Te Akau trainers Mark Walker & Sam Bergerson and Fortuna Racing made an impact early on the programme at Riccarton, when Mitre Peak (3 f More Than Ready – Liten Prinsessa, by Bernardini) won the $17,000 Entain – NZB Insurance Pearl Series Maiden Fillies & Mares 1200 metres – and collecting an additional $20,000 Pearl Series Bonus on top of her winning prize money. Breaking through to the winners circle at her fifth start, Mitre Peak improved notably last start when finishing strongly for fourth in the Maiden 1200 metres on 16 May, also on the poly track at Riccarton, and had 15 days between runs to score on 31 May.

Away well from barrier two to trail for Te Akau apprentice Niranjan Parmar, Mitre Peak capitalized on a rails run in the straight and gamely held a winning advantage inside the 200m. Running 1200 metres in 1:10.3 on the poly track, she won by a neck after drifting in market fluctuations from $4.60 to pay $6.40 & $1.70 on the NZ TAB tote.

Click HERE to see the race replay

Mitre Peak became the 65^th win for the premiership leading trainers from their southern stable at Riccarton, and they have established a terrific 3.9 strike rate this season at the Riccarton base. “It’s always good to get a winner for Fortuna Racing,” Walker said. “They are great supporters of Te Akau. She’s been a slower maturing filly, but she’s got a lovely pedigree and that will enhance her value after winning today. It was a lovely ride of Parmar’s. He’s riding with a lot of confidence and got the timing of the race to perfection. She will continue to improve with time, also, but really starting to put it altogether now.”

Owned by Fortuna Mitre Peak Syndicate (Manager: John Galvin), she was purchased for $60,000 by David Ellis CNZM/Fortuna Racing at Inglis 2022 Classic Yearling Sale in Sydney.

“We didn’t pay a lot of money for her, but she’s got a lovely pedigree,” said John Galvin, while packing for Melbourne, in preparation for last start hurdle winner Leaderboard (Street Cry) contesting the Australian Hurdle (3900m) on Sunday at Sandown. “She was actually passed in at that Inglis sale, but with Mark Walker’s help, we chased her down and  managed to get her for the price she was passed in at, so it was good buying. Mark and Sam have been very patient with her, giving her the time she’s needed to mature, and she had been building towards a win. Her last start was very encouraging. She got a nice trip today and was well handled by Parmar. He got her into a nice spot and the leader rolled off the rail, so she never went around a horse. She’s still furnishing physically, but she’s in great order, still has a really nice coat, and I think she’s in the right place. Sending her south has been a good call and she obviously likes the synthetic (poly track).”

MITRE PEAK records her Maiden win – Riccarton Synthetic 31st May – Niranjan Parmar aboard

From the last crop of world renowned sire More Than Ready (Southern Halo), with over 2000 winners, Mitre Peak is from Liten Prinsessa, by another worldwide acclaimed sire Bernardini (A. P. Indy).

Liten Prinsessa, winner of four races to 1400 metres in Australia, is a sister to Karaka Million 2YO (Restricted Listed, 1200m) winner and Champion Two-Year-Old Ruud Awakening, now the dam of Group Three winner Rise Of The Masses (Russian Revolution). Both Liten Prinsessa and Ruud Awakening are out of Dawn Almighty (Danehill), dam of seven individual winners of 31 races, while the family includes dual Group Two winner Ruud Van Slaats (Van Nistelrooy), whose daughter Smashing (Pins) was trained by Te Akau to win six races and stakes place twice. Mitre Peak carries a Northern Dancer cross on the dam line of both Southern Halo and Liten Prinsessa.

Mitre Peak was strapped by Hollie Smith and is raced by the Fortuna Mitre Peak Syndicate, an Ownership Group consisting of 53 individuals, mostly from NZ but with one syndicate Member from Australia

Securing a race-to-race double for the Te Akau stable rider Opie Bosson, Fortuna Racing’s HAYATE (5 m Maurice – Vamoose, by Admire Moon) won the $17,000 Rating 60 2000 metres on 15 May at Cambridge. No sooner had Bosson guided Hayate’s Te Akau Racing stable-mate Luxuriant (Iffraaj) to an easy victory in the Rating 60 970 metres than he was back in winning action again with the Fortuna runner.

