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David Ellis Inducted into the NZ Thoroughbred Hall of Fame.


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Update from Te Akau Stud
 
David Ellis CNZM to be inducted to the NZ Racing Hall of Fame
 


We are very proud to share the wonderful news that was confirmed today - our own David Ellis CNZM has been recognised for well over four decades of contribution to our industry with induction to the New Zealand Racing Hall of Fame.

Please enjoy the full story that was released today:

 

Te Akau principal David Ellis CNZM is a man who has dedicated a lifetime of passion and commitment to the New Zealand thoroughbred industry, and is being honoured as an inductee into the New Zealand Racing Hall of Fame.

Ellis had his first winner as an owner in 1978 at Paeroa, while Cosmetique, which he purchased and raced, provided his first Group One win in the 1986 Easter Handicap.

Since first selling shares in horses he had purchased in 80’s, Ellis has grown Te Akau Racing to become the most successful syndicator of horses globally – no small feat from an island country in the Southwest Pacific.

Having established Te Akau Stud from an original 500 acres to over 4000 acres, which predominantly farms sheep and cattle, with an interior 800 acres post and railed for horses, Ellis has become known as the “King of Karaka” or “King of the Ring” having been the leading buyer at the New Zealand Bloodstock Yearling Sales Series for the past 19 consecutive years.

He has also been the leading buyer six times at the NZB Ready to Run Sale, and in 2024, replicated that status at the Magic Millions’ Yearling Sale on the Gold Coast of Australia.

In 2024, David Ellis has signed for/syndicated 76 horses for $25 million from sales throughout Australasia, and Europe, and privately.

He has bought and syndicated yearlings and two-year-olds from New Zealand and Australia, from as far away as Europe, traded and syndicated older racehorses, and bred horses, all to be shared in ownership by family, friends, and owners across the world.

From the main stables at Matamata, and now with a permanent base at Riccarton Racecourse in Christchurch, Te Akau has trained over 2700 winners, nearly 400 stakes’ winners, including 99 Group One wins – the most recent being Captured By Love winning the Group One NZ 1000 Guineas in November at Riccarton.

Te Akau has won 15 training premiership titles, including four in Singapore, and last season established a new, state of the art operation at the first-class facilities in Cranbourne (Victoria).

Te Akau set a benchmark 203 domestic wins in 2022/23, surpassing its previous national record (160) in 2020/21, and last season trainers Mark Walker & Sam Bergerson established the second highest national tally ever with 169 wins. 

David Ellis is quick to acknowledge that this immense honour is very much shared with the people around him.  Te Akau’s proud history of the world class administrative and horse people, whose dedication, skill and talent has seen the business flourish. 

Top of the ladder is trainer and business partner Mark Walker, who this season recorded his 2000th career win, while former apprentice and stable rider Opie Bosson ONZM recently rode his 99th Group One winner.

Another vital team member is Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM, whose key role is managing the day-to-day business and strategic matters and in particular bringing together the many scopes of te Akau’s hugely successful syndication operation.

“There are so many people who, without them, Te Akau could never have achieved what it has,” says Ellis.

Te Akau currently employs approximately 100 people and in the past has provided apprentices, trainers, stable-hands, office personnel, even school children, all with a platform from which to develop their skills.  For David Ellis, the development of young talent has always been a priority  as he guides the through an industry career path.


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Among the best champion racehorses that Ellis has purchased and Te Akau has trained, Melody Belle, a dual Horse of the Year, NZ record holder of 14 Group One wins, and Hall of Fame inductee, leads the way.

Purchased for $57,500 as a yearling at Karaka, Melody Belle became the first of seven consecutive $1 million Karaka Million 2YO winners purchased by Ellis, was named Champion Two-Year-Old, equalled the domestic Group One record (13) of mighty mare Sunline when winning the Group One Thorndon Mile  and set a new mark (14) when winning the Group One Bonecrusher NZ Stakes in 2021. 

