Horse Racing: Richards ready to reign

For a 28-year-old stepping into one of the most powerful jobs in New Zealand racing, Jamie Richards is undaunted.

It is not because he is arrogant. Richards calls it confidence.

He's eyeing the new season as the now sole New Zealand trainer of racing giant Te Akau after former partner Stephen Autridge decided to move on after their hugely successful last two years.

Although he will have one of the biggest brains in New Zealand racing in David Ellis overseeing the multi-layered business that is Te Akau and Richards will have his own father, Paul, coming on board as a key stable employee, it is still Jamie whose name now sits alongside some of the most valuable thoroughbreds in the country.

Richards says there is a good reason he is not nervous.

"I realise it is a big job but we have a great business and a lot of serious support in place," Richards tells the Herald.

"Obviously David is the overall boss, I have Dad here now and he could end up doing plenty of the travelling with the horses and we have a champion trainer in Singapore in Mark [Walker] to call on when we need some advice.

"And we have plenty of great staff. So I am not nervous or daunted by what lies ahead. I am excited.

"I know that might sound arrogant but I am ready for the job and I am a great believer in preparing properly and being organised.

"So it will be business as usual."

And business is booming, with Te Akau having had a freakish season with their two and three-year-olds in particular giving Richards an embarrassment of riches for his first season in charge.

Top of that list is Karaka Million winner Avantage, who looms as the main danger to Bonneval for the Horse of the Year title on August 26.

"She had a really long spell and looks great. She will be aimed at the 1000 Guineas at Riccarton as her main aim and then the $1 million Karaka 3-y-o Classic is the logical next step.

"Then in the autumn maybe we can look at Australia with her and trying to add some black type from over there as a bonus for her breeding career."

Fellow juvenile star Sword Of Osman is also likely to be part of a Riccarton assault on the 2000 Guineas but other group one winners like Embellish and Age Of Fire have little left to prove in New Zealand but would dearly love Australian group one glory to add enormously to their stallion value.

Therein lies Richards' greatest challenge.

Te Akau's colt-buying model has already produced successful stallions but they skyrocket in value with an Australian group one success, something not easily achieved as many of their biggest New Zealand wins are in 1200-1600m age group races, a brutally hard division to win at in sprinting-mad Australia.

The tangerine army has, of course, had plenty of success in Australia, with Gingernuts in the Rosehill Guineas last year and Melody Belle in Queensland but this season was largely underwhelming in the red hot three-year-old Aussie sprinter-miler races.

"It is not easy but I don't think we did a lot wrong over there, we just didn't have a lot of luck and it is very hard to win those races," admits Richards.

"But horses like Embellish and Age Of Fire will be given their chance over there again in the spring because they are good enough and if they can pick up a group one it is a huge help. I realise that is part of our model and I am confident we can have success there."

Mongolian Conqueror is another who could head to Melbourne but Melody Belle will be seen early in Foxbridge Plate at Te Rapa next month and then the early legs of the Hawkes Bay Triple Crown.

Add forgotten talents such as Te Akau Shark and Richards has some incredible equine firepower to play with once the real raceday team starts to roll out at Taupo next month, and that is without counting the huge array of blueblood yearlings the stable is prepping.

"I can't wait. I am looking forward to the challenge."