A winner earlier in the season over 1550 metres on the poly track at Cambridge, and subsequently second there at her next start, Hayate had been unable to quicken on Soft 7 footing in the Rating 65 1600 metres on 8 May at Matamata, and faced both a drop back in grade and step up in distance. Given an economical trip on the inner from barrier two, Hayate was away from the rail and improving between runners inside the 600m and drew out to win well after arresting the lead mid-straight. In the race sponsored by Oakvue Lodge/Serenity Park, Hayate ran 2000 metres in 2:04.7 on the poly track and paid $5.20 & $2.20 on the NZ TAB tote.

Click HERE to see the race replay

“She was helped with a drop back in grade to Rating 60 and it was good to get another win with her,” said Mark Walker, who trains in partnership with Sam Bergerson. “Great, too, to get another winner for Fortuna Racing, John & Jessica Galvin and their owners –  they’ve had a great run of wins in recent weeks. She has shown to handle the synthetic surface really well, so should be able to be placed nicely with the upcoming meetings on the poly tracks. It was also good to see her step up and win over 2000 metres, which shows she can handle a middle distance and that too opens up a few further opportunities.”

HAYATE – 4th career win – Cambridge 15th May 2024 – Opie Bosson aboard

A winner on debut in May 2022, Hayate has been a consistent performer and recorded her fourth victory for her owners in the Fortuna Hayate Syndicate (Mgr: John Galvin).

“They were similar sorts of rides,” said John Galvin (who was on course to witness the victory), commenting on the piloting by Bosson of the two stablemates in succession. “He bided his time, got them off the rail at the right time and they both won well. Hayate raced last week at Matamata and while she disappointed, the track was probably a bit sticky for her and her trackwork leading into that race had been very strong, so I think it was a clever decision by Mark Walker to back her up a week later, given that she was going to drop in grade and also get up in trip. We now know she can run the 2000 metres and she certainly wasn’t stopping. It was a lovely win and now she’ll be back up in grade, of course. She’s always given us the signal that she’s been looking for more ground and, finally, we’ve managed to get her there. She’s a five-year-old now, but she’s very sound and now that she’s up in trip there is bound to be a few more wins in her as well. She’s quite adept on the Polytrack, so that will provide more opportunities. While she likes sting out of the tracks, she doesn’t like it too heavy. And the Polytrack, as we know, suits those sorts of horses that aren’t necessarily firm track horses but also don’t like it heavy, either.”

Raced by the Fortuna Hayate Syndicate, an Ownership Group of 60 individuals, Hayate was acquired for $80,000 by Te Akau principal David Ellis and Fortuna Racing at the 2020 Karaka Book 1 Sale, from the draft of Mapperley Stud.

Hayate was strapped by Cooper Stumbles.

Improved on his last start jumps assignment, Leaderboard (9 g Street Cry – Flower Fairy, by Dynaformer) won the $50,000 Maiden Hurdle (3200m) on the first day of the Warrnambool Carnival in Victoria.

Owned by Fortuna Leaderboard Syndicate (Mgr: John Galvin), Leaderboard was purchased by Hubie De Burgh and Fortuna Racing in October 2018 at the Tattersalls Sale in U.K., and the Wellington Cup (Gr. 3, 3200m) winner of last year, with eight wins, now has earnings over $400,000.

Unpressured to close the margin for fourth in a trial on 14 March at Taupo, Leaderboard was given a hurdle trial on 3 April after arriving in the Te Akau Stables at Cranbourne (Victoria), and jumped well finishing second when resuming in the Maiden Hurdle (3200m) on 14 April at Pakenham. Ridden again by former New Zealand Champion Jumps Jockey of the Year Aaron Kuru, Leaderboard was beautifully spotted in fourth, never missed a beat with a fine display of jumping, and after putting it to race favourite Irish Butterfly (O’Reilly) at the 600m he proceeded to draw clear over the last hurdle at the 400m for an easy win by three and three-quarter lengths.