She retired the winner of 14 Group One races (19 from 41 in total) and $4.3 million in prize money, before selling as a broodmare for $2.6 million.

The most recent stable star has been Imperatriz, reigning NZ Horse of the Year and Champion Sprinter in Australia. Bought for A$360,000 by Ellis at the 2020 Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Imperatriz was owned by Te Akau Invincible Empress Racing Partnership (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM).

Retired and sold in June this year for A$6.6 million, becoming the highest priced filly or mare ever sold in the Southern Hemisphere, Imperatriz recorded 10 Group One wins, from 1000m – 1600m, among 19 victories from 27 starts, and nearly NZ$7.6 million in prize money. 

But it certainly does not end there. Ellis also purchased Probabeel for $380,000 as a yearling at Karaka. Owned by Brendan Lindsay MNZM & Jo Lindsay (Cambridge Stud), she is the only horse to claim the Karaka Million 2YO and Karaka Million 3YO Classic double. 

Like Melody Belle, she too was a dual Horse of the Year, winning 13 of 29 starts, including four Group One wins in Australia, placed eight times, and topped NZ$4.6 million prize money.

There are so many other champion horses that have been identified by, and purchased through, the expert eye of David Ellis.

Champion Two-Year-Old Avantage, remains the highest (9) ever Group One winner for her Champion Sire Fastnet Rock. Ellis purchased her for $210,000 at the 2017 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Sale. She recorded 16 wins from 28 starts, amassed $2.1 million prize money for Te Akau Avantage Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM) and created a global online sales record when selling for $4.1 million.

In January this year, Ellis purchased her first foal for $2.1 million at the 2024 Gold Coast Yearling Sale, out of the Coolmore draft, and named Avantaggia (Wootton Bassett) she is in the jump out and trials’ stage in the stable at Matamata.

Holding a special place in the hearts of Ellis and Mark Walker, Darci Brahma was purchased for $1.1 million as a yearling at Karaka. The winner of five Group One races trans-Tasman, he went on to  be named Champion Two-Year-Old, Champion Three-Year-Old and Champion Sprinter/Miler as a Four -Year-Old.  He went on to become a multiple Champion Sire, and remains a dominant player in the pedigrees of NZ-bred thoroughbreds. 

Horses Ellis has purchased that have stood at stud include Darci Brahma, King’s Chapel, Rock ‘n’ Pop, Minstrel Court, Saperavi, Burgundy, Cool Aza Beel, Xtravagant, Embellish, Heroic Valour, Noverre, and Sword of State. 

Te Akau has won 79 titles at the New Zealand Horses of the Year awards, headed by 11 Champion Two-Year-Olds, eight NZB Filly of the Year, seven Horse of the Year, as well as the NZTR Outstanding Contribution to Racing Award; NZTR Media Award; NZTR Contribution to Media, Digital & Content, Award, and NZTR Owner of the Year, while this year Imperatriz became the first horse to win the NZTR Outstanding Global Achievement Award.

Ellis is a great ambassador for New Zealand bred horses, and its people, and is deeply committed to supporting and promoting the industry, including through sponsorship and advocacy.

He has dedicated years of his life to voluntary leadership roles within the industry, especially through racing industry administration.

He started as a steward for the Waikato Racing Club, and developed from there to cover every spectrum of leadership through to national level.  His roles included Chairman of the Waikato Racing Club for which he is a Life Member; Chairman of the Waikato District Committee, and he served on the Boards of the New Zealand Racing Conference, then NZ Thoroughbred Racing, and also NZ Thoroughbred Marketing.

For his own dedication and vision, Ellis was rewarded with the Gallagher Agriculture and Primary Production Award in 2010, New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Outstanding Contribution to Racing Excellence in 2017, and was appointed as Companion of New Zealand Order of Merit (CNZM) in the 2020 Queen’s Birthday Royal Honours’ List.

