Coleraine – Sunday

ZEDWILLDO contests the Maiden Hurdle over 3300m with Cillan Leonard to ride from Barrier 1 – Race 1 @2.40pm NZT –  is a promising jumper who has won two hurdles trials this preparation, but has had a frustrating run of getting balloted out of hurdles races, but this time he has made the field, he jumps well and had a flat run over 2400 m during the week at Sandown so is very fit – bit hard to line up the form, the market will provide clues to his chances – TAB has no comments or Odds showing yet

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We have another “Star” at Cranbourne of course, and that is the unbeaten two year Filly, Lara  Antipova who took all before her in New Zealand during her two year-old season, being unbeaten in four races including two at Group 2 level and one at Group 1 level – she transferred to the Cranbourne facility late in May, has come along steadily since and yesterday, she had a trial at Caulfield was that man again, Craig Williams, in the saddle – this was her first public outing since she had won the Sistema Stakes at Ellerslie  in early March and she performed well running a close-up 3rd over the 800 meter trial and is bound to take a lot of improvement from that

Rider Craig Williams gave a positive post trial report – click HERE to see that report and Click HERE to see the trial replay..

She will now go to a jump out at Cranbourne on Monday, the 3rd of August and safely through that, she will probably kick off in the Group 3 Quezette Stakes over 1100m at Caulfield August 15th

Lara Antipova is also the hot vavourite to win the NZ Two Year Old of The Year prize at the NZ Thoroughbred Awards evening to be held in Auckland on September 6th

LARA ANTIPOVA winning the Group One Sistema Stakes – Ellerslie March 2026 – Mick Dee aboard

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Saturday 13th June

Matamata

I’m On Safari (C Stumbles) galloped  over 800 metres at three quarter pace in 59.4, last 600 in 44.6.

Bellatrix Star (L Winks) galloped over 1000 metres in 1.07.4, last 600 in 36.9.

The Fairytale ending was denied Leaderboard in his well-publicised last career race at Te Rapa last Saturday in the time honoured Waikato Steeplechase, going down by a head in the last couple of strides to another 11 year-old, Nedwin – the race was marred by the fall and subsequent euthanasia of the Champion Steeple chaser, West Coast, undoubtedly an immense tragedy for the horse and his loyal connections.

Leaderboard had shot to the lead with 600m to go and looked to have an unassailable lead at the top of the straight, however was just a little cautious going into the last jump, lost momentum as a result, had to re-gather and was rundown in the shadows of the post by the fast finishing Nedwin

Retiring from racing is far from the end of the road for “Tiger” as he is known by his large ownership Group – shortly he will be in the hands of a leading NZ equestrian, Jody Hartstone, who is based on a property near Raglan – Jody is an active Member of the Waikato Hunt and she will be introducing Leaderboard to that discipline as well as getting him going as a dressage horse – Au Revoir Leaderboard – you were a warhorse to the end of your racing career and have given so many people so many great memories

Finally, a sincere acknowledgement to Leaderboards trainers over the eight years we have owned him, Jamie Richards of course in his early years here in NZ, then Mark Walker when he was sole NZ Trainer, recently Mark and Sam Bergerson in partnership and Mark Walker as head trainer at Cranbourne, ably assisted by Ben Gleeson as assistant trainer, plus the host of trackwork riders, grooms and stablehands, who all just loved Tiger to bits, because he was such a gentleman

And of course, all of the riders who rode him to victory – here in NZ, Troy Harris, Joe Kamaruddin, Craig Grylls, Michael McNab, Joe Doyle and in Aus Aaron Kuru and Will Gordon

Last, but certainly not least, his wonderful Ownership Group, more than 50 in number, who exalted in the highs and took the lows on the chin with nary a complaint

And here below is a great montage summarising Leaderboard’s remarkable career – this put together by Shar Amner, a Member of his Ownership Group

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Donna Logan rebuilds

As readers will recall, Fortuna Racing had a strong association with Donna Logan via our Singapore based team. The former New Zealand based Group One trainer, who had been based at Ruakaka for several years, had gained a license to train in Singapore and was building a successful new career there. And then, out of the blue, with Jamie Richards accepting an opportunity to train in Hong Kong and Mark Walker returning from the Singapore to head up the New Zealand operation, Te Akau offered Donna the opportunity to be their their head trainer in Singapore, hence the association by Fortuna with Donna and her husband Peter Woods at that time, an association that continued right through to the shock closure of Singapore racing and delivered a host of winners for the Fortuna Racing Team, including King Arthur, Knippenberg, Elliot Ness, Rocky and Deception

With the closure of Singapore in 2024, Donna had to weigh up her future options and in the end she decided to return to New Zealand to start from scratch and instead of returning to Ruakaka, took up the opportunity to base herself at Byerley Park near Karaka. It’s never easy for any trainer to start from scratch again, but Donna and Peter have steadily built up a nice team of runners.

