Riccarton – Saturday

VIVACIOUS contests the R75 1400m event with Hayley Hassman  to ride  – Race 4 @ 1.40pm NZT – won nicely this track when resuming over 1200m 4th March, then ran 5th this track and trip 21st March, fiding track a bit firm that day – quality racemare with good strike rate, but may need rain to be at her best hers – TAB says  “Stick with her, especially if it is wet” –  Showing Odds of $16/$4.20

Werribee – Saturday

ZEDWILLDO  runs in the BM 56  2200m event with Corey Parish to ride from a good draw – Race 5 @ 3.51pm AEST – being prepared for a jumps career, this is a flat run aimed at building further fitness – was not far away when resuming in a similar race at Kyneton 28th March  – a very one paced type, he needs things to go his way to feature, but has taken good improvement from his resuming run – TAB says  “Looking elsewhere for the winner” – Odds not showing yet

Te Rapa – Sunday

ZAFAR makes his race day debut in the Maiden 2yo with Opie Bosson to ride from Barrier 8 – Race 3 @1.41pm – a very dominant trial winner at Pukekohe 24th March, this beautifully bred Colt by Snitzel gets his chance to shine here, but extreme weather may play a role – and it would not be a surprise if we saw a postponement of this meeting – a key player if he starts. TAB says “coming along well at the trials with a win at Avondale  – the yard has a great strike rate with debutants” – Showing Odds of $4.50/$1.85

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Zafar (O Bosson) galloped over 800 metres in 54.2, last 600 in 38.1.

It is no secret that Fortuna Racing and Te Akau are big supporters of jumps racing on both sides of the Tasman and last season saw two significant milestones in Victoria with Fortuna’s ageless Leaderboard winning Australia’s richest jumping race, the Grand National Steeples (a race by the way that saw the first three horses home all trained by Mark Walker) and being named as the Victorian jumps trainer of the year. The Victorian jumps season is underway already and the New Zealand jumps season is not far behind.

In 2024 there was a fairly concerted effort by parties within New Zealand racing to attempt to bring jumps racing in New Zealand to a close, however NZTR were persuaded to conduct an independent review – that review recommended some significant changes for the 2025 season and the result of these changes were quite meaningful,  as you will see from the NZTR 2025 Jumps Season Annual Review below. It is very apparent from these statistics that the independent review recommendations had a significant impact on jumps racing last season and has established a platform from which it can grow even further. 

New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing (NZTR) has released the following key performance results for Hurdle and Steeple racing in the 2025 calendar year, compared with 2024:

2025 saw a shortened season from early May to late September, a transition away from Saturday racing, venue reduction to seven jumps racing host tracks, introduction of a season finale at Te Aroha Racecourse and an increase in total prizemoney. With field sizes increasing by 13% in steeple races (average of 7.74 [2024] to 8.78 [2025]) and 16% in hurdle races (average of 7.89 [2024] to 9.18 [2025]), wagering turnover has reflected positive growth accordingly.

These noted improvements reflect a successful implementation of changes applied last season to refine and enhance the jumps racing programme, providing a sustainable future for the sport.

From a marketing perspective, the ‘LOVE JUMPS’ campaign was designed to lift the profile of Jumps racing and broaden engagement by putting the spotlight on the people and horses that make the sport unique. Key initiatives included the return and parade of jumping legends Zed Em, Volkswagen, Kip Keino, Kick Back and Chocolate Fish at Woodville, alongside a dedicated editorial series celebrating some of the code’s standout contributors, including Harvey Wilson, Mrs Browne, Paul Nelson and Brian Anderton. Overall, the campaign delivered strong digital and social media performance, strengthening awareness and giving NZTR a clear foundation to grow audience, participation and support in future seasons.

As confirmed in November 2024, NZTR supports the continuation of jumps racing in New Zealand. The sport’s long-term sustainability will continue to be monitored against key participant and customer metrics, with a further review planned at the conclusion of the 2026 season (September 2026).

Whilst the 2026 season race dates are subject to final approval, the 2026 Jumps Racing Calendar has been released in draft form and can be viewed here or via the button below.

Traditionally we have offered a Jacket range and a Cap and these are both still available but now we have added a “hoodie” range and these can be ordered from our website at the link HERE – all sixes available – note that our Merchandise is offered at cost and price includes shipping – $80 for the Hoodie and $35 for the Cap if you have queries about order options just email jessica@fortuna-nz.com

Pictures of the Hoodie (front and back) are below and also a picture of the Cap

Greetings John and Fortuna followers

It’s been a very interesting week both on and off the track hasn’t it? The passing of legislation to end greyhound racing had its third and final reading in Parliament with overwhelming cross party support ( 112 votes to 11).

A controversial decision? Undoubtedly! The ban will effect over 1000 jobs and around 1500 dogs will need re-homing. I feel for both the people who have dedicated their heart and souls into the sport they love as well as the dogs.