The New Zealand racing industry has benefited greatly by having David Ellis CNZM involved and dedicated to its progress and well-being - he deserves his place in the New Zealand Racing Hall of Fame, alongside other leading contributors and performers, an honour which he is humbled to have been accorded.  

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Update from Te Akau Stud
 
David Ellis CNZM to be inducted to the NZ Racing Hall of Fame
 

We are very proud to share the wonderful news that was confirmed today - our own David Ellis CNZM has been recognised for well over four decades of contribution to our industry with induction to the New Zealand Racing Hall of Fame.

Please enjoy the full story that was released today:
 
Te Akau principal David Ellis CNZM is a man who has dedicated a lifetime of passion and commitment to the New Zealand thoroughbred industry, and is being honoured as an inductee into the New Zealand Racing Hall of Fame.

Ellis had his first winner as an owner in 1978 at Paeroa, while Cosmetique, which he purchased and raced, provided his first Group One win in the 1986 Easter Handicap.

Since first selling shares in horses he had purchased in 80’s, Ellis has grown Te Akau Racing to become the most successful syndicator of horses globally – no small feat from an island country in the Southwest Pacific.

Having established Te Akau Stud from an original 500 acres to over 4000 acres, which predominantly farms sheep and cattle, with an interior 800 acres post and railed for horses, Ellis has become known as the “King of Karaka” or “King of the Ring” having been the leading buyer at the New Zealand Bloodstock Yearling Sales Series for the past 19 consecutive years.

He has also been the leading buyer six times at the NZB Ready to Run Sale, and in 2024, replicated that status at the Magic Millions’ Yearling Sale on the Gold Coast of Australia.

In 2024, David Ellis has signed for/syndicated 76 horses for $25 million from sales throughout Australasia, and Europe, and privately.

He has bought and syndicated yearlings and two-year-olds from New Zealand and Australia, from as far away as Europe, traded and syndicated older racehorses, and bred horses, all to be shared in ownership by family, friends, and owners across the world.

From the main stables at Matamata, and now with a permanent base at Riccarton Racecourse in Christchurch, Te Akau has trained over 2700 winners, nearly 400 stakes’ winners, including 99 Group One wins – the most recent being Captured By Love winning the Group One NZ 1000 Guineas in November at Riccarton.

Te Akau has won 15 training premiership titles, including four in Singapore, and last season established a new, state of the art operation at the first-class facilities in Cranbourne (Victoria).

Te Akau set a benchmark 203 domestic wins in 2022/23, surpassing its previous national record (160) in 2020/21, and last season trainers Mark Walker & Sam Bergerson established the second highest national tally ever with 169 wins. 

David Ellis is quick to acknowledge that this immense honour is very much shared with the people around him.  Te Akau’s proud history of the world class administrative and horse people, whose dedication, skill and talent has seen the business flourish. 

Top of the ladder is trainer and business partner Mark Walker, who this season recorded his 2000th career win, while former apprentice and stable rider Opie Bosson ONZM recently rode his 99th Group One winner.

Another vital team member is Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM, whose key role is managing the day-to-day business and strategic matters and in particular bringing together the many scopes of te Akau’s hugely successful syndication operation.

“There are so many people who, without them, Te Akau could never have achieved what it has,” says Ellis.

Te Akau currently employs approximately 100 people and in the past has provided apprentices, trainers, stable-hands, office personnel, even school children, all with a platform from which to develop their skills.  For David Ellis, the development of young talent has always been a priority  as he guides the through an industry career path.

 

Among the best champion racehorses that Ellis has purchased and Te Akau has trained, Melody Belle, a dual Horse of the Year, NZ record holder of 14 Group One wins, and Hall of Fame inductee, leads the way.

Purchased for $57,500 as a yearling at Karaka, Melody Belle became the first of seven consecutive $1 million Karaka Million 2YO winners purchased by Ellis, was named Champion Two-Year-Old, equalled the domestic Group One record (13) of mighty mare Sunline when winning the Group One Thorndon Mile  and set a new mark (14) when winning the Group One Bonecrusher NZ Stakes in 2021. 