I am sure our readers, particularly those who had runners in Singapore during Donna’s time there, will join with me in wishing Donna and Peter every success as the continue to build their team

See the story from NZ Racing Desk below

As Donna Logan will saddle a trio of runners on Saturday at Ellerslie on Winter Finals Day as the multiple Group One winning trainer continues to make significant strides to re-establish herself in New Zealand. The accomplished horsewoman spent seven years in Singapore but her time in the Lion City was cut short as the government put a halt to horse racing in late 2024, with the Kranji racecourse earmarked to make way for housing. Logan and husband Peter Woods returned to New Zealand and set up shop at Byerley Park, South of Auckland, rather than the northern climes of their previous base at Ruakaka. The location is proving a positive for the couple and the winners are starting to flow, while Logan is also deriving great satisfaction from mentoring her 16-year-old apprentice Tom Wigram, who celebrated his first raceday winner at just his third ride last week.

“It is good to be home,” Logan said. “We are enjoying it a lot, and it’s also nice having Tom to inject a bit of youth around the place. It’s exciting. “Byerly Park’s great, it’s very central, we’re close to Ellerslie, Pukekohe, Avondale, Hamilton’s just down the road, and even Tauranga is not that far. I just couldn’t do the travelling like I did when I lived in Ruakaka. Now with Tom riding regularly, we’re thinking, imagine if we had to drive back to Ruakaka each day.”

Re-stocking takes time and Logan has been pleased with the support she has received since returning home, posting 14 winners from a limited team, which continues to build since jumping back into the fold 16 months ago. “We’ve got around 40 horses split between two barns,” Logan said. “We’ve got a pre-training barn and a racing barn. We’ve built up a good band of staff around us since we got home and they’re very dedicated and ultra reliable.”

Logan has taken Wigram under her wing, with the four-kilo claiming apprentice sure to be in demand through the winter months, with the youngster engaged for six rides at Ellerslie on Saturday. From a showjumping background, Wigram spent school holidays riding trackwork in Cambridge before a mutual contact put him in touch with Logan.

“Tom was a little bit disheartened with New Zealand. He didn’t know if he’d get the opportunity as an apprentice here and asked a lady who worked for me many years ago to get in contact with me to see if I could recommend somewhere in Australia for Tom to go,” Logan said. “I said, I don’t know him, and I’d have to work with him before I could recommend him to anybody. So he came to work with us, and we spoke about what his desires were, what he wanted to achieve long-term, and I just said, I don’t know that going to Australia is right at this point in time. I think you’d get chewed up and spat out over there. So Tom asked if I would be interested in offering him an apprenticeship, and the rest is history. He lives with Peter and I and we get on exceptionally well. He is very driven, very devoted, and passionate about racing full stop. Whether it’s Australia or New Zealand, he’s always watching races, he’s watching all trials. He’s really devoted to trying to get ahead in life.”

Logan believes all three of her charges are solid each-way chances at Ellerslie on Saturday and she is pleased to see a Winter Series with $70,000 stakes on her doorstep. “We’ve always had that winter series at Ruakaka over the years, and I think it’s so appealing for clients who have horses racing at this time of the year,” she said. “It’s a real bonus, because your winter horses deserve an opportunity to race for good money. I think it’s a really good idea that they’ve put together and that it is at Ellerslie. It’s the shop window for New Zealand racing, and you just have to look at the acceptances to see how popular it is. Beat Of The Sun (The Autumn Sun) is a very progressive horse and he races over 1600m. He’s an out-and-out stayer in the making. I think you’ll see him at his best over 2000m, but he will still go a good race on Saturday. Long Island (NZ) (Reliable Man) is going to be suited to the mile and Ellerslie. She’s raced well there before and Tom’s claim will be important. He’s just got to get her nicely balanced and I think she’s a good top four chance. Curved Glory (NZ) (Ghaiyyath) is dual accepted but will probably go to the Progressive Final over a mile rather than the three-year-old race.”

