Friday Flash – 11th July 2025

Published 11 July 2025

MALBOROUGH BAY – 5th Career Win – 5th July 2025 – Hayley Hassman aboard

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Headline News

MALBOROUGH BAY delivers a strong win at Te Rapa

A week of tragedy for young NZ Jockeys

Upcoming Opportunity

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Fortuna has no runners this weekend but West Indies will race at Pakenham on Monday – fields not finalised yet


And we have a number of runners going to the Matamata jumpouts Thurdsay 17th July

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Trackwork – Fortuna Runners

Matamata – 8th July

Marokopa Falls (S Collett) galloped over an easy 800 metres in 55.8, last 600 in 40.9.

Emma Twigg (T Melvin) galloped over an easy 800 metres in 55.5, home in 40.2.

Riccarton –

No timed trackwork this week

Cranbourne  – 8th July

West Indies (E Wilson) worked over an easy 1400 metres in 1.32.6, final 600 in 37.4.

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Other News

MALBOROUGH BAY – tenacious win at Te Rapa 5th July 2025

From a family well known to Te Akau and Fortuna, Malborough Bay (5 g Darci Brahma – Spin ‘N Grin, by Spinning World) won the $35,000 John F Grylls Memorial Classic Rating 75 1400 metres on Saturday at Te Rapa. Recording his fifth win, Malborough Bay had done very well after racing on pace for close second in the corresponding event on 14 June at Te Rapa, and facing a similar field he was rightfully well supported in the betting market to start second favourite.

Ridden by Te Akau apprentice Hayley Hassman, claiming 3kgs, Malborough Bay secured cover in a bunched field, pushed through between runners turning for home, and fought hardest in a three-way tussle to beat Lotus (Time Test) and Charmer (Charm Spirit).

“He was amazing, he slid right through them on the bend when they opened up and he fought to the line so hard,” Hassman said .“It’s great to win a race for Fortuna Racing, they’re a great supporter of Te Akau’s and a good supporter of me, too.”

On Heavy10 footing, managed particularly well by the Te Rapa Track Team following 100mls of rain in the preceding week, Malborough Bay ran 1400 metres in 1:31.0, last 600m in 38.7, and paid $5.90 & $1.90 on the NZ TAB tote.

Click HERE to see the race replay“It was a tough effort and great to see him back in the winner’s circle,” said Mark Walker, training partner with Sam Bergerson. “It was a nice ride of Hayley’s. She’s riding in great form and with a lot of maturity considering she’s only been a jockey for a short time. He will be at the hurdle trials on Monday at Cambridge, and I think all the schooling and added fitness from his first hurdle trial is what won him the race.”

MALBOROUGH BAY – 5th career win – Te Aroha 5th July 2025 – Hayley Hassman aboard

Bred by Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM and Glenn & Cathie Holmes, Malborough Bay is owned by the Fortuna Marlborough Bay Syndicate(Mgr: John Galvin), an ownership group of over 50 individuals

Te Akau principal David Ellis CNZM bought his dam, Spin ‘N Grin (Spinning World), for $65,000 at the 2003 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Yearling Sale, and a very good filly trained by Mark Walker she 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 unlucky when second at her seventh start in the New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (Gr. 1, 1600m).

Spin ‘N Grin has now left six individual winners of 22 races, including Group One and dual Group Three placed Burgundy Belle (Burgundy), Group One and Group Three placed Éclair Lightning (Darci Brahma), along with additional Fortuna Racing owned horses Major Tom (Darci Brahma) and Jack’s Secret (Sakhee’s Secret) who each won three races when trained by Mark Walker in Singapore.

On behalf of the owners, John Galvin received a trophy from Gary Grylls, former jockey and son of John Grylls, and father of leading jockey Craig Grylls.

“With respect to the sponsorship, when I was a boy growing up John Grylls was one of the leading jockeys in New Zealand, of course, his son Gary took over that mantle, and we’ve got young Craig by far the leading rider in New Zealand this year,” Galvin said. “It’s great of the Grylls family to sponsor the race and when I saw the name in the racebook it brought back a lot of memories and it’s an honour to be able to win it. Malborough Bay is a horse that always runs a nice race, was beaten a nose here last time, and although a bit worse off at the weights today he managed to draw on reserves for a really tough win. t was a great ride by Hayley Hassman, who is riding in super form, and a top effort by the training team, Mark (Walker), Sam (Bergerson), and new assistant trainer Reece Trumper”.