She retired the winner of 14 Group One races (19 from 41 in total) and $4.3 million in prize money, before selling as a broodmare for $2.6 million.

The most recent stable star has been Imperatriz, reigning NZ Horse of the Year and Champion Sprinter in Australia. Bought for A$360,000 by Ellis at the 2020 Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Imperatriz was owned by Te Akau Invincible Empress Racing Partnership (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM).

Retired and sold in June this year for A$6.6 million, becoming the highest priced filly or mare ever sold in the Southern Hemisphere, Imperatriz recorded 10 Group One wins, from 1000m – 1600m, among 19 victories from 27 starts, and nearly NZ$7.6 million in prize money. 

But it certainly does not end there. Ellis also purchased Probabeel for $380,000 as a yearling at Karaka. Owned by Brendan Lindsay MNZM & Jo Lindsay (Cambridge Stud), she is the only horse to claim the Karaka Million 2YO and Karaka Million 3YO Classic double. 

Like Melody Belle, she too was a dual Horse of the Year, winning 13 of 29 starts, including four Group One wins in Australia, placed eight times, and topped NZ$4.6 million prize money.

There are so many other champion horses that have been identified by, and purchased through, the expert eye of David Ellis.

Champion Two-Year-Old Avantage, remains the highest (9) ever Group One winner for her Champion Sire Fastnet Rock. Ellis purchased her for $210,000 at the 2017 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Sale. She recorded 16 wins from 28 starts, amassed $2.1 million prize money for Te Akau Avantage Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM) and created a global online sales record when selling for $4.1 million.

In January this year, Ellis purchased her first foal for $2.1 million at the 2024 Gold Coast Yearling Sale, out of the Coolmore draft, and named Avantaggia (Wootton Bassett) she is in the jump out and trials’ stage in the stable at Matamata.

Holding a special place in the hearts of Ellis and Mark Walker, Darci Brahma was purchased for $1.1 million as a yearling at Karaka. The winner of five Group One races trans-Tasman, he went on to  be named Champion Two-Year-Old, Champion Three-Year-Old and Champion Sprinter/Miler as a Four -Year-Old.  He went on to become a multiple Champion Sire, and remains a dominant player in the pedigrees of NZ-bred thoroughbreds. 

Horses Ellis has purchased that have stood at stud include Darci Brahma, King’s Chapel, Rock ‘n’ Pop, Minstrel Court, Saperavi, Burgundy, Cool Aza Beel, Xtravagant, Embellish, Heroic Valour, Noverre, and Sword of State. 

Te Akau has won 79 titles at the New Zealand Horses of the Year awards, headed by 11 Champion Two-Year-Olds, eight NZB Filly of the Year, seven Horse of the Year, as well as the NZTR Outstanding Contribution to Racing Award; NZTR Media Award; NZTR Contribution to Media, Digital & Content, Award, and NZTR Owner of the Year, while this year Imperatriz became the first horse to win the NZTR Outstanding Global Achievement Award.

Ellis is a great ambassador for New Zealand bred horses, and its people, and is deeply committed to supporting and promoting the industry, including through sponsorship and advocacy.

He has dedicated years of his life to voluntary leadership roles within the industry, especially through racing industry administration.

He started as a steward for the Waikato Racing Club, and developed from there to cover every spectrum of leadership through to national level.  His roles included Chairman of the Waikato Racing Club for which he is a Life Member; Chairman of the Waikato District Committee, and he served on the Boards of the New Zealand Racing Conference, then NZ Thoroughbred Racing, and also NZ Thoroughbred Marketing.

For his own dedication and vision, Ellis was rewarded with the Gallagher Agriculture and Primary Production Award in 2010, New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Outstanding Contribution to Racing Excellence in 2017, and was appointed as Companion of New Zealand Order of Merit (CNZM) in the 2020 Queen’s Birthday Royal Honours’ List.

