Kiwi-bred bolter Te Akau Nick nearly stole the 1993 Melbourne Cup at odds of $161 

David Ellis had dreams of farming sheep and cattle when he first attended the races at Ellerslie more than 40 years ago. In 1979, he purchased 575 acres at Waimai Valley and later acquired surrounding properties to set up what is now known as Te Akau Stud. It was the desire to share a beer and a laugh with like-minded people after a win that was the catalyst for the birth of Ellis' syndication company Te Akau Racing. The self-made multi-millionaire and racehorse breeder, buyer, owner and bloodstock consultant has since created the greatest privately-owned empire the New Zealand Thoroughbred racing industry has ever seen in Te Akau Racing. Over the past 30 years, the iconic tangerine colours of Te Akau have claimed all of New Zealand's premier races and many on the other side of the Tasman as well. But his first major success came from an unlikely stayer, suitably named Te Akau Nick.

In 1989 Ellis went to the Magic Millions' Sale staged in those days at Trentham in competition with Wrightson Bloodstock (who staged its last sale there in 1987 before its move to Karaka). Before the sale, he was really taken with a Grosvenor colt. He was being sold by Ollie Goodwin who had a successful stud in Masterton.  This Grosvenor colt was scopey, a little light in condition but had a good deep girth and Ellis liked the looks of him as a staying type of colt. Ellis purchased the colt for $40,000.

Te Akau Nick was by the powerful Sir Tristram sire Grosvenor via the dam Antionette (Ruling USA) who had a solid career herself. He came back to the farm and in May broken in and David Ellis gave him to his good friend Colin Jillings to train. He only trialled at two and in August he had his first start as a three year old. It was over 1200m at Te Rapa and he bolted in by 8L ridden by Bob Vance. That season, 1991, he won both the Derby trials and was third in the Group one NZ Derby behind the winner Cavallieri and Veandercross before going out for a spell. At the age of four, Ellis entrusted Gai Waterhouse with the training of Te Akau Nick in Sydney. This collaboration resulted in quite a significant milestone for Gai, as Te Akau Nick secured her inaugural Group One triumph in the prestigious Metropolitan Handicap held in at Randwick in 1992. Over the 2400m it showed that Nick was a horse that appreciated the greater distance.

In 1993 a reasonably strong field assembled for the Melbourne Cup, including Castletown (Noel Harris), Slight Chance (Johnny Marshall), Subzero (Greg Hall), The Phantom (Jim Cassidy) and Fraar (Darren Gauci). Bart Cummings had 4 starters and David Hayes 3. Frankie Dettori was on the American-bred Drum Taps with Michael Kinane on Irish raider, Vintage Crop. A deluge on the morning of the race had threatened the meeting, with officials fearing they would be forced to postpone the Cup to later in the week. Car parks were flooded and the track itself, though fast-drying with excellent drainage, took several inches of rain to the extent that the going was officially posted as ‘heavy’, later adjusted to a reading of ‘track slow'.

There have been few big-race riders in the world with the experience and the cool head of Mick Kinane and those qualities shone through as the Irishman guided Vintage Crop through the field to a historic victory. He won by three lengths from 160-1 outsider Te Akau Nick, trained by Waterhouse, with Mercator at 125-1 a half head away in third. No one believed the original UK raider, Vintage Crop stood a chance coming all the way from the other side of the world with minimal prep to win the the Cup - no one except trainer Dermot Weld and jockey Michael Kinane. The big chestnut Irish Galloper powered past Te Akau Nick who had just run the race of his life. Fellow Kiwi's, The Phantom ran 8th, Castletown 10th and Ultimate Aim finished 17th.

Ellis was on course and watched the race with his good friend Peter Grieve and he said to him before the turn "Dave you are going to get some of this." Ellis received $400,000 for running second which was a huge sum of money in those days. In the autumn, this great staying horse won the Gr.3 AJC Chairman's Handicap and the Gr.2 AJC St Leger and was second in the Group 1 Sydney Cup.  He was named Champion NSW Stayer of the Year at the AJC Awards' evening. The Te Akau brand, including the stables and syndicates are now a well established mainstay of New Zealand racing, with the tangerine colours routinely successful every week. It involves top trainers and jockeys, but it all started with David Ellis, a dream, and a champion stayer.

RACE RECORD - 29: 6-4-1
EARNINGS -  $1,300,000

Group 1 AJC Metropolitan Handicap
Group 3 AJC Chairmans Handicap
Group 2 AJC St Ledger Stakes
The Listed New Zealand Derby Trial
2nd in Group 1 Melbourne Cup
3rd in Group 1 New Zealand Derby