LEADERBOARD kicks off his 2025 Jumps Racing season with dominant 5 length win at Ballarat 6th April

Perennial teenager Leaderboard (10 g Street Cry – Flower Fairy, by Dynaformer) comfortably won the $35,000 Open Steeplechase (3250m) on 6 April at Ballarat (Victoria). Winner of the Wellington Cup (Gr. 3, 3200m) and the NZ St Leger (Listed, 2600m) when racing on the flat in New Zealand, Leaderboard had taken to the jumping role like a duck to water and ended his previous campaign finishing third in the Grand National Hurdle (4200m) and second in the Grand National Steeplechase (4500m) in Australia.

Following two runs on the flat since resuming, Leaderboard led throughout when winning a 2400-metre Steeplechase trial on 13 March at Cranbourne, and took good fitness levels into the assignment. Ridden by Will Gordon, who had combined with him to finish second in the Australian Hurdle (3900m) last year, Leaderboard assumed the role of pacemaker from the outset, was eagerly looking for his fences, and in the end made light of his 71.5kg to win by five lengths. On Soft6 footing, in the race sponsored by E-cycle Solutions, Leaderboard started second favourite behind runner-up Schabau (Pastorius) and paid $2.80 & $1.60 on the NZ TAB tote.

Click HERE to see Race replay

“It was a brilliant win, today,” said trainer Mark Walker. “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.”

Already something of a course specialist at Warrnambool, winning at 3200-metre Hurdle at his first attempt and following with a first and third over 3450 metres in Steeplechases, Leaderboard will now prepare for the $150,000 Brierley Chase (3450m) on Tuesday 29 April, and the $350,000 Grand Annual Steeplechase (5500m) on Thursday 1 May.

Leaderboard in command on his way to Steeples Victory at Ballarat  –  6th April 2025

Owned by Fortuna Leaderboard Syndicate (Mgr: John Galvin), he was purchased by John with assistance of International bloodstock agent, Hubie De Burgh, in October 2018 at the Tattersalls Horses in Training Sale in U.K., and his 10 wins have yielded nearly $600,000 in earnings.

Leaderboard has a terrific autumn record, with seven of his 10 wins coming between March and June.

“He’s going great and in really good shape,” John Galvin said. “He had a couple of resuming flat races, where he was outclassed, but he won a Steeplechase trial by eight lengths at Cranbourne, and what he did today wasn’t a surprise. He’s a beautiful jumper. He got a little bit close-in at the fifth (fence) and slightly awkward at the second last, but he controlled the speed, increased the tempo as the race went on, and was too good for them.”

Prior to the two assignments at Warrnambool, Galvin said the plan was for Leaderboard to back-up next Sunday (13 April) in the Spencer Memorial Steeplechase (4000m) at Pakenham.

“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), 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 has got a few jumpers in his stable, with Prismatic and The Mighty Sparat Cranbourne and Leaderboard has become the flagbearer with the successes he’s had.”

The win for Fortuna Racing with Leaderboard came on the back of his stable-mate West Indies  (Fastnet Rock) finishing close third in the Benchmark 64 2025 metres on Friday 4th April at Cranbourne.

“We bought him for the (VRC) Derby, but he wasn’t mature enough to run the 2500 metres out. But, physically, he’s a different horse now. He’s still only a 3yo and got a bright future, I think,” Galvin said. “Providing he trots up well on Monday, the plan is the VRC St Leger (Listed, 2800m) on Anzac Day (25 April) at Flemington.”

Leaderboard is raced by the Fortuna Leaderboard Syndicate, an ownership group of  of 73 individuals, 71 NZ based and 2 based in Australia

Leaderboard was strapped by Hayley Morton.