Beyond the Ellerslie trio, Logan is pleased with the younger stock emerging from her barn. “We have got a nice Satono Aladdin filly out of the Good Faith family who looks exciting,” Logan said. “We also bought a Sword Of State filly at Karaka and the sire has made a good start and she is one to look forward to. Belle Rebelle (NZ) (Ribchester) has already proven herself to an extent as a winner and stakes placed from just three starts and we have a good opinion of Arcadia (NZ) (Contributer), a Contributer filly who won well at the trials at Ellerslie. She played up at the gates at the Avondale trials yesterday and we’ve just got to iron out that issue but I think she has got exceptional ability and there is a bit to work with.” – NZ Racing Desk

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Guest Commentator – Des Coppins

Greetings John, Fortuna Syndicate Members and Friday Flash readers

Your pride and joy Leaderboard gave his all in his final race in the Signature Homes Waikato Steeples. He had the race won everywhere bar the line but he went down fighting to the equally evergreen 11 year old, Nedwin. Pride mixed with emotion would be an honest way celebrating the finale.

On one hand you’d be “high-fiving” with your fellow owners, but at the back of your mind, like all lovers of the jumping game, you’d be feeling the sadness that followed with the announcement of the demise of the super star, West Coast.

Racing is a great leveller. You celebrate the highs – and you’ve had many with Leaderboard – but you share in the lows, too, either with your own horses or when something worse happens and that was a bitter pill to swallow to know West Coast had taken his last breath.

I know we have mixed opinions on jumps racing and each to their own. West Coast couldn’t muster much pace on the flat and if his astute trainer Mark Oulaghan  hadn’t first spotted the talent in the jumping arena a second chance in life on the racetrack would have gone begging and we’d have no cause to continuously admire and celebrate so many of his conquests which elevated him to the highest peaks at all the major venues.

All sporting events need champions and racing had a very special one in the form of  West Coast. Thanks for so many wonderful memories West Coast and commiserations to Mark, the Williamson family, your owners, and to all the stable staff and past and present riders who you were associated with.

Leaderboard may not have reached the great heights of West Coast but in his own rights  is  as versatile as you would ever get in a thoroughbred with wins at the highest level on the flat and over fences and a winner in 3 different countries. He possibly could have gone on for another season the way he’s currently performing. However, at 11, his future was written for him by someone in the halls of power at NZTR. The same goes for the one who narrowly outmuscled him,  Nedwin, along with the 4th placed, Prince Turbo. All three are in their  last jumping season which will end with the last jumps meeting  in September.

I said last week and I’ll say it again, this mandatory retirement age is a bit of an indictment on those caring people who know more about their horses than anyone. I feel this rule could be tweaked and make it a case by case scenario. If 11 year olds  are in form why can’t we let them race. If, however, a horse, at 11,  has lost form completely, then rightfully it’s time to bow out.

TOP TEN JUMPERS

As a keen supporter of jumpers I thought I would share my thoughts on which would be my 10 favourites for various reasons in the 55 years I’ve been associated with racing. I am very proud to say I was on track in most of the NZ wins. My list is missing the English Grand National winners in Seagram (1991)  and Lord Gyllene (1997), only  because of their limited or no time over fences here.

10. Royal Mail: He won the 1977 Wellington Hurdles and the 1976 Grand National Hurdles and in 1981 ran third in the English Grand National Steeples behind Aldaniti.
9. Chumson: won the 1977 Wellington Steeples and the Grand National Steeples in the same year as well as other notable jumps events.
8. Brockton: won the Great Northern Hurdles-Steeples double in 1972 as well as a second Great Northern Hurdles in 1971.
7. Loch Linnhe: carried big weights and won Great Westerns, Nationals, Great Northerns and the Wellington Steeples.
6. The Cossack: over a highly decorated 8 seasons he recorded 19 wins and 11 placings and won the Great Northern Hurdles, the Grand National Hurdles , the Waikato Steeples, the Wellington Steeples , the Hawkes Bay Hurdles and the Australian Grand National Steeples amongst others.
5. Sea King: won 20 races in 77 starts.He won the main races on both sides of the Tasman including the Australian Grand National Steeples in his last race. He held a unique record of winning both the Waikato Hurdles and Waikato Steeples.
4. Tallyho Twinkletoe: He’s the first  horse ever to win both the Australian Grand National Hurdle and the NZ Grand National Steeples in 2019 since 1930. He was a clinical weight carrier often lumping 70kgs in the best competition. He’s now a keen competitor in the hunting field.
3. Hypnotise: Three consecutive wins in the Great Northern over the famous Ellerslie Hill proves what an outstanding stayer he was. When the Northern was held at Ellerslie that was the yardstick. It was the Melbourne Cup for jumpers. To win it three times as well as winning the Pakuranga Hunt Cup also three times proves in no uncertain terms he was the daddy of them all when it came to Ellerslie cross country races in the modern area.
2. Hunterville: He loved Ellerslie, too. He also won three Grest Northern Steeples under  big weights  He cost just $1k and his successful rider was amateur Denis Gray. Each time he ploughed through the deepest of tracks to get the job done and won the great race in consecutive years, 1983,84 and 85.
1. West Coast: He etched his name in the record books to win three consecutive Grand National Steeples. He also won back to back Great Northerns at Te Rapa. The Wellington Steeples, the Hawkes Bay Steeples, the Koral Steeples and the Manawatu Steeples were other big race wins for this incredible and never to be forgotten ‘chaser.

