Ellis recognised in Queen’s Birthday Honours
Te Akau principal David Ellis has been appointed a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit (CNZM) in the 2020 Queen’s Birthday Honours List announced overnight.
The honour is the highest-ranking title that does not bestow a knighthood under the New Zealand honours system and is only awarded to a maximum of 40 people every year.
Ellis, who received the NZTR Outstanding Contribution to Racing Award in 2017, was notified by prime minister Jacinda Ardern and governor-general Dame Patsy Reddy that he was named a CNZM in recognition of his services to the thoroughbred industry.
“It’s very humbling and somewhat overwhelming to be honoured by your Queen and country, that’s for sure,” Ellis said. “My grandfather received the equivalent honour (CBE) for services to the business community 52 years ago and my father was also honoured with the Queen’s Service Order (QSO) for services to the community in 1991.
“I had no idea whatsoever and it was a huge shock to receive notification a couple of months ago. We were in lockdown at the farm and I was actually in the office selling the final shares in a filly from Karaka, when an email arrived in my inbox from the Honours’ Unit.
“I think it is an incredible privilege to be recognised for services to the thoroughbred racing industry, an industry that has been my passion for nearly 50 years. And it will be until my dying day,” said Ellis, who in that time has grown his thoroughbred interests and dry stock farming into world-class businesses.
Today, Ellis is a thoroughbred breeder, buyer, owner, syndicator, administrator, sponsor, stud master, punter, and operates premiership-winning stables in two countries – New Zealand and Singapore, with an increasing presence planned for Australia in the spring.
He is a noted developer and encourager of young people, providing them with guidance, career paths and opportunities. He is a passionate promoter of New Zealand thoroughbreds and the New Zealand brand and contributes immensely to his local area, Te Akau, especially supporting young farmers with advice and guidance. He is also co-patron, with his wife Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM, of Riding for the Disabled (RDA Hamilton).
Ellis’ exceptional record of voluntary service to thoroughbred racing is well acknowledged in his royal honour. He is a life member of the Waikato Racing Club, after being a board member for 18 years, including five years as chairman. A huge patriot and believer in the New Zealand racing industry, during his time as chairman of the Waikato District Committee, he spent seven years on the NZ Racing Conference/NZTR Executive and served as a member of the NZ Thoroughbred Marketing (NZTM) Board.
Brought up rurally in Pakuranga, and a member of the Howick Pony Club, Ellis boarded from the age of nine and represented King’s College Auckland at rugby, cricket, swimming and rowing.
He developed a love of animals and farming life and decided his future in his first year out of school when attending the Flock House Agricultural College in Bulls, where the principal was ex-All Black coach J J Stewart. He followed with a Diploma Degree in Agriculture, which required three years practical farming experience, from Massey University.
After working various jobs around the clock for four years, Ellis purchased 500 acres in the mid-1970s at Waimai Valley. In 1981, he bought a neighbouring farm to develop Te Akau Stud which has grown to 4,000 acres with 2,500 cattle and over 4,000 sheep, including about 3,000 breeding ewes. His farm and racing operations, in both New Zealand and Singapore, proudly carry the name of the small rural district where he and his wife Karyn reside.
Ellis celebrated his first Group 1 winner as an owner when Cosmetique (Barcas) won the 1986 Easter Handicap (Gr 1, 1600m) at Ellerslie, while in 2009 he was honoured at the Waikato Business Excellence Awards with the Gallagher Group Agriculture and Primary Production Award.
“I’ve often said to people that I don’t feel that I go to work because, put simply, I love racing and farming,” he said. “I think the strength of my passion for those two industries has not only helped me put as much into it as I can, but also enabled me to provide employment and careers for many people, especially young people.”
Te Akau Racing and Te Akau Stud combined currently employ 85 people.
“I feel the honour also recognises the incredible contribution from everyone that has worked for Te Akau over the years and presently,” Ellis said. “The thoroughbred industry is extremely hands-on and I truly believe that I am accepting this recognition on behalf of the team, and what a team Te Akau has.
“Karyn (Fenton-Ellis MNZM), my wife, has already received a Queen’s Honour for services to racing, arts, and the community. She is a massively important part of my life and our business and I couldn’t do what we do without her. Last year we bought and sold 70 horses and I couldn’t have done that without her help.
“For the second time to 2020, Te Akau Racing stables have won premierships in both New Zealand and Singapore in the same season which is a huge thrill.
“Our trainer in Singapore, Mark Walker, won five premierships in New Zealand before we established our stable at Kranji racecourse in late 2010 and he has now won three further premiership titles in Singapore. He came to work for me the day he left school and has developed into a world-class trainer, great friend and business partner.
“Mark has been a huge part of the success of Te Akau Racing, as has Jamie Richards who trained 11 Group 1 winners for us this season, including three in Australia. He has helped Te Akau Racing become recognised as the ninth best training operation in the world, as rated by the Global Rankings.”
Many successful jockeys kick-started their careers in the famous tangerine colours – none more notable than Opie Bosson who heads the list of Te Akau apprentice jockeys that have risen to the top.