“We have a few of the ownership team here, so well done to them. Malborough Bay doesn’t win out of turn, but had been knocking on the door and deserved another win. We’ve had a lot to do with the family. Burgundy Belle raced in the Fortuna colours and when Mark (Walker) was in Singapore we had Jack’s Secret and Major Tom win multipe times up there, so it’s been a good family to us. Malborough Bay has also shown some ability over jumps, has had a jumping trial already, and having another one next Monday. We’ll have to see where that ends up, but he certainly seems to have  a future as a jumper.”

Te Akau racing manager Michael Gray, added: “Often getting over the sticks can spark them up. He just fell short in a close finish here last start and it was really good to see Hayley push him out like that in the finish. Hayley is getting plenty of chances and she’s improving lots from week to week.”

Malborough Bay was strapped by Rhiannon Smith.

Malborough Bay and Hayley Hassmann returing to scale

Happy connections post race

 

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A week of tragedy for young NZ Jockeys

Racing fans were still reeling from the shock of apprentice rider Triston Moodley being kicked in the head by a horse in the mounting yard at the Te Awamutu races, when just the following day, the very promising Ngakau Hailey was killed in  a collision between his dirt bike and a car – see the full story below from the Love Racing website
The New Zealand racing industry is in mourning following the passing of apprentice jockey Ngakau Hailey. The 18-year-old hoop was involved in a vehicle accident in Hamilton on Wednesday between a dirt bike and car, with Hailey sustaining critical injuries, and he later passed away at Hamilton Hospital. 

“It’s tragic, words just can’t describe it. I was talking with him on Monday and then this happens,” New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Northern Riding Master Noel Harris said. 

Apprenticed to Te Awamutu trainer Debbie Sweeney, Hailey kicked off his riding career two years ago and recorded his first win aboard the Sweeney-trained Chattahoochee at Cambridge in June 2023. He went on to record a further six victories that season. He continued to impress in the saddle, riding home 39 winners in the last two seasons, and Harris said he was well-liked amongst the racing community. 

“He was very polite and he was a very talented boy,” Harris said. “You knew straight away when you saw him on a horse that he was a natural. From where he was brought up, they just jump on a horse and you are part of it.” 

Hailey was initially raised on the East Coast of the North Island where he began riding bareback from a young age and he competed in horse sports before moving to Hamilton when he was eight-years-old. Rugby League became Hailey’s new passion, and he held aspirations of playing in the NRL. He played hooker for his local club, the Hamilton City Tigers, as well as Waikato Maori and Waikato District.  While his small stature kept him from progressing in league, it helped him follow a new path when he joined his uncle on a trip to Pokeno where tried his hand at riding track work for the first time. 

He fell in love with riding once more and began riding regular track work for trainer Shelley Wright before commencing his apprenticeship with Sweeney. Hailey impressed Harris from day one and he said he will be a massive loss to New Zealand thoroughbred racing. 

“He was a natural talent, and that is just what you want,” Harris said. “It’s tragic, he was a lovely boy.” 

A givealittle page has been created to assist Hailey’s family with funeral costs: 

https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/help-support-ngakaus-family-through-this-traged-1?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR7dojzpdmZ2HySXidRRQq2cbKY4EDXE5kSS1OCQW6xaxloAt-wzsc3ttMpmig_aem_CFrex9TlkZ9WMeZ_dAhW0A 
Meanwhile the 23 year old Triston Moodley appears to be recovering well after being airlifted to Waikato Hospital and having emergency surgery to insert a plate into his head and at this early stage, there are reasonable expectations of a good recovery

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Upcoming Opportunity

My lips are sealed but there is strong potential that we may be able to announce an exciting upcoming yearling opportunity. It is very rare that you can acquire a yearling at this time of the year, particularly one that has had a preparation and so we know something about it, however I can say no more at this stage, so it’s a matter of “watch this space”

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Guest Selector – Des Coppins

Greetings John and Fortuna fans,

Well done to the ownership group of Marlborough Bay; schooling has certainly worked the oracle with this boy but he still may have a win or two on the flat and on the subject of jumping, the ultra consistent Leaderboard was beaten but not disgraced for the Fortuna team by the Australia’s super star, Stern Idol, in the Thackeray Steeples at “The Bool “ on Sunday.