IMPROVERS FROM TE RAPA

MISS BO PEEP: she got on heels in the home straight in the open sprint and has difficulty obtaining clear running until near the 250m. She is ready to win again. Te Rapa seems her favourite track.
JOSHUA BROWN: his two runs this term indicate he’s spot on to win third up. He began a tad awkwardly but ran to a good one in Tisse who narrowly mastered him in the shadows of the post. This period is when he really puts his rivals to the test and wetter ground is what he really likes.
RENOVATIONS: she had to deal with a tricky draw and while she ended up 10th out of 14 in the rating 75 she did ok with the second quickest final 400m.

Good punting!
Des Coppins
021 448 052

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Swan Hill – Saturday

TITAHI BAY resumes after a lengthy time away from the track in the BM  over 1300m at Swan Hill – Race 8 @ 6pm NZT and will be ridden by Luke Currie from Barrier 3. – Poor Barrier manners saw her stood down from racing and she underwent a period of remediation – trialing satisfactorily in front of the Stewards recently, she has been cleared for racing – watch the tote – TAB says “this is easier than most races she has been in to date”- No Odds posted yet

Mornington – Monday

OPUNAKE, the 2yo half brother by Nicconi to Bellatrix Star makes his race day debut at Mornington on Monday 8th June – this after being late scratched at Pakenhan 29th May due to a colic attack – fully over that now he is ready to race. A strong trial winner at Caulfield 13th May, he has been well prepared for this debut run and is expected to run boldly – Fields are not finalised as we go to press

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Tuesday 2nd June

No timed Fortuna work today

It is a well-known in fact among participants in the racing industry, be that owners, trainers, jockeys, syndicate members or punters that you are bound to leave the racecourse on any given day more often “deflated” rather than “elated”,  which is why when the winners come we all get so excited. In other words bad luck is just part and parcel of the package and one’s shoulders need to be broad enough to cope with disappointment.

However the experience I had in Victoria last week really takes the cake – as a bit of background Fortuna was having two runners go to the races, one on Friday night at Pakenham, that being the two-year-old Gelding, Opunake and the following day at Caulfield we were seeing the multiple Stakes winner, Bellatrix Star, also resuming after a long layoff. I had traveled to Victoria to attend both meetings and just as I was arriving at Pakenham, I had a phone call from Mark Walker to say that Opunake was being late scratched due to a colic attack –  I was able to go straight to the stables and have a look at him and while he was up on his feet by that point after being treated, it was clear that he wasn’t very well. However, after half an hour or so, he was declared fit enough by the vet to be able to travel back to Cranbourne

So taking that one on the chin, I, along with a couple of other syndicate members were all set to watch Bellatrix Star race at Caulfield on the Saturday and, unbelievably the Racing Victoria Vet, when conducting a pre-race check on her, detected that she was suffering from equine arrhythmia, this a form of heart fibrillation and accordingly she needed to be late scratched also.

As I say, just unbelievable that these two events could happen on two consecutive days to two of our horses, who are, incidentally, half brother/half sister – anyway the good news is that both horses recovered very quickly – with Opunake, after travelling back to Cranbourne, he had his head in the feed bin straight away and trotted up perfectly sound the following morning, was able to resume normal work and is now set to make his debut at Mornington on Monday.

With Bellatrix Star, by the following morning, her heart rhythm was back to normal and she was eating normally.  She does have to go through some Racing Victoria protocols before being cleared to race again,  however the first of those protocols, which was a blood test, showed no abnormalities, the second protocol is an ECG and once the results of that are in and provided they are satisfactory, which we think they will be, then she will be cleared to race and there is a nice race for her back at Caulfield on the 11th of July

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Guest Commentator – Des Coppins

Greetings John and Fortuna followers

I’m sure John you will elaborate on David Ellis CNZM knighthood  appointment from the Kings Birthday Honours List. Your involvement with your very first horse with Te Akau, the Group Two Stakes winner, Kapsdan and then the outstanding Darci Brahma in the early 2000’s primarily initiated your strong connection with David who has invariably assisted you in the purchasing of yearlings since your setting up of the successful Fortuna syndication business.

