It’s been a foregone conclusion for several months, but as August 1 ushers in a new racing season, Jamie Richards’ name goes into the record books as the champion trainer for season 2020/21 in New Zealand.

The 31-year-old finishes the domestic season with 160 wins to his name, including 36 at black-type level.

The Matamata horseman sent out a winner every 4.94 starts and won 13 of the 21 Group One races in New Zealand, including five where he saddled the quinella, while he also prepared the first four in the lucrative Karaka 2YO Million (1200m).  

Despite challenges campaigning horse internationally in a COVID-affected year, Richards still landed a pair of Group Ones in Australia with Probabeel and a further two Group Threes, with the combined earnings of his runners in Australia and New Zealand approaching $8 million.

It was the second successive trainers’ title for Richards in a solo capacity, having previously won the premiership in 2015/16 in partnership with Stephen Autridge.

“I guess the main thing for me is the achievements we have had have come from a great team who have all had a role to play in our success,” Richards said.

“We have so many nice horses that David (Ellis) has bought at the sales and a loyal ownership group behind us that are so supportive, but you also need to have the staff and team in place to be able to bring it all together.

“It is a massive operation that we run where everyone has their role to play.

“People may just see what happens on raceday, but we are always working hard to find that extra five percent or half a length out of each horse, as that is often the difference between winning and losing on the track.

“It is a credit to everyone who is involved with team that we have achieved what we have this season.”

Pressed to nominate a season highlight Richards offers two that are special to him.

“I guess the win by Amarelinha in the New Zealand Oaks (Gr.1, 2400m) stands out as it is the first time I’ve won that race,” he said.

“Probabeel’s two Group One wins in Australia were also very special as they were quite dominant and we hope she can continue that way again this year.

“I guess that is what is so good about racing in that for all we achieved in the last 12 months, it is a new ballgame from today (August 1).

“Today we start afresh and what happened last year is in the past.

“There is just something special about the start of a new season and particularly watching our two-year-olds come through to start their racing journey.

“It’s something I love and I can’t wait to see how it all unfolds.”

Te Akau principal David Ellis.  Photo Credit: Trish Dunell

Te Akau principal David Ellis was humbled by the level of achievement by the stable for the season and believes there is more to come.

“When you start off in this game at the lowest level possible, which I did, to finish up having a season like we have had is incredibly humbling,” Ellis said.

“To win a fifth Karaka Million in a row with an exciting young horse that the kids have a share in was a great thrill. I think we won half the card on Karaka Million night. We won six of the ten races on Boxing Day at Ellerslie and then to quinella Group One races like the Bonecrusher and the Sistema on the same day — it is just so hard to do.

“I certainly don’t take it for granted. It was very emotional. It was the result of a lifetime’s work and the investment of so many of our owners who have been so supportive.”

Ellis and wife Karyn recently had time to reflect on the stable’s feats.

“You don’t get any time really to think about it at the time, but Karyn and I went to Queenstown for five days last week and we talked about the season highlights and celebrated it,” he said.

“We talked about winning the Group Ones at every level — whether that be winning the 1000 Guineas (Kahma Lass) and Oaks (Amarelinha) with quality fillies, the Sistema with a high-class colt (Sword Of State) or the Group One wins of Probabeel, Melody Belle and Avantage.

“The three mares (Avantage, Melody Belle and Probabeel) all won the Karaka Million at two and have gone on to be better and better each year, and I think you will see On The Bubbles do the same. 

“All of the 15 Group One wins we had for the season were horses we had bought at the sales. It is just so rewarding and this season Karyn and I have syndicated 78 horses.”

Despite being laid low following surgery on his foot, Ellis is always looking to enhance the Te Akau model.

“We were a little bit held up in terms of going to Sydney in big numbers (through COVID) but we will have five or six there this spring carnival,” he said.

“We certainly don’t want to rest on our laurels and we would like to take the business now to the next level.”

The stud and stable proprietor believes the key to success has been the quality of people through the organisation, in addition to the calibre of horse brought about by owner support.

“We have just the best staff that our business has ever had. At every level, we have incredible staff.

“We want to buy good horses for them to look after because we see the huge thrill that they get out of looking after them, the pride that they show, the loyalty they have and it is just a very happy team.”

Ellis has nothing but respect for the dedication Richards has to the role.  

“He is a very intelligent person, a very good horseman, a good listener and a hard-working guy that takes things on board and puts things into action. Everybody enjoys working with him. He’s a happy person. He’s a positive person and just great to be around.”

Champion jockey for season 2020/21, Danielle Johnson (right) poses with champion apprentice Hazel Schofer.  Photo Credit: Race Images – Peter Rubery

Also heavily involved in the stable is Richards’ partner, premiership winning jockey Danielle Johnson, who finished 60 wins ahead of her nearest rival with 151 wins for the season.

“Danielle is a very important part of the team. She has been riding in brilliant fashion for the last two or three seasons and it is great to see her hard work paying off,” Ellis said.

“Her father was my stable jockey in the 1980s, so I have known the family for a long time. They are just really good people and we are just delighted for Danielle and we know that she has got a big thrill out of winning the premiership and winning Group Ones in the tangerine.” 

Key statistics:

NZ total Races – 2,447; Te Akau Racing 160 wins or 6.53% of all races in NZ

NZ total Prizemoney - $54,897,010; Te Akau Racing $5,969,645 or 10.87% of all prizemoney

NZ total Group and Listed races – 147; Te Akau Racing 36 wins or 24.4% of all black-type races