Here are my three runners that competed during the week who I’d suggest are worth following into the winter after analysing their respective outings from Te Rapa and Tauranga  last Saturday and Sunday.

DIAMOND JAK – I tipped him on my email service as the rank outsider but the money came for him and he was game in defeat in running a close third in the open handicap at Te Rapa. He has a future as a jumper but he was runner up in the Taumarunui Gold Cup 12 months ago and it’d be no surprise to see him have another crack in the end of the season winter handicap.

DUSTY ROAD – he was another I was keen on last Saturday and he was a tad unlucky, too. He was narrowly beaten into second after copping a check at the 800 with the young rider dropping her whip at the 350m. He was a sprint winner on Taumarunui Gold Cup Day last year.

JAFFIRA – he’s a 5 win horse who was narrowly beaten at Tauranga and he’s another who could make his presence felt if, even after a busy year, the Wexford team line him up at Te Rapa in a fortnight. He won a r65 over 1600m on the last Saturday of the season last year.

MY TEN QUESTIONS TO PONDER

1. In the 1960’s the three Rs’ of Rugby, Racing and BeeR dominated NZ Society. Despite other big sports, Rugby remains the number one NZ sport and Beer is the number one in alcohol consumption. What happened to us?

2. Jonathan Riddell’s 1000 would be as big as any who has achieved  the milestone as he has battled weight issues for much of his career. You would have to agree, wouldn’t you?

3. Hasn’t the Melbourne come a long way in prize money? This year it has just been announced that it’ll be $10m, $2m up from last year. For the record In 1990 it was $1m. In 1980 it was $310k. When the NZ’er Hi Jinx won the Centenary Cup in 1960 it was 25,000 pounds ( $50k).

4. With the Tarzino Trophy, the first group one of the new season, could that be the appropriate  100th group one for come back champion Opie Bosson? It’s a race that’s been kind to him in the past with his name already on the trophy three times; Skew Wiff, I Do and Survived.

5. Did you know that at the turn of 1900’s, 125 years ago, there were about 100 gallop race  tracks in NZ? Yes, a racetrack in or near every town or village it seemed. Hard to be believe but actively now we are down to about 30 and in the next 25 years, half that number at a pinch?

6. Of all the “nick”names for jockeys I thought there was only “one professor”, the mighty Roy Higgins. However I reckon the late great man won’t mind sharing his title with jumps jockey of today, Steve Pateman, who is also dubbed the “professor” by race caller Rick McIntosh and media outlets. Fair enough,too, when you consider how this 42 year old continues to dominate the jumping riding ranks in Melbourne wouldn’t you say?

7. We’ve seems top young Japanese young riders hit our shores in the last 10 years and don’t you get the feeling that Wexford Stable apprentice, Yuga Okubu, who rode 3 winners at Te Rapa on Saturday, is all set to maintain the kiwi cheery blossom record?

8. What’s in a name?
If you translate Yuga it means “elegance” and “grace” while Okubu equates to “ great long term potential” . This promising apprentice is blessed with the perfect name for his chosen profession you’d have to say.

9. How big a turnaround is stakes money in NZ these days? Check this out, 5 years ago the trainers who finished 3rd on the premiership, the Pittmans, grossed $1.194million. This season Lance Noble has hit exactly $1.194m and he’s 37th on the premiership ladder!!

10. Looking ahead to the Opunake Cup on Saturday week. Did you know in the last 9 years – since 2016 – there have been only 4 horses whose names have appeared on the trophy? They are Longchamp ( 2016-17); New York Minute (2018); Helena Baby ( 2019 and 2022) Justaskme ( 2021 and 2023) and Belardo Boy, last year. The race didn’t play out in 2020. Does this sequence tell us that the old fellow Belardo Boy maybe the go to bet that day?

Des Coppins
021 448 052

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