I’ve personally known David for perhaps 40 years, around the time he won his first group one with Cosmetique in the Easter Handicap at Ellerslie. He has certainly been a major contributor to NZ racing in many ways and we often say how much  his immense buying prowess at the NZ Bloodstock’s various sales has meant to the industry.

I’m sure David sees this high ranking as an acknowledgment to not only himself and the team around him at Te Akau but for the NZ racing industry overall.

CRAZY REASONS FOR RACE ABANDONMENTS

On Kings Birthday Monday the Te Aroha meeting had to be called off at the half way mark because of strong winds.
These winds blew over the running rails down the straight and just past the winning post and try as they did the casual staff couldn’t reposition them as they kept blowing over. While the pin was pulled it was good to see the balance of the programme given the green light on Thursday and breezing on through without further dramas.

I’ve put the thinking cap on and delved into the historical files to see whether or not we’ve been faced with other aborted meetings over the years either here or overseas for  various crazy reasons. Allow me to share 10 other race days that fell into such circumstances.

1 Kumara’s annual gold nuggets meeting in 2020 had to move to nearby Greymouth because allegedly stray pigs “rooted” the back straight. .

2 in 2013 a 6-metre deep sewerage  sink hole unexpectedly opened up on Ellerslie during a race. A horse named Buckles, in the hands of Rogan Norvall, stumbled into the cavity. Thankfully they escaped with only superficial injuries. Engineers discovered the incident was caused by the ancient timber cap of the 1940’s. Over time it rotted which ultimately allowed the ground on the surface to give way.

3 An extreme windstorm tore parts of the grand stand roof off at the Gore meeting a year ago. Scattered debris fell at the near by tie up stalls which contributed to the forced abandonment.

4 Riders collectively voted to abandon a meeting at Sandown, Victoria two years ago when high speed wins swept through the course causing dust storms making it impossible to guide the horses safely.

5 In a historic and tragic incident, suffragette Emily Davison ducked under the running rail during the running of the Epsom Derby on 4th June 1913 and was struck by King George V’s horse, Anmer, at Tattenham Corner and she was killed instantly. Horse and rider, Herbert Jones were uninjurede

6 The race day at Pukekohe two years ago was abandoned because the truck transporting the starting gates broke down.

7 The NZ Cup day at Riccarton was halted mid meeting when a freak hailstorm and torrential rain blanketed the track in ice. The meeting was delayed but resumed 40 minutes or so later.

8 A massive flock of seagulls stopped a race meet at Sandown. A huge swarm of the birds suddenly descended onto the home straight in the autumn of 2005. They flew directly into the faces of the jockeys and horses competing and such was the force some of the runners were pushed sideways. Several jockeys were injured in the chaos and required medical attention. The meeting was subsequently abandoned.

9 In the 1961 NZ Trotting Free for All on Show Day a fire broke out in the stand and despite the flames flying high the race continued and was won by the incomparable Cardigan Bay, the first pacer in the world to win $1million.
10 A large venomous snake camped near the finishing line at the Northam greyhounds at a meeting in 2018. It refused to move. Stewards abandoned the meeting in the interest of safety.

I reckon if I thought hard enough I’d come up with a few more!

WAYNE ANDREWS – A TRUE PIONEER IN RACING RADIO

Do you often think of how and when you got into the job that you may have held for much of your working life? I recollected how my racing career evolved following the passing this week of former sports and racing broadcaster, Wayne Andrews.

Since leaving the bank not long after the 10th July decimal currency change over in 1967 I joined the print media through Jack Petley who hinted to me as a bank teller in Queen St that a job at Best Bets in nearby Symonds Street office was up for grabs. For the record I almost immediately sought an interview with Barry Street, the Editor of both the Best Bets and Racetrack. Surprisingly I got the job.

When Racetrack circulation began to limp the powers that be decided to incorporate the tabloid into the Friday Flash. I moved to Wellington in December 1971 to be part of the editorial team which also produced the Turf Digest.
In the mid 70’s I met Wayne Andrews who was working as an all rounder in sport in broadcasting as mainly the front person for golf and cricket but he had a real passion for racing and started the first network racing radio show, Turf Talk with the Keeper of the Stud Book, Glyn Tucker.

Wayne encouraged me to join in the Friday night chat from time to time and I have no doubt that the 40 years I was in broadcasting  whether it was tv or radio, it’s people like Wayne and the late Philip Leishman I owe a lot to.

If you are as old as me you’ll remember the challenges punters had when Radio NZ decides to phase out racing commentaries. It was people like Wayne that pitched hard to his bosses to keep those memorable race callers like Syd Tonks, Peter Kelly, Reg Clapp and Dave Clarkson on the airwaves. The timeline was before Radio Pacific arrived and while these broadcasts gradually faded Wayne fought hard for their existence.

