Te Akau Racing
Discover the story, vision, and legacy of Te Akau Racing.
Te Akau Racing is not just a name, a brand, a racing entity, it’s so much more than that..
It is a legacy that’s been crafted over four decades, by passionate and talented humans and horses. Today it spans across the lush landscapes of Te Akau, Matamata in New Zealand, Cranbourne in Melbourne and Singapore. At the helm is Te Akau's principal, David Ellis CNZM, whose unwavering commitment to the New Zealand racing industry needs little introduction.
Where the winning begins is at Te Akau Stud where Te Akau principal David Ellis CNZM has been uncompromising in his nurturing of the land to produce pasture second to none. Large paddocks allow all horses to run freely and develop naturally in a magnificent environment.
The property is fully utilised for raising foals and weanlings, educating yearlings, pre-training, training and spelling racehorses, as well as broodmares, alongside its successful sheep and cattle operation.
At Te Akau we take pride in our outstanding record of racing success over that time. By joining Te Akau Racing you are joining a stable that has a proven track record:
- Winner of 12 New Zealand Trainers’ Premierships
- Winner of 4 Singapore Trainers’ Premierships
- Winner of 12 New Zealand Champion Trainer of the Year titles
- Winner of 4 Singapore Champion Trainer of the Year titles
- Trained 14 Group 1 NZ 2000 & Group 1 NZ 1000 Guineas’ winners in past 21 years
- Trained 8 Karaka 2YO Million winners including seven consecutive (2017-2023)
- Only stable to train the Karaka 2YO Million & Karaka 3YO Million double (2020, 2022 & 2025)
- Over 100 Group 1 race successes – current total 106
- Trained 8 New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year winners
- Mark Walker recorded his 2000th winner in November 2024 - all under the Te Akau umbrella
- Te Akau Racing is approaching 3000 domestic wins – currently 2938
- Te Akau has trained 429 stakes wins, of which 106 were Group One
- David Ellis CNZM has bought/bred 42 individual Group One winners of 90 Group One races.
- Since 2017, Te Akau has won 34 stakes races in Australia, including 15 Group Ones
TE AKAU RACING STABLES
MATAMATA, NEW ZEALAND
Te Akau Racing Stables New Zealand is based at the Matamata training centre on the North Island of New Zealand.
The Matamata training centre, situated at the Matamata Racecourse, offers first-class training facilities for approximately 600 horses.
The facility is home to four separate Te Akau barns on the course, with a 12-acre post-and-railed property adjacent to the Matamata track where horses can spend time in day paddocks.
We own modern treadmill and horse walking machines, providing training variety and tailored regimens for each horse. Additionally, we contract a professional water treadmill partner, a pivotal component in our innovative approach to our training programme.
At the helm of our Matamata training centre is Te Akau New Zealand trainers Mark Walker & Sam Bergerson. Last season (2024/25), the pair recorded the sixth consecutive Training Premiership for the stable, 16th in total, and established a new record of $9.27 million in prize money.
At Matamata, Walker & Bergerson are aided by assistant trainer Reece Trumper, along with a dedicated team of experienced and talented track work riders, stable-hands, vets, farriers, and administrative staff.
RICCARTON, NEW ZEALAND
Te Akau Racing Stables also has a permanent training base at Riccarton Racecourse, Christchurch, on the South Island of New Zealand.
Led by assistant trainer Hunter Durrant, Te Akau won the South Island Training Premiership last season (2024-25), and leads again this season with 44 wins, including six stakes’ wins.
CRANBOURNE, VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA
Te Akau Racing Australia became a reality in September 2023. Te Akau’s new state-of-the-art, purpose built stable has been constructed by the Cranbourne Turf Club, Victoria, at its world-class training centre.
The Cranbourne training complex is the largest thoroughbred training facility in the southern hemisphere, with over 140 licensed trainers and over 1,400 horses in training.
Built to high specifications, Te Akau currently has 60 boxes with the aim of having 80 in training.
The interest being shown by major Australian studs and owners in being involved with Te Akau Australia, and giving us horses to train, has been huge.
Government funding of almost A$5 million in 2014 saw the Cranbourne Turf Club construct new on-course stables at the centre. The state government also announced further significant funding for a world class equine hospital which will be in close proximity to Te Akau’s new stable.
The first runner for the stable was subsequent 10-time Group One winner, Champion Australian Sprinter, and 2024 New Zealand Horse of the Year Imperatriz, while last season trainer Mark Walker also steered the Te Akau stable to win NZ$7.6 million in stakes money in Australia.
Walker won 24 races, including nine stakes’ wins (five Group One), and had the best Metropolitan strike rate (4.1) comprising 15 wins from 62 starts.
