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.

RAGAMUFFIN brought a lot of joy to his large ownership group when taking out the Johnny Neil Ltd Rating 60 1600 meter event at Hawera 21st of April in the hands of jockey Craig Grylls – it had been a long time between drinks for Ragamuffin, who had not greeted the judge since March 30th 2022. In his early career he had won twice from his first four starts, but subsequently had had a long period away from the track after post surgery complications and had been to the races 15 more times before producing his third career win at Hawera.  Drawn midfield Grylls bounced Ragamuffin away from the gates nicely, using up a bit of petrol to get to the lead and over to the rail, but then was happy to hand up the lead to You’ll Do and was content to lob along in second place – challenging on the turn Ragamuffin hit the lead at the top of the straight and was a dominant winner, going to the line with a two length margin in a time of 137.12 on a Good 4 surface and returned $2.80 and $1.40 on the New Zealand TAB

Click HERE to see the race replay

Ragamuffin was having his second start from the stable of Robbie Patterson, after having previously been trained by Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson of Te Akau Racing Stables. Patterson was on course and was naturally pleased to get a quick result for his new charge. “It’s always a bit of a challenge to take on a new horse from another stable and to get to know its personality and quirks, but Ragamuffin has settled in very nicely with us, produced a good effort over 1400m at Woodville recently to run third and we figured that stepping up to 1600 would be ideal and the addition of the blinkers seemed to work very well also – he didn’t beat much today but clearly he is a galloper with some good ability and I think he could be in for a profitable late autumn/winter of racing.  Congratulations to John Galvin and his Fortuna team of owners – Ragamuffin is the first horse we have trained for John and it’s great to get a result for the Fortuna team”

“Ragamuffin” – Hawera 21st April 2024 – Craig Grylls aboard

Savouring the 3rd individual winner in eight days for his Fortuna Team, John Galvin was on course at Hawera to witness Ragamuffin’s win along with a small number of his large ownership group and was a very happy man after the race “It was very satisfying to get this win today – Ragamuffin had showed quite a bit of ability in his early career, but in April 2022 he required some knee surgery, developed some complications from that, was away from racing for over 12 months and since his return it has taken him a while to get back to form, but his previous two starts leading into this race were very good and today he got the job done in stylish fashion for his ownership group. Well done to Robbie Patterson who has only had the horse for about three weeks – he’s got to know him very quickly and has done a great job with him – lovely ride by Craig Grylls, who as we know, is one of New Zealand leading jockeys and who has a fabulous strike rate riding for the Patterson stable. And well done to his ownership group who have been extremely patient over the last couple of years waiting for Ragamuffin to come back into form”

Owned by the Fortuna Ragamuffin Syndicate – an Ownership group of 37 individuals, Ragamuffin was purchased by David Ellis CNZM on behalf of Fortuna Racing for $80,000, from the draft of Lilywhites Lodge, at the NZ Bloodstock 2020 Ready To Run Sale

Sailing Away (3 g Merchant Navy – Anchovy, by Galileo) got the day off on a bright note for Te Akau trainers Mark Walker & Sam Bergerson  when winning the  $20,000 Maiden 1400 metres on Saturday at Riccarton. Freshened following three starts in his first campaign, which included a third over 1200 metres at Timaru, Sailing Away finished fifth from a handy position when resuming in the Maiden 1200 metres on 4 April at Ashburton, and took the necessary improvement.

Beginning well from barrier one to idle along in the trail, Sailing Away received a clear passage near the rail and kept mustering under the urgings of stable apprentice Niranjan Parmar, who recorded his 20^th win for Te Akau this season and 10^th at Riccarton. In the race named Riccarton Park Function Centre, Sailing Away ran 1400 metres in 1:24.3, last 600m in 34.7 (approx.), and shortened in betting as race favourite to pay $3.80 & $1.70 on the NZ TAB tote.

Click HERE to see the race replay

Present on course, co – Trainer Mark Walker said: “It was a nice ride of Parmar’s to have him travelling so well in the trail and it’s always good to get a winner for John Galvin and Fortuna Racing. Sailing Away been a slower maturing horse than initially expected, but he is out of Galileo mare so he should improve with more time and distance. He’s getting that little bit stronger now, that’s the key to him, and Hunter (Durrant) and the team at the Te Akau stables down here at Riccarton have done a really good job with him.”

SAILING AWAY breaks Maidens – Riccarton Park 20th April – Niranjan Parmar aboard

It was the second victory in a week for the Te Akau/Fortuna Racing partnership, after two-year-old stable-mate Star Shadow (Reliable Man) scored on debut in the 2YO 1300 metres last Saturday at Otaki.