The New Zealand racing industry has benefited greatly by having David Ellis CNZM involved and dedicated to its progress and well-being - he deserves his place in the New Zealand Racing Hall of Fame, alongside other leading contributors and performers, an honour which he is humbled to have been accorded.  

 
 
     
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Ellis honoured by Hall of Fame induction

 
 

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More than four decades after his first experience as a winning owner, David Ellis has been recognised with induction to the New Zealand Racing Hall of Fame.

Since that first success with the Sovereign Edition filly Magnum at Paeroa in 1978, Ellis has been involved at all levels of racing as an administrator, breeder, buyer and his major footprint, as the founder of New Zealand’s most successful racehorse syndication model, Te Akau.

“I was in my early twenties when I won that race at Paeroa all those years ago, and I thought it was the biggest thrill you could have in life,” Ellis said this week as he reflected on his life in racing. “My trainer Bill Ford came with me into the winner’s room, but he had another horse in the next race that he had to saddle up and I ended up celebrating my first ever win by myself.

“That made me think there’s got to be a better way to do this, I realised that I’d rather celebrate together with other people, and that was the beginning of my idea to syndicate horses, bringing people together to enjoy the thrill of winning.”

Ellis was still racing horses in his singular name when he won his first Group One race, the 1986 Easter Handicap, with the Ford-trained Cosmetique, by when his colours were becoming increasingly familiar.

“Early on Bill advised me that I should register colours that stood out, that everyone could see, so I thought a good strong colour would be tangerine. I couldn’t get the single colour so I added the blue stars for contrast.

“As the years have gone by, I think it would be fair to say the tangerine and blue have definitely become well recognised!”

Brand recognition for Ellis has come about by setting goals and surrounding himself with the right people – and horses – to achieve them. Mark Walker has been integral to that success, from the time he was employed by Ellis as an 18-year-old, to setting new benchmarks from his original platform at Te Akau’s Matamata training operation, adding further premierships in Singapore and having prepared an unprecedented 203 New Zealand winners in the 2022-23 season, now at the helm of a tri-stable operation that has expanded to Riccarton and a major Australian foothold at Cranbourne.

Another vital team member is Ellis’s wife Karyn, whose key role is managing day-to-day business matters and in particular bringing together the many layers that make up Te Akau’s syndication model.

“There are so many people who without them, I couldn’t have achieved all this,” says the man in the middle. “Karyn runs the business now, which frees me up to run the farm and buy the horses. Mark and have worked together over a long period of time, it’s been a fantastic relationship and he now heads a massive team, from his training partner Sam Bergerson, our assistant trainers Ben Gleeson, Nicole Shailer and Hunter Durrant and our racing manager Reece Trumper, right through to all our staff, our vets and farriers, everybody who works so hard to achieve our goals.

“It’s quite incredible to think that when Captured By Love won the New Zealand 1000 Guineas at Riccarton last month, that was the 98th Group One winner by horses that I’ve either bought, bred or managed under the Te Akau umbrella.”

As well as enjoying such a raft of success, Ellis has also immersed himself in racing industry administration, beginning as a steward with the Waikato Racing Club and covering the full spectrum through to the national body.

“I started at the Waikato Racing as a steward when Ken Brown was chairman and I went up to the committee under Herbie Dyke, eventually becoming chairman myself. During that time I was also chairman of the Waikato District Committee and served on the board of the New Zealand Racing Conference, then NZ Thoroughbred Racing, and NZ Thoroughbred Marketing.”

Various accolades acknowledging his input include the 2017 NZTR Outstanding Contribution to Racing Excellence and he was awarded the CNZM (Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit) on the 2020 Queen’s Birthday Royal Honours list for services to the thoroughbred industry.

Since being advised of his pending induction to the New Zealand Racing Hall of Fame, which will become official at the induction dinner in May, Ellis has had cause to reflect on his latest accolade.