Click HERE to see the race result and Replay

“It will be a huge thrill for Mark (Walker), it’s his first runner at the Warrnambool Carnival and his first winner,” Kuru said.“We’re all extremely proud what he and the Te Akau team have done over here, so congratulations. I thought we had a kind time throughout the race and we were going pretty steady. I knew I had a good galloper underneath me and his jumping was really good today. I had a lot in reserve, but he’s a bit tricky this horse and can pull up if he hits the front too soon. I was in front a long way from home and hoping I could get him across the line but he’s such a good galloper and I knew I just had to use that to my strengths. Fair play to the horse, he’s done a great job today.”

In the race sponsored by Choices Flooring Warrnambool, Leaderboard, who won a hurdle trial before his debut in role last season and had a good record at two miles, ran 3200m in 3:46.2 on Soft6 footing and drifted in betting to pay $6.40 & $1.70 on the NZ TAB tote.

“It’s a great thrill to win with our first runner at the Warrnambool Carnival, and John & Jessica (Galvin) and their owners are terrific supporters of the stable,” Walker said. “He’s been a great old horse, to win a Wellington Cup and now a Maiden Hurdle at such a prestigious carnival. He’s got a very bright future in the jumps role and it’s a great thrill to have won the race. I’ve always loved jumps racing and hopefully it can continue to be well supported in New Zealand.”

At the time of Leaderboard’s purchase, John Galvin said: “I asked (bloodstock agent) Hubie de Burgh to find a European bred stayer that had a typical pedigree and  type that could turn into a cups horse down here (New Zealand). So, he went to the Tattersalls Horses in Training Sale and picked him out. We had a budget of 70 to 80,000 Guineas and we got him for 75,000.”

“Leaderboard” – Warrnambool Victory – 30th April 2024

On course soaking up the unique atmosphere that Warrnambool offers, Galvin said: “There are over 70 owners in this horse, but I’m the only man standing here today. My first time to Warrnambool and it’s a fantastic carnival, so it’s a pleasure to be here. We had a fair degree of confidence today. He’s a lovely galloper and jumper and he’ll get better over the bigger jumps, I think. So today was a wee bit of a test, but he took no prisoners out there. It’s always good when you leg-up Aaron (Kuru), you always know you have got a good chance.”

Asked about Melody Belle (Commands), who also raced in the Fortuna colours, and set a NZ domestic record of 14 Group One wins, Galvin said: “She was the horse of a lifetime, really, and while Leaderboard is in a different category, it’s still such a big thrill to win over here on such an iconic race day and his extensive ownership group love him to bits.  Mark  loves his jumpers and will also be pretty excited about this – Mark and Sam Bergerson and Ben Gleeson at Cranbourne have just handled him so well and he is a huge favourite around the Stable”

Leaderboard’s sire Street Cry (Machiavellian) also left Winx, world record holder of 25 Group One races, Champion US mare Zenyatta, Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense, and Melbourne Cup winner Shocking, so stamina runs in the blood and Leaderboard has his share.

Leaderboard became the fifth winner for  Fortuna Racing in the past 17 days, following Malborough Bay (Darci Brahma) last Saturday at Te Rapa in addition to previous wins by Star Shadow, Sailing Away and Ragamuffin – he is raced by the Fortuna Leaderboard Syndicate, an ownership Group of 73 individuals, 72 NZ based and 1 based in the Northern Territory, Australia

Leaderboard was strapped by Hailey Morton.

Capping a day of terrific racing at Te Rapa, the Fortuna galloper Malborough Bay (4 g Darci Brahma – Spin ‘N Grin, by Spinning World) won the $35,000 Maneline Rating 65 1400 metres on Saturday. After producing a good effort for second in the Rating 65 1400 metres on 27 March at Matamata, Malborough Bay struck conditions beyond him when footing downgraded to Heavy10 in Rating 65 1400 metres on 13 April at Otaki, but bounced back at Te Rapa under a positive ride by Craig Grylls. Beginning well from barrier three to lead at a solid clip, Malborough Bay was joined to his inside by Don Pauly (Satono Aladdin) at the 400m and the pair set down to a home straight battle that saw them separated by only a nose at the finish with Malborough Bay prevailing.