Wayne moved to Sydney in the early 80’s and became a multi franchisee of McDonalds. He had 4 outlets. He never lost the passion for racing , however, and became a volunteer treasurer and committeeman for the Hawkesbury Jockey Club. He also held an owner trainers license and built a track on his farmlet and rode most of the horses himself in light work and trained several winners.

When his marriage dissolved about 20 years ago he soon  returned to NZ , caught up with a teenage sweetheart, Andrea, and based himself in retirement in Auckland. He never lost the love of a punt – and a good one – but his health began to fade in the last couple of years when diagonised with Lewy Body dementia.

Gone,  but for me personally not forgotten. RIP Wayne.

KINGS BIRTHDAY IMPROVERS
TESTWIN: the Hastings visitor was game in defeat at Te Rapa in the last to just miss third. The track may have been firmer than he wants as his three wins have all been on soft or heavy ground. He can be followed with confidence and won’t lack opportunities on preferred winter footing.

THE DARZI: at only his second start he rattled into second after jumping from an awkward draw in the maiden 1600m at Te Rapa.  He will be winning at any tick of the clock.

WILL: I think the wide draw cost him the win. He got back but ran to the line solidly in the maiden 1340 at Wanganui. He’s a good looking type with tons of ability and he will win his share.

Good punting!
Des Coppins
021 448 052

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Other News

LEADERBOARD to return to New Zealand and will contest the Waikato Steeples 13th June as his “Grand Finale” before retiring
 

LEADERBOARD  or “Tiger”, as he is affectionally known to his ownership group and his handlers, is returning home to New Zealand from Australia to retire, but before he heads to the retirement paddock, he will have one last start, that being in the Waikato Steeples at Te Rapa and that will bring the curtain down on an extremely storied career for this 11 year old son of Street Cry. Amazingly we have owned this horse since 2018, having purchased him as a northern hemisphere three year-old from Goldophin at the Tattersalls Horses In  Training sale in November 2018, with him being a one win horse from nine starts in Ireland at that time. This was our first purchase from a UK sale and looking back on my notes at that time, in our marketing material we expressed the desire to acquire a European bred staying type that could be a genuine contender in the Cups races in the southern hemisphere – we outlaid 70,000 guinea for Leaderboard approximately NZ $140,000 and he arrived in New Zealand late  2018.

We were very patient with him and he had his first trial at Te Teko August 2019 and a 2nd trial at Ta Rapa a couple of weeks later. He made his NZ debut at Taupo n September running 4th and we then sent him South to Riccarton where he won two races in a row at 1600m and 2000m – spelled after that and following three further New Zealand races, we made a decision to send him to Sydney in order to see how he would measure up against the staying types over there, but after two starts and showing an aversion for firm tracks, we made the decision to bring him back to New Zealand to focus on the staying events here – winning two races in succession at Matamata and Te Rapa over 2000m and 2400m in the Autumn of 2021, we determined that he was an ideal candidate for the 2021 New Zealand Cup at Riccarton and so he headed south for a campaign in the South Island – his lead up form into the Cup was very “average” to say the least, but he was striking firm tracks and on NZ Cup Day, overnight rain had softened the track and he hit the front with 200m to go in this great race, but was run down closing stages and finished 3rd. In the Autumn of 2022, he burnished his staying credentials with a dominant win over 2600m in the New Zealand St Leger at Trentham, ridden by Michael McNab and followed that up with a brave second in the Hawkes Bay Cup over the shorter trip of 2200 m

The Spring of 2022 saw “Tiger” head South for another NZ Cup campaign, this time running 5th on a track that probably too firm – he then ran poorly in the Marton  Cup early January but, nevertheless we set him for the Wellington Cup  3 weeks later and overnight the heavens had opened  and a resultant Heavy 10 track meant that conditions were perfect for him and, ridden beautifully by Joe Doyle,  the Wellington Cup was ours – punters had overlooked him and he returned a winning divvy of $51 on the tote, much to the delight of those who had supported him – Click HERE to see footage of that win

LEADERBOARDS ownership group celebrating victory 2023 Wellington Cup

Taking a step back, Mark Walker had returned to New Zealand from Singapore early in 2022 to reassume his New Zealand training role with the departure of Jamie Richards to Hong Kong and after assessing Leaderboards training regime, Mark had made the decision to start schooling him over the hurdles in order to provide variation to his training regime – he proved to be a very adept jumping type and this led us to draw the conclusion that a jumping career may be right for him once he had ended his career on the flat. In August of 2023 he was given a hurdle’s race at Hastings and ran creditably although was hampered by a fallen horse and finished 4th on that occasion.

