Stephen Autridge
Trish Dunell
Stephen Autridge and Jamie Richards have far exceeded their own expectations by claiming the national trainers' premiership in their first full season in partnership.
Their current tally of 104 winners has secured the title with closest challengers Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman on 99 and the defending champions only have three more runners to send out before the season's end.
"At the start we were talking that we might get to about 85 and we thought that might even win the premiership so we had to go a lot further. It's been a great season," Autridge said.
However, even more satisfying has been the stable's impact at the highest level.
"Group One winners are the number one aim – that's what we're after," Autridge said.
They were also tops on that score with top flight success with the star colt Xtravagant (New Zealand 2000 Guineas, NRM Sprint), the now-Victoria-based Risque (New Zealand 1000 Guineas) and the leading juvenile Heroic Valour (Diamond Stakes).
Autridge said his season's highlight was the stable's performance during the New Zealand Cup carnival last spring.
"It's got to be Riccarton - to win both the Group Ones on consecutive Saturdays was unbelievable."
Richards said their season couldn't have gone any better, with all the Te Akau operation sharing in the success.
"We couldn't have asked for any more, it's been a massive team effort with great staff, owners and horses."
On a personal note, he singled out Xtravagant's commanding performance to distance his Gr.1 NZ 2000 Guineas opposition at Riccarton as his highlight.
"Especially as it was at home in the South Island and to win that after I'd only been training for five minutes was a big buzz," he said. – NZ Racing Desk.
Their current tally of 104 winners has secured the title with closest challengers Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman on 99 and the defending champions only have three more runners to send out before the season's end.
"At the start we were talking that we might get to about 85 and we thought that might even win the premiership so we had to go a lot further. It's been a great season," Autridge said.
However, even more satisfying has been the stable's impact at the highest level.
"Group One winners are the number one aim – that's what we're after," Autridge said.
They were also tops on that score with top flight success with the star colt Xtravagant (New Zealand 2000 Guineas, NRM Sprint), the now-Victoria-based Risque (New Zealand 1000 Guineas) and the leading juvenile Heroic Valour (Diamond Stakes).
Autridge said his season's highlight was the stable's performance during the New Zealand Cup carnival last spring.
"It's got to be Riccarton - to win both the Group Ones on consecutive Saturdays was unbelievable."
Richards said their season couldn't have gone any better, with all the Te Akau operation sharing in the success.
"We couldn't have asked for any more, it's been a massive team effort with great staff, owners and horses."
On a personal note, he singled out Xtravagant's commanding performance to distance his Gr.1 NZ 2000 Guineas opposition at Riccarton as his highlight.
"Especially as it was at home in the South Island and to win that after I'd only been training for five minutes was a big buzz," he said. – NZ Racing Desk.