On footing that remained Soft6 throughout the programme, and perfect for what Malborough Bay has shown to prefer, he ran 1400 metres in 1:25.4, last 600m in 35.5 (approx.), and paid handsomely ($16.60 & $4.90) on the NZ TAB tote.

Click HERE to see the race replay

“It was a lovely ride by Craig Grylls and a terrific effort by Malborough Bay to hold the other horse off in a close finish,” said Mark Walker, who trains him with Sam Bergerson, Mark watching the race from Morphetville in South Australia where he was overseeing a small team of Te Akau trained runners. “We love it when the big hurdles are back up at Matamata and he schooled well over them during the week which could go some way to turning his form around today. He will now look to head back to Te Rapa in three weeks time. And well done to John Galvin and his Fortuna ownership Group – they have had a wonderful run of success over the past couple of weeks”

MALBOROUGH BAY – 3rd career win – Te Rapa 27th April 2024 – Craig Grylls aboard

From a family that Te Akau and Fortuna have a great affinity with, Malborough Bay won on debut as a two-year-old, placed in the War Decree Stakes (Gr. 3, 1600m) at three, and continues to race well after winning earlier this season at Matamata. Bred by Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM and Glenn & Cathie Holmes, Malborough Bay is owned by a Fortuna Racing  Syndicate, with the Fortuna Team on a roll of four wins in the past fortnight.

Sponsor Rohan Kamo from the race sponsors Maneline said: “Congratulations John (Galvin) to you and the owners of Malborough Bay. It’s lovely that we can sponsor and support the racing industry, because without it we don’t function. We supply horse shoes and farrier tools and it’s nice to get all the horses around to the start feeling sound and happy.”

In reply, on behalf of the owners, John Galvin said: “Shane Thompson, who shares in the ownership of Malborough Bay reminded me that the finish was very similar to the win by Melody Belle over Julius in the Foxbridge Plate here in 2018, where, like today, we had to wait for the Judge’s call. Malborough Bay can a bit hard to catch, but that is now his 3rd third career win and I think the winning of the race was at the start when Craig (Grylls) got him out first and as we know Craig is a lovely strong rider. We have a  big group of owners in  this horse and a few were on course today including Ian Upson who has had over 150 wins with Fortuna over the past 12 or 13 years, including 19 with Melody Belle, Shane Thomsen and his Mum, Marlene, who were also in Melody Belle,  Ollie & Hazel Lawrence have been in quite a few successful horses with us and Phil Graham who has had two wins with us in six days, Ragamuffin being the other one. He’s a well loved horse and will be back to Rating 75 now, so that will be a further challenge for him. Well done to Mark and Sam with how they have handled Malborough Bay since his last start – the bit of schooling over the hurdles they gave him made him very resolute today”

“Mark Walker trained the dam, Spin ‘n Grin, and she was very good,” said Te Akau principal David Ellis CNZM, who bought her for $65,000 at the 2003 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Yearling Sale, and since purchased and bred progeny from the mare. “Spin ‘n Grin won the Eight Carat Classic (Gr. 2, 1600m) at only her fourth start, finished third a week later in the Royal Stakes (Gr. 2, 2000m), and she was an unlucky second at her seventh start, in the New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (Gr. 1, 1600m). Karyn (Fenton-Ellis MNZM) and Glenn & Cathie Holmes bred Malborough Bay and he’s another good winner for Fortuna Racing and their owners.”

Malborough Bay is raced by the Fortuna Malborough Bay Syndicate, an Ownership Group of 55 individuals from New Zealand, Australia and Malaysia. He was acquired from his Breeders Karyn Fenton-Ellis and Glenn/Cathie Holmes in a private sale in 2021

Malborough Bay was strapped by Kohen Collett.