“Leaderboard” – En Route to Steeples Victory Ballarat – 6th April 2025
Will Gordon aboard
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Headline News
Leaderboard brilliant in Ballarat Steeples win – will back up at Pakenham 13th April
Shares available in the jumper Khafeef – zero consideration
NZTR Announces Boost to Jumps Racing Stakes
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Fortuna has six runners this weekend, five in NZ, one in Victoria
Riccarton – Saturday
PORCIA CATONIS will contest the Maiden 1200 down the Riccarton chute – Race 1@ 11.45 in the hands of the talented George Rooke – having just her 3rd race day start and coming off a long break after she went down by a nose on the Riccarton synthetic in December – has ability and a bold run is expected but has drawn wide – TAB Says “beaten a lip at last start, wide draw, win chance for sure ” – showing $6/$2.20
ANGELS WINGS races in the R65 1200 down the Riccarton chute – Race 2 @ 12.20 and will be ridden by Courtney Barnes from the ace barrier – has been racing well, but without much luck and gets her chance to atone here – TAB Says “can handle all types of footing – drawn the ace – include her everywhere in this field ” – showing $15/$4.40
STAR SHADOW races in the R65 1600 – Race 3 @ 12.52, will be ridden by Courtney Barnes from a mid field barrier – wasn’t disgraced last time on a heavy track – meets easier company here and is a strong each way chance TAB Says ” can handle dry and wet ground – can cope this drawing wide ” – showing $3.70/$1.75
VIVACIOUS races in the R75 1400 – Race 5 @ 2pm, will be ridden by Courtney Barnes from barrier 2 – a brilliant winner this trip Ashburton in October, she has not had the rub of the green since – very talented and has the ability to feature in the finish here -TAB Says “improved effort at last start – well drawn – has won third up ” – showing $8.50/$2.90
Te Rapa – Sunday
COURT OF APPEAL races in the R75 2100 – Race 5 @ 2.40pm, will be ridden by Craig Grylls from barrier 2 – dominant win at Taupo 1800m late Feb, she was then desperately unlucky Hawera this trip 26th March – up in grade here and meets some useful types but is a genuine stayer in the making – bold showing expected -TAB Says “Form hard to fault – will be there at the finish” – Odds not posted yet
Pakenham – Sunday
LEADERBOARD runs in the Open Steeple over 4000m – Race 5 @ 2.55 Aus time (4.55pm NZT) with Will Gordon to ride. Brilliant all the win last Sunday at Ballarat over 3250m – is a beautiful jumper and no reason why he can not continue on his winning way – Racing.com says “Never in any doubt as a dominant winner at Ballarat – again hard to toss” – No Odds showing yet but he will be short
Matamata – 8th AprilMitre Peak (A Azrul) galloped over 1000 metres in 1.06.8, home in 38.7.
Court Of Appeal (S Hussain) galloped over an easy 1200 metres in 1.24.6, final 600 in 39.4. ============================================================
Other News
Leaderboard brilliant in Ballarat Steeples win – will back up at Pakenham 13th September
Talented steeplechaser Leaderboard is heading towards the Warrnambool carnival in May. Photo: Bruno Cannatelli
Te Akau jumper Leaderboard is set to head to the Warrnambool carnival later this month following his triumph in the Open Steeplechase (3250m) at Ballarat on Sunday.
The 10-year-old son of Street Cry, who is raced by syndicator Fortuna, won seven races on the flat in New Zealand, including the Gr.3 Wellington Cup (3200m) and Listed New Zealand St Leger (2600m).
He then transferred to Te Akau’s Cranbourne base where he has added three further wins to his tally, along with placings in last year’s Grand National Hurdle (4200m) and Grand National Steeplechase (4500m).
Trainer Mark Walker was pleased with his winning performance on Sunday and is looking forward to tackling some feature jumping assignments at Warrnambool, including the Brierley Chase (3450m) and Grand Annual Steeplechase (5500m).
“It was a brilliant win,” Walker said. “He’s a terrific jumper and it’s great to see him back at the races and win the way he did. It’s all systems go towards the Warrnambool carnival, and he looks as though he’s in for another really good season. I’m looking forward to seeing him again at Warrnambool. It’s a unique carnival and it’ll great to be a part of it.”
Prior to the two assignments at Warrnambool, Fortuna’s John Galvin said the plan was for Leaderboard to back-up in the Spencer Memorial Steeplechase (4000m) at Pakenham this coming Sunday.
“I don’t think that will worry him and after that he’ll go to the Warrnambool carnival,” Galvin said. “I think Mark (Walker) has got the base fitness into him. It was a lovely ride by Will (Gordon) and kudos to Mark and Ben (Gleeson, assistant trainer), they’ve prepared the horse beautifully, and Mark loves his jumpers. We’ve owned him since 2018 and he’s a marvel, really. He had a wonderful period of flat racing and was very consistent provided he got yielding tracks, but his future was always going to be as a jumper when he wasn’t so competitive on the flat. Mark’s got a few jumpers in his stable, with Prismatic and The Mighty Spar, and Leaderboard has become the flagbearer with the successes he’s had“
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NZTR Announces Boost to Jumps Racing Stakes
New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing (NZTR) has announced several enhancements to the prizemoney for Jumps Racing, including immediate increases covering the remainder of the current season (May to July 2025), as well as the full 2025-26 racing calendar. NZTR’s total investment across 18 meetings and 57 Jumps races over this period will reach approximately $2.57 million.