Syndicate manager, John Galvin, watching the race from his Hamilton home, was well satisfied after the race “David and Mark  picked this horse out of the 2022 Karaka yearling sale, believing that on physical type he would make a lovely two year-old and he certainly suggested that in his initial preparation, but then had a real growth spurt and we had to abandon our two year-old plans for him and wait for more physical development. He had three starts in the December/January period of this season but then, believing he needed a break,  he was given a freshen up and his resuming run at Ashurton recently indicated that he was certainly knocking on the door. His pedigree page indicates that he may well prosper over more ground and the way he won the race today would tend to confirm that as well. Well done to Parmar for a well judged ride and congratulations to Mark and Sam and their team for exhibiting so much patience in the way they have handled Sailing Away.”

Sailing Away stems from a rather phenomenal international family, with third dam Love Me True (Kingmambo), leaving five-time Group One winning stallion Duke Of Marmalade (Danehill), a European Champion that won from 1400m – 2400m, Champion Three-Year-Old and The Derby (Gr. 1, 2400m) winner Ruler Of The World (Galileo), along with Group winners Norway (Galileo) and Annus Mirabilis (Montjeu).

Owned by the Fortuna Sailing Away Syndicate – an Ownership group of 56 individuals, he was purchased by David Ellis CNZM and Fortuna Racing for $60,000, from the draft of Cambridge Stud, at the Karaka 2022 Book 1 Sale.

Sailing Away was strapped by Naomi Warrander.

Making a perfect start to her racing career, Star Shadow (2 f Reliable Man – Scene Queen) won the $35,000 McMillan Equine Feeds 2yo 1300 metres on Saturday 13th April at Otaki.

A sizeable grey filly, Star Shadow had been the beneficiary of five solid trials ahead of her race debut, most recently steadying back from the outside gate and storming home late for second on 28 March at Tauranga and was rated a top three chance from barrier one on debut. In similar style to his recent winning ride on stable-mate Move To Strike (I Am Invincible) in the Sires’ Produce Stakes (Gr. 1, 1400m) at Trentham, jockey Wiremu Pinn was content biding his time at the back of a small field and after circling up with more to offer Star Shadow always appeared to have an edge.

“She was a sweetheart to ride and very professional,” Pinn said post race. “She tucked her head and relaxed nicely and when I asked her to go, she went. Kudos to her, she’s a nice filly and hopefully she can press on.”

Although just a half head margin, Star Shadow got the job done on Heavy8 footing, ground that can prove tricky for young horses, and drifted in betting to pay $3.50 & $1.80 on the NZ TAB tote after running the 1300 metres in 1:20.3

Click HERE to see the race replay

Star Shadow became the 15^th individual two winner this season for trainers Mark Walker & Sam Bergerson, winning 22 races, including Group One winner Move To Strike (I Am Invincible), dual Group Two and Group Three winner Captured By Love (Written Tycoon), Group Two winner and Fortuna owned Bellatrix Star (Star Witness) –  and Group Three winner Star Of Justice (Justify).

“It was a really nice win and a good patient ride of Wiremu’s,” said co-trainer Mark Walker. “She’s a really nice Filly that Dave (Ellis) and John (Galvin) bought cheaply at Karaka. I loved the way she relaxed and finished the race off and she looks to have a bright future.”

2yo Filly “Star Shadow” wins on debut Otaki 13th April – Wiremu Pinn aboard

On course looking after the team at Otaki, Te Akau racing manager Reece Trumper added: “It was a great ride by Wiremu. He is riding a lot of work for us and deserves these opportunities, and well done to John Galvin and his Fortuna Team. We’re thrilled to get another winner for John because he’s a big supporter of all our stables, at Matamata, Riccarton, Australia, and Singapore. I think it probably played into her hands being a wet track. She’s bred to be on rain-affected ground, so that was ideal to see and the way she finished off was good to see and the further she gets, in time, the better she’ll be I think”

Unable to be present on track at Otaki, Fortuna Director John Galvin watched the race from his Hamilton home and loved what he saw. “She was last in the running, but I could see that Wiremu had got her to relax nicely and I was pretty sure she would come right into it in the run home and while the 2nd placed horse, Ballon d’Or, made it a bit of a dogfight closing stages, our Filly got the job done nicely. Big kudos to Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson for how they have handled this Filly – selected by us at the 2023 Karaka Sale as a 3yo type, she showed early Two Year old precociousness, however they resisted the temptation to make her race debut earlier, focusing on making sure she was well prepared before making her debut”

Purchased by David Ellis CNZM and Fortuna Racing for $35,000 at the 2023 Karaka Book 2 Sale, from the draft of Westbury Stud, Star Shadow is a rare two-year-old winner for her sire, who won two Group One races to 2100 metres and whose progeny excel as three-year-olds and upwards.

Owned by Fortuna Star Shadow Syndicate an Ownership Group consisting of 65 individuals,  Star Shadow is out of a mare by world-class champion sire Redoute’s Choice, and carries a Northern Dancer cross on the dam line of Reliable Man (Dalakhani) and sire line of Scene Queen

Star Shadow was strapped by Ashley Handley.