After a few more flat races in New Zealand and with the opening of the Te Akau Cranbourne stable the decision was made to send “Tiger” to Victoria to pursue a jump’s career over there – he won a maiden hurdle at his second start and altogether in a jumps career in Victoria of just a bit over two seasons, he won 5 times and apart from once when he fell, he he never finished further back then fifth in any of his jumps races.  He ran significant placings in  major jumping races, a 3rd in the Australian Hurdles in 2024, a second placing in the Grand National Steeples in the same year, a close-up 2nd to the champion Stern Idol in the 2025 Australian Steeples and then his major crowning glory was winning Australia’s richest jumping race, the Grand National Steeplechase at Ballarat in August 2025 with a winning margin of 25 lengths in the hands of Will Gordon  – click HERE to see the closing stages of this race

Altogether, Leaderboard has had 72 Career starts in the Fortuna Silks, wining 12 times and collecting just over NZ$1m in Stakes for his owners in a racing career of seven remarkable seasons – he is a very dear friend who will be sorely missed by all when he retires – but ahead of his retirement, he will have one past hurrah in the Waikato Steeples mid June

And on retiring he is being rehomed in the Waikato with one if NZ’s leading equestrians, Jody Hartstone

LEADERBOARD  – on way to victory Grand National Steeples – Ballarat August 2025 – Will Gordon aboard
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 LARA ANTIPOVA returns to training

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Fortuna 2yo Gelding, OPUNAKE wins trial at Caulfield

Guest Commentator – Des Coppins

Greetings John and Readers

As we close the door on the spring, summer and autumn racing it’s now the time for us to get ready for winter racing which is naturally spearheaded by the jumping carnivals. We had a taste at Wanganui last Saturday and I’m sure there’ll be some exciting jumps races in store over the next 3 months or so.

Winter racing is a different kind of thrill to summer racing. Some like it, others aren’t so keen. I’m a fan. I love the jumps. I guess it’s because I cut my teeth on jumps racing when living at Ellerslie and not far from the now defunct Ellerslie hill. Those memories of Great Northerns, especially the chases, are as vivid as they were when growing up in the neighbourhood as a primary schooler and early teenager.

BETTING IN THE WINTER ON THE HEAVY 9 OR HEAVY 10 TRACKS

MANY punters are gun shy in the winter. A lot of feedback we have heard over the years centres mainly on the unpredictable track conditions. For the record I don’t stop betting in the winter.  I reckon if you are clear on what the track condition is, you can certainly find the edge and sometimes get the right price.

As we know the heavy 9 and heavy 10 tracks are usually the go from June through to August but you always have to keep in mind those pesty rainfalls. Always remember that a heavy 9 or a heavy 10 at Trentham may be different to a heavy 9 or 10 at Te Aroha if there’s substantial rain fall on the eve of one meeting but not the other.

When I compile my notes I keep in mind if a certain horse won on a “holding” heavy track as opposed to one that scored on a “slushy” heavy track. Both may be classified by the authorities as heavy 10’s but clearly they are completely different.

SIRES TO KEEP AN EYE ON 

At this time of the year it pays to keep a close watch on certain sires; those whose progeny don’t mind getting their feet wet. I mentioned a few columns ago that I would list the stallions who I feel are worth being confident with when track conditions are testing.

Back in the day the wet track specialists were the progeny of sires like Head Hunter, Palm Beach, Zamazaan, War Hawk, Indian Order, Exploding Prospect, Resurgent, Kurdistan, Lord Ballina and Racing Is Fun to name just 10. There were others of course that you may recall but that’s what this memory bank threw out.

These days the wet weather sires may not be as prominent or their progeny as dour and ultra consistent when the tracks were almost “bog-like) but for what it’s worth the following 10 sires are still worth a mention if you are tossing and turning over a certain runner on a heavy track this winter.

My favourite winter sire for the moment is Belardo. He popped up regularly last winter; and to a lesser extent, Time Test, Mongolian Khan,  Zed, Vadamos, Almanzor, Sacred Falls, Staphanos, Derryn and Ghibellines.

IN THE WET – OUTSIDE DRAWS EVERYTIME IN SPRINTS

IF I owned a winter sprinter I’d be praying for an outside draw every time. How often do we see a horse seemingly travelling sweetly entering the straight but the jockey elects to stay on the rail instead of skirting wide and as a result is swamped by those wider out. Betting of horses in sprint races in the winter that draw inside marbles are a “no go” zone for me more often than not.

It’s a common  rule I use and while not fool proof the odds are traditionally stacked in my favour. The inside rail often becomes chopped up and slow thus making the outer lanes advantageous. You can often find a horse with no previous wet track form but drawn wide in a sprint perform just as well if not better than the tried and true mudder who drew the inside.

10 BEST TIPS FOR BETTING IN HEAVY TRACK CONDITIONS

THERE’S never any guarantees in this punting game but maybe this compilation might assist for the next 3 months when the tracks start deteriorating which is more than likely in the days ahead.

1.Proven wet track form should obviously be taken into account.
2.Check the breeding. Keep an eye on the  wet weather sires listed above.
3.Ignore  the inside barrier draws in sprints
4.Look for fit horses. First up runners in wet ground doesn’t pay off.
5.I’m happy to back two horses in a race in the wet if they are both at value.
6.Watch for trainers who have consistent strike rate at this time of the year
7.Go easy on the punt on your favoured runners if a track has been heavily downgraded
8.Apprentice allowances are crucial.
9.Watch the first flat race closely and see for yourself what part of the track is playing the fairest
10.Never back any odds on  horses on heavy tracks

IMPROVERS FROM ROTORUA

ARTHUR: his trial run was attractive enough and the money was on for his run in 3 months in the 1400m. He hit the last 800 and 600 the quickest and he’s clearly above average and wet tracks shouldn’t pose a problem.

SLICK CHICK: she’s worth a dollar or two the next time she competes in a rating 65 staying race. I liked the way she ran to the line and she struck winning form about this time last year on a heavy track.

ROSETOWN PRINCESS: she’s not a spent force as a seven year old after hitting the line as good as any in the Rotorua Cup when 6th. Between June and July last year she had 4 runs for a win and 3 placings.
It’s her time to shine.

Good punting!
Des Coppins
021 448 052

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EMMA TWIGG  contests the 3yo 1400m event – Race 1 @ 11.55am with  Sam Collett to ride from Barrier 5 – won nicely on debut with a 4th and an unlucky 2nd at her next two starts – looks well placed here with nice draw, in form rider and track conditions to suit – TAB says “bounced back into form with a gutsy effort for second at Ōtaki last time out and she should produce another honest effort”  Showing Odds of $9/$2.60

Mornington – Sunday

ZEDWILLDO races in the BM56 event over 2030m with Adam McCabe to ride from barrier 6 – Race 6 @3.45pm AEST – on track to commence a jumps career –  this is a fitness building run on the flat over a trip that will be too short for him – TAB say “Profiles nicely ”  No Odds showing yet

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Other News

A Tale Of Two Snitzels

An interesting story below from Arrowfeld Stud (who stood Snitzel up until his passing away last year. The story revolves around the fact that two sons of Snitzel, The Next Edition and Zafar both won listed races on the same day, the former at Eagle farm and Zafar, of course at Riccarton

Of interest of course is the fact that they paid A$2.8m for The Next Edition at the 2025 Magic Millions sale whereas we paid just NZ $165K for Zafar

Of further interest is the mention of Lara Antipova, being by Russian Revolution who is, of course,  a son of Snitzel, and who also stands at Arrowfield

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Shares in “Max” moving steadily but still some available

At the January Karaka Yearling Sale, we had our sights on acquiring a genuine 3yo type who, with pedigree and physical attributes, could be targeted at the premier 3yo distance races in NZ and subsequently develop into a powerful staying type as an older horse. We had developed a liking tor the progeny of CIRCUS MAXIMUS, a young stallion by Galileo and out of the Fastnet Rock mare, ASAMA BLUE, who had won races in both the UK and NZ – we had a budget of $100k to buy him and managed to secure him for just $60k, so the “value” box was well and truly ticked.

Just 5 weeks later, another son of CIRCUS MAXIMUS, Road To Paris, won the Group One NZ Derby, this a great coup for his young Sire in delivering a Derby winner from his first crop.
“Max” as we had nicknamed our latest acquisition than had a nice paddock spell before being broken in by Dan Miller at Matamata – Dan reported at the end of his breaking in “John and Team, this horse was an absolute pleasure to handle, he was a very quick learner, has a good brain and demonstrated a very smooth action under saddle.”

“Max” has been undergoing his first stable prep at the Matamata Stables under the watchful eye of Sam Bergerson and is impressing his handlers there also – click HERE to see footage of him at the jumpouts on Thursday morning  – comments are by Assistant Trainer, Reece Trumper – as you will hear Reece say, “Max” has done everything right in his initial stable prep and is now on his way for a well deserved paddock break for a month or so, before returning for a more in depth Stable prep which should lead him into a trial in the Spring.

Still shares available 

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Guest Commentator – Des Coppins

Greetings John and Friday Flash readers

ZAFAR AND AWