Te Akau Racing
Te Akau Racing is a truly international racing operation. With successful stables in New Zealand and Singapore, with Group 1 winning trainers Jason Bridgman and Mark Walker at the helm. We have trained 14 champion horses and are proud of Mark’s 4 Champion Trainer of the Year titles and 5 NZ Trainers’ Premiership wins.
- Te Akau Stud -
Te Akau Stud is an absolute horse heaven!
Located on 4,000 acres of some of the most productive farmland in the country, Te Akau Stud has all the space and facilities you could ever desire for a young or spelling racehorse.
We have 700 acres especially fenced for the horses. The property is fully utilised as a pre-training establishment with top staff on hand to do the job. All the bases are covered from farming, spelling, breaking-in, pre-training and training. “We can look after a horse from the day of it being bought or bred,†says Te Akau Stud’s David Ellis. “We have absolute control over a horse’s development which is very important.â€
The stud is complimented by its racing stable arm in Matamata where Jason Bridgman is at the helm. New Zealand’s record breaking trainer and the 2004, 2006, 2007 and 2009 New Zealand Champion Trainer Mark Walker relocated to Singapore in September 2010 to oversee the establishment of our international arm.
He is ably assisted by Gus Clutterbuck who formerly held the role of Sound Island stable manager for Te Akau before departing for Singapore.
- Te Akau Racing Stables -
- Te Akau Racing New Zealand Matamata -
Te Akau Racing New Zealand’s stable is located at Matamata in the North Island of New Zealand – Matamata is largest training centre in the country with more than 500 horses in work.
Te Akau is the leader in the field of communication. Our owners receive a constant flow of information on their horses so that they are kept right up to date with their galloper’s progress every step of its career. Jason Bridgman is our resident trainer and is a talented horseman who worked at Te Akau some years ago. After extensive international and domestic experience, Jason returned to take over the reins in New Zealand in 2010 when Mark Walker re-located to Singapore to establish our operation there. In the two seasons 2011 and 2012 Te Akau trained more flat Group and Listed winners than any other stable.
We take great pride in turning horses out in immaculate condition for the races and in setting them for specific targets. It’s very important to set goals for horses and achieve them. One of the most important factors in attaining success is knowing exactly where you are heading, creating the plan and delivering the result. We live by this philosophy across our whole operation. Our aim is to win races for our owners and provide them with the thrill and pleasure of racing with a professional and vibrant team.
Te Akau Racing is widely regarded as one of the finest training establishments in New Zealand with its outstanding, modern and horse-friendly facilities. All horses are catered for in a professional manner and their daily needs are met at all times by a team of highly specialised staff. The stable is in close proximity to the Matamata Racecourse which, with an all-weather track, swimming pool and variety of other suitable training tracks, offers the best facilities for horses in New Zealand.
- Te Akau Racing Stables -
- Te Akau Racing Singapore Kranji -
Te Akau is now a truly international with racing opportunities for our owners in New Zealand and Singapore.
David Ellis and Mark Walker established Te Akau Singapore in September 2010 when Mark relocated to Singapore with his wife Julia and their children to oversee the establishment of our
new operation.
The 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008 and 2009 New Zealand Champion Trainer, Mark is a gifted horseman. Having worked for David since leaving school, when the opportunity came for him to assume the role as trainer of our New Zealand operation, Mark quickly established himself as one of the leading horse trainers in the country, obvious with his five Trainers’ Premiership victories. In the 2009/2010 season he established a new New Zealand all time record for wins in a season (108) eclipsing the record of 104 set by Dave and Paul O’Sullivan some 17
years earlier.
After receiving authorisation from the Singapore Turf Club to train in Singapore, Mark set the ball rolling and has very quickly earned the respect of all. Te Akau has the maximum 60 boxes permitted at the Kranji Racecourse and Mark is flying, having led the Trainers’ Premiership for most of the 2013 season. Julia is also an important part of the operation, responsible for administration, and financial and
communication management.
Mark is ably assisted in Singapore by Gus Clutterbuck, the former manager of our Sound Island stable who moved to Singapore in early 2011 with his wife Karen. Gus is a well-respected former rider and trainer in his own right - he rode more than 400 winners before he retired from the saddle and took up training. He prepared top gallopers such as Lady Agnes, Wake Forest, Marchero and Zelazny.
Racing in Singapore is a very attractive option – the minimum stake is $35,000 and when our horses transfer there, they have their first start in a $65,000 maiden event. In addition, every time your horse races in Singapore, if not first or last, the Singapore Turf Club gives the owners a $900 starter’s incentive.
