across the meeting, Te Akau once again expects to play a prominent role.

“It’s obviously very exciting and only a couple of days out, it has come around really quick,” Bergerson said.

“It looks like a really tough day’s racing but it’s very exciting for Te Akau Racing to be part of it with a good team. We strive to be part of these days and to compete and be successful on these premier days, and we do have some nice chances throughout the day.”

Bergerson also believes the broader direction of New Zealand racing has helped elevate the occasion.

“It’s great to be racing in New Zealand at the moment,” he said.

“There are lots of new initiatives, new races, great prize money at the top end and these big days are fantastic with great money and racing.

“Entain have done a great job and so have NZTR and ATR, and there’s also been a bit of a fun aspect with La Dorada being the people’s choice horse which has had some good promotion.

“With the Derby on and the 2-year-old Group 1, it really is a great showcase of New Zealand racing.

“It’s a massive part of what we strive for when training horses is to have horses in these races.”

As another Champions Day approaches, the message from Te Akau remains consistent. The stable thrives on racing’s biggest occasions, and with a strong hand once again assembled, the tangerine silks look set to play a prominent role on one of the most important days on the stables and New Zealand's newish racing calendar.

Table: The NZB Kiwi 2026 field