The increases highlight NZTR’s ongoing commitment to the development and promotion of Jumps racing throughout the country.
Highlights of the revised stakes include:
· Uplift in stakes for Feature Steeplechases across the season, with increases ranging from $15,000 to $50,000 per race.
· Restricted Open Jump Races will see stakes boosted from $30,000 to $40,000. In cases where these races are split into separate events for winners and maidens, winners will compete for $40,000, while maidens will race for $20,000.
· The Racecourse Hotel & Motor Lodge 150th Grand National Steeplechase at Riccarton Park on Saturday 9 August celebrates its 150th renewal this year, with the Canterbury Jockey Club set to announce a further stakes increase to this race in the coming weeks.
These new stakes enhancements complement previously announced strategic initiatives, which include:
· A shortened jump racing season comprising 18 racing days, running from 11 May to 21 September 2025, concluding with an exciting two-day event at Te Aroha.
· A strategic shift towards non-Saturday racing days, with nine of the 18 Jumps racing days scheduled for Sundays, along with King’s Birthday Monday and a feature Friday meeting on 19 September for the Great Northern Hurdle.
· Streamlining of venues to improve infrastructure, reducing host venues from previous seasons to seven locations. Notably, Jumps racing will no longer be held at Rotorua or Waverley this season.
· Introduction of the Amateur Series, primarily held at Jumps meetings, concluding with the prestigious Duke of Gloucester Cup on 19 September at Te Aroha.
NZTR Chief Operating Officer Darin Balcombe commented, “These enhancements deliver immediate benefits for participants this season while supporting the ongoing development of Jumps racing. Following our strategic review last year, we’re focused on improving the experience for participants and fans as we head into next season,” he said.
Shares available in the jumper Khafeef – Zero consideration
Our 9yo Jumper, KHAFEEF, has crossed the Tasman to participate in the lucrative Victorian Jumps scene – however he won’t be joining Leaderboard at Cranbourne but will head to Mornington to be trained by the expat Kiwi and former Jumps riding Champion, Brett Scott – Brett has already had success with another Fortuna runner, ZEDWILLDO and we believe that KHAFEEF, formerly trained in NZ by Kevin Myers, will be well suited by the Brett’s relaxed stable environment at Mornington – 5% of the shares in Khafeef are available for zero consideration and NZ$50 per month from the 1st May – just contact John by email or call 021 921 460 if you have interest – Khafeef has won over the Hurdles and performed well in Steeples races during the 2024 season beaten a short head at Rotorua – he has had a solid preparation in Kevin Myers care since mid December, attending sports days and Gymkhanas, trialed at Foxton on the flat 25th March and is very fit
Khafeef is currently being prepared by Brett for a jumping trial at Terang 17th April and will have another trial two weeks later and then be ready to make his Victorian jumps debut after that
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Guest Selector – Des Coppins
Here is what Des has for our readers this week
Greetings John and Fortuna followers.
Firstly congratulations on Leaderboard’s wonderful return to racing over jumps last Sunday. He’s a great old horse with a Wellington Cup and NZ St Leger to his name and as a jumper he looks spot on for another good season in Melbourne.
A quick reflection on last week, Islington Lass wasn’t on song and her astute trainer is weighing up her future but it’d be fair to say Nigella Lane was a good thing beaten in the fillies and mares race at Wanganui. She’ll keep,
Let’s look three to follow; not only for Saturday assignments but going forward to the rest of the autumn.
Lantern Way, race 6, Trentham
An ex Hawkes Bay Guineas winner whose form tailed off the spring but there was a lot to like about the resuming run on the track at the end of last month.
Contemplation Bay, race 5 Riccarton
Handles most types of track surfaces; the first two wins of the season were big and is back in class after finishing less than a half length from the runner up in stakes company last time.
Sergeant Major, race 2 Randwick
This ex kiwi is capable of causing a mild upset on Championship Day at Randwick on Saturday. That top 4 run behind a potential super star, Autumn Glow at Rosehill, tells the story.
Thought for the day: How did that name get through?
I felt sorry for George Simon the other week when he put the binoculars on race 6 at Tauranga which featured a horse by name of Unodostrescuatro, breaking it down its UNO DOS TRES QUATR0 which most will know is one, two, three and four in Spanish. In the rapid, yet clear and precise delivery George would normally give us he was almost tongue tied while trying to be as fluent as he could possibly be.
Cruel I thought for the caller and very strange to let a name like this slip past the keeper at NZTR’s horse registration department .
For the record there are some steadfast rules when it comes to naming your horse
1. names must be no longer than 18 characters including the spaces
2. can’t apply for names whose spelling or pronunciation is similar to names already registered
3. a name cannot be reused until 15 years has passed since the foaling of a similar named horse
4. names of winners of group one races are protected
5. names of stallions cannot be used until 15 years has passed since they last appeared in a stud book
So there are 5 rules – While understanding it’s an owners prerogative on what names or names are jotted down at registration time I think maybe there should be a 6th rule with one that doesn’t confuse, baffle or muddle a race callers professional delivery by throwing a curve ball with a seemingly tongue-tie-ish name as is the case with the Spanish one-two-three-four!
Ps our Melbourne tour, with Co host Lisa Allpress, is gaining momentum. If you are keen to know more simply email me dcoppins@xtra.co.nzand I’ll put you on to the Sporting Tours operator.
Enjoy the great racing this weekend and good punting!