“Any award, whether you’re recognised by your peers or by a higher body, is very humbling and this is certainly no different,” he said. “It’s an absolute honour to think that I’m being acknowledged alongside people who I have admired massively over the years – people like my great late friend Colin Jillings, other hugely successful trainers like Dave O’Sullivan and Jim Gibbs, and industry icons such as Sir Patrick Hogan and Sir Peter Vela.

“As I keep reminding myself, what I’ve achieved, the recognition I’ve been accorded, none of that would have been possible without those people I’ve already mentioned and so many others – they’ve all made their own contribution.

“I just want to say a massive thankyou to them all, whether they’ve worked for Te Akau over the years, or owners who have invested in our horses, those breeders who have produced so many wonderful performers and everyone who has been part of our success.”

Sourcing his next crop of potential stars is never far from the Ellis mindset, and right now that means scanning catalogues and inspecting drafts for the upcoming summer sales round.

“Along with my own team, I’ve also been very lucky to be able to seek the advice of people like Joe Walls and Marcus Corban as we do our inspections and sale selections. It’s always exciting, I love going round the farms then to the sales and bringing a new crop of young horses into our system.”

As some measure of that level of investment, in the past year Ellis has signed for 76 young horses at a total value in the region of $25 million.

“It takes a lot of courage to put your hand up and commit to that level, but it’s what we do, bring in long-standing owners as well as new ones and then set to work making their dreams come true.

“I’m so lucky to do for a living what is also my hobby and to have so many wonderful people supporting me. I’ve always set out to raise the bar and will continue to. By next year we’ll have 70 horses in training at our Cranbourne stable as well as maintaining our numbers in New Zealand.

“It’s incredible to think there are now 105 races worth $1 million or more in Australia – that’s an average of two per week – and it’s fantastic to see the advances we’ve made in New Zealand with the involvement of Entain.

“Stakes have virtually doubled in the past 18 months and with so many new races like the NZB Kiwi, Champions Day in March, major stakes increases across the board, right down to going to a midweek meeting and racing for $25,000 – all that was unheard of not that long ago.

“Now it’s important that NZTR, Entain and the TAB work together along with every member of the industry make the most of the opportunity that we now have. That’s what I’ll be doing and so will everyone else I’m associated with – it’s what I’ve always done and will continue to for the good of racing.”

- Dennis Ryan 

David Ellis will be inducted into the New Zealand Racing Hall of Fame at the next Induction Dinner to be held at SkyCity, Hamilton on Sunday, 11 May, 2025.

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The reality is the NZ industry would be very poor without the Te Akau investment.  Putting $25 million a year at risk each year is a very big play in NZ.  Contrary to what some poppy slayers think there are no gaurantees that when Ellis purhcases a horse at the sale that they will all be sold.  It has caught Bart Cummings and now Anthony Cummings out as well as a number of other high profile trainers and syndicators.

What really appalls me though is the vitriol that is spewing out across social media channels.  

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Yes it does go over the top but when you set yourself up with relentless self promotion and praise then those types do come out of the woodwork. Using other peoples hard earned isnt as tough as successfully training or riding horses. And what about the hundreds of big buys that havnt made it?! We never get those plastered on the website.

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1 hour ago, Chief Stipe said:

What really appalls me though is the vitriol that is spewing out across social media channels.  

Yeahh, and what is quoted in the Ryan article is actually in the context of his current team. That previous team members aren't mentioned by name in what Ryan quoted,is a mis-read of the article imo. It's just a bit that Ryan chose to quote, not necessarily all that he said or was asked about in the interview.

Edited by curious
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On a different subject re the stable it was a real surprise to see them do so poorly today. A winner at Te Rapa but at Trentham their hot fav in 2yo a struggling 3rd out of 5 and Perfect Scenario who has not been worse than 3rd last 5 starts, including 2 wins also struggled and finished out of the money.

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