In our latest edition of the Quick Questions series we have a chat with David Ellis CNZM, founder of the highly successful syndication business Te Akau Racing whose tangerine colours have been seen on the likes of Imperatriz, Melody Belle, Gingernuts and Te Akau Shark.
What is your first racing memory?
My first racing memory was going to the Ellerslie races in Auckland in 1972 with $12 in my pocket, which in those days was enough to buy a few beers, lunch and have a few bets. I went home with $88 in my pocket and thought ‘gee what a great game this is’.
Who is your favourite horse and why?
My favourite horse is Cosmetique who won the Group 1 Easter Handicap in 1986 paying $27. She was ridden by Gary Grylls and my late mother shared in the ownership, so it was a very special family moment.
Who is the best horse you’ve been involved with?
This is a very difficult answer as we have had some outstanding horses. It would have to be Imperatriz, who I bought for $360,000 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast sale. At her height, she was rated as the World’s Best Sprinter, earning the Australian and New Zealand Sprinter Of The Year titles, as well as Horse Of The Year in New Zealand. She won over $7 million on the track, won 10 Group 1s, and sold for a southern hemisphere record of A$6.6 million back at Magic Millions.
And the best horse you have seen?
It would be a close call between Black Caviar and Winx – two truly outstanding mares.
Who is your ‘what if’ horse?
This would definitely be a colt called Burgundy who I purchased and Te Akau trained. He never won a Group 1 race but was the fastest horse we have ever trained.
Who do you admire most in racing?
This would have to be easily Mark Walker, our trainer. Mark and I have worked together since he was 17 and he has won multiple trainers premierships and Champion Trainer titles in New Zealand and Singapore. Two years ago he broke the New Zealand all-time record of wins in a season by a huge margin, winning 202 races. He is a very hard-working man, with a great eye and really knows how to get a horse ready for the Group 1s and bring out the best in every horse in the stable.
What is one change/improvement you’d love to see in racing?
I find this question easy to answer. I would like New Zealand administrators to stop talking about closing the tracks. We need every track that we can. It is very frustrating having a team of horses ready to trial with no tracks available. Tracks like Matamata have been forced to race too often and as a result the tracks are not where they need to be, so I am not in favour of closing one further track down.
What’s the funniest moment you’ve experienced in racing?
When Gingernuts won the Vodafone New Zealand Derby in 2017 and the commentator George Simon said, “and Gingernuts has dunked them in the Derby!”
What is your favourite pastime outside of racing?
Undoubtedly, with my wife Karyn (Fenton-Ellis) enjoying a family lunch or dinner, and of course watching Trackside TV.
What is your favourite T.V show/book?
My absolute favourite programme is the weather forecast, which has a big bearing on all aspects of our lives – racing and farming. Some days we want significant rain, some days we pray for no rain, but the weather on TV One is what I enjoy watching the most. In terms of reading material, throw a political biography at me, but usually my focus is on sale catalogues.
What slogan summarizes your outlook on life?
I’m not really a “slogan” man but I do work by the belief that the harder you work, the luckier you become. Treat people well, make sure your word is your bond and life will give you more “wins” than “losses”.
The horse is the heart of what we do, the people are the strength of it – look after the horse and stand by your people – you won’t find a better compass than that.
Favourite food?
You cannot beat a leg of Te Akau Stud spring lamb with all the trimmings – easily my favourite food.
Favourite racecourse?
I can’t split between Te Rapa and Ellerslie in New Zealand, and Flemington in Australia.
If you weren’t working in racing what would you be doing?
I would be farming sheep and cattle, which was my original great love, and I am lucky to still be doing.