Te Akau to send 20 horses to Cranbourne rising to 40 in a year.

[Chief Stipe]

Te Akau's Aussie base taking shape

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Powerhouse New Zealand operation Te Akau Racing hopes to have its Australian arm up and running within weeks, ahead of the Spring Carnival.

 

Principal David Ellis and head trainer Mark Walker have both visited the new facility at Cranbourne in recent months and the pair is delighted with how the Australian stable is evolving.

 

"We've made really good progress," Ellis said.

 

"Mark Walker has spent two of the last three weeks in Melbourne and we're pretty confident we'll be up and running mid-to-late August.

 

"We think that the stables at Cranbourne will be ready on the first of September and we'll probably have some horses at Flemington mid-August, it's all pretty exciting.

 

"I think it's the best training set-up I've ever seen, it's just incredible. The facilities and the quality of management there is something I haven't seen before, just top-class."

 

Te Aukau's satellite stable in Australia will initially house 20 horses, with the hope to increase that number to 40 within 12 months.

 

Ellis says the stable's arrival in Australia has been popular with prospective clients.

 

"We've got terrific interest from people to have horses with us in Australia, it's certainly a significant move for Te Akau," Ellis said.