Will the dogs really have a better life outside racing? The next chapter in their lives isn’t going to be as easy as some may think. The rehoming numbers are too frightening to think it’ll be plain sailing and that scares most of us who have been following the pending demise of greyhound racing at the end of the season.

And you have to wonder what’s next on the radar for all sports that relies on animals as the catalyst for entertainment. All that needs to be said is we can’t let our guard down In both the harness and thoroughbred codes.

IF ONLY BATTLE HEIGHTS & GOOD LORD WERE HERE

It’s Sydney Cup day on Saturday but the  capacity field doesn’t have one NZ trained galloper engaged with 12  of the 16 runners European bred. To think we trained three Sydney Cup winners in a row between 1990-92 with My Eagle Eye (Murray Baker); Just A Dancer (Graeme Rogerson) and King Aussie (John Harris) while between 1973 and 1978 we again dominated with My Good Man (ex Good Lord, Ray Verner), Oopik (Dave O’Sullivan); Battle Heights (Tim Douglas) and Apollo Eleven ( Merv Ritchie).

Where have all our stayers gone has been the catch cry for decades? Could you imagine how much money a Good Lord or a Battle Heights would win today and what sort of competition they’d give to any European staying import in either the Sydney Cup or even the Melbourne Cup?

For the record the last NZ owned and bred Sydney Cup winner was the nine year old wonder stayer, Who Shot the Barman in 2018. Check out the replay HERE

A LESSON IN HOW TO CELEBRATE A BIG WIN
While Chris Waller continues to fly the flag week after week in the rich group one races let’s not forget how well fellow expat Bjorn Baker is going. He did his father Murray proud on Saturday at Randwick by winning his first AJC Derby with Green Spaces. Murray won the race between 2008 and 2020 with Nom du Jeu, Dundeel, Mongolian Khan, Jon Snow and Quick Thinker.

Bjorn is just behind the Waterhouse-Bott team on the NSW premiership with stake earnings in excess of $10.4m. Don’t you just love how Bjorn always goes off big time in those group one moments ? Click HERE to see footage pf post race celebrations

5 GROUP ONE WINS FROM 6 RIDES AND ITS NOT J-MAC!

WE have  seen the domination of James MacDonald in the major racing carnivals either in Melbourne or Sydney but even he would acknowledge that top kiwi jockey of the 1980’s Nigel Tiley had a record over the Sydney carnival that’s almost as good as it gets.

In 1982 Nigel had 6 group one rides over the 4 days and won 5 of them; My Gold Hope (Doncaster); Prince Majestic (Tancred Stakes and Queen Elizabeth); Azawary (Sydney Cup) and My Gold Hope (All Aged Stakes).

All were NZ trained, too, with Ray Verner mostly prominent with My Gold Hope and Prince Majestic while Alan Jones prepared Azawary.

For the record Nigel moved to Singapore for three years and became leading rider there. He also rode back in Sydney under the wing of Brian Mayfield Smith and then Paul Sutherland before heading to Hong Kong for a stint before retiring from riding back in NZ and taking out a trainer’s license. He retired from training a couple of years ago and during his time at Pukekohe his strike rate was as good as any.

DID THE SHEZA ALIBI’S SPEED COME FROM OUR MAIZCAY?

What a rags to riches story surrounding the breathtaking Doncaster winner last week in Sheza Alibi who mirrored the mighty Sunline in becoming the first three year old filly to win the race since the champion in 1999.

To think she was purchased digitally for just $10k and her first two wins in April and June last year were at Rockhampton and Townsville. Her turn of foot on Saturday was massively impressive and did that come from the third dam sire, Our Maizcay, the former outstanding two and three year old who was trained by Grant Searle of Levin, who beat the best of his age on both sides of the Tasman including the group one Caulfield Guineas and the Magic Millions at Trentham in 1995

THE WHOLESALE STAKES REDUCTION ISN’T FAIR

IN the last week we’ve seen the industry race days back racing for $17,000. This reduction from the summer and spring minimum of $18,500 runs until August 20.

You would think that in this day and age we could and should do better for owners and trainers whose horses aren’t suited to summer racing but are doing the industry a favour by supporting this time of the year. All outgoings remain the same; training fees, vet fees and float transport etc and while completely  understanding that punters bet less in the winter surely there’s a better and fairer way to treat those effected.

As a thought maybe any race that’s less than 8 ( three tote dividends) the $17k rule applies but if a race has 8 or more starters the  $18,500 could be retained all year around?

ELLERSLIE IMPROVERS

GLANCE: This three year old was desperately unlucky at only its second run over 1300m. It was held up for several strides in the home straight and was climbing over them looking for room.

HIT AND RUN: stood flat footed at the start in the maiden 1600 and lost 5 lengths as a result. It ended the final 200m the quickest and officially finished 3.7 lengths from the winner.

YALDI: from the wide draw it was taken back and unfortunately it was too far back and in fact settled last. It was still in that spot at the top of the straight and did very well to charge into third.

Good punting!

Des Coppins
021 448 052

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