“Opie has also been a huge part in the success of the stable,” Ellis said. “Not just as our current number one rider, but he started with me when he was 14 years old and we’ve become very good friends. It was fantastic to see him break the all-time record of Group 1 wins in New Zealand, held by the legendary Lance O’Sullivan ONZM, and to claim it on a Te Akau horse last season at Ellerslie was a big thrill.
“There have been many highlights over the years on the race track, but winning two Group 1s in half an hour in Sydney this season, with Probabeel and Te Akau Shark, was incredible. Then, a week later we had Cool Aza Beel and Avantage winning Group 1s within an hour of each other at Ellerslie. These sorts of results are very difficult to achieve and were quite something to follow on from Cool Aza Beel becoming our fourth consecutive Karaka Million 2YO winner and Probabeel creating history by winning both the Karaka Million 2YO and Karaka Million 3YO Classic in January at Ellerslie.”
While they were massive feats early in 2020, they served to continue a great season which had already seen Horse of the Year Melody Belle (Commands) make history in the Bostock New Zealand Spring Carnival Triple Crown at Hastings – a Group 1 winning treble over 1400 metres, 1600 metres, and 2040 metres.
The ‘King of Karaka’, Ellis retained his mantle as leading buyer for the 15th consecutive year at the completion of the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sales Series in January at Karaka.
Going back to 2004, Ellis upped the ante when purchasing a Danehill – Grand Echezeaux (Zabeel) yearling colt for $1.1m, from the draft of Pencarrow Stud, at Karaka. Bought on spec, Ellis was able to articulate the vision of what he was trying to achieve in strengthening and enhancing the NZ industry and put a syndicate of owners together in 24 hours.
Named Darci Brahma (Danehill), he was trained by Mark Walker to win five Group 1s in New Zealand and Australia and notched champion two-year-old, champion three-year-old, and champion sprinter-miler as a four-year-old before becoming a multiple champion stallion and leading sire in the New Zealand breeding industry.
Since then, Ellis has purchased other yearling colts for syndication that raced with distinction at the highest level and seven have gone on to stand at stud in New Zealand and Australia. Stallions like the late Burgundy (Redoute’s Choice), Embellish (Savabeel) and Rock ‘N’ Pop (Fastnet Rock), as well as Xtravagant (Pentire) – whose first crop yearlings look remarkable – and Heroic Valour (Fastnet Rock), both standing in Australia.
Ellis has bought an enormous number of athletic and top-performing thoroughbreds, encouraged hundreds of new owners into the industry, while between horses and staff they have won over 40 champion titles.
“I was frustrated seeing our top bloodstock leaving New Zealand because I think it’s important for race-goers to see the best of our breed race in New Zealand, before they race in Australia and other countries,” Ellis said.
Never one to rest on the laurels of success, Ellis has a clear focus for taking Te Akau Racing to a higher level over the next 18 months.
“We’ve secured 12 boxes at Flemington for the coming season, but they’re all for horses of ours that have raced and performed successfully here before we send them over to Australia,” he said
“It’s important for our breeding industry that we continue to retain well-bred horses to race here and it’s important for the credibility of our racing industry that our good horses go on to perform well on the international stage, which over the years they have done with such distinction.
“At the time of Darci Brahma we also had Princess Coup who won $4.2 million before selling as a broodmare for $3 million. However, Distinctly Secret was probably the horse closest to my heart and his success allowed the business to develop some real momentum. I bred him myself, owned most of him, and he won nearly $2 million which was a big help 18 years ago.
Another ambassador of the New Zealand thoroughbred industry, New Zealand Bloodstock chairman Joe Walls spends plenty of time working with Ellis and the pair have formed a great friendship.
“I can’t think of anyone more fitting in the industry for this honour to be bestowed upon,” Walls said. “He’s been a tireless worker in all facets, whether racing administration, or community, and he’s grown his racing business to great proportions.
“He’s supported breeders by buying yearlings every year in record numbers and record values, and there is no one in the modern era that I can think of who would be more worthy.
“A lot of people don’t know David or DC, as we call him, but he has got a kind heart. He’s very generous and a bloke that looks after his fellow man. He’s always been very good to his staff and there are very few chinks in DC’s armour if you know him well.
“I’ve known him for what must be 40 years, from when he started at Te Akau. I remember him giving me a call to go out there. I wondered where I was going, out to the coast somewhere. I got to his farm, which wasn’t as magnificent as it is today. He really was raw and didn’t have much of an idea about horses, but he listened.
“We formed a good relationship in all sorts of avenues. He has always been very loyal and I can’t speak highly enough about him. He’s firm but I think he’s fair and I think he has shown that in all the industry components and positions he’s been involved in. He has a very good grasp of the industry.
“He has put together this marvellous business which is Te Akau Racing. It’s world-class and he’s got a lot of very good people around him. Karyn, Mark Walker, Jamie Richards, even his vets and other industry professionals.
“Importantly for New Zealand, DC is recognised all over the world for what he has accomplished and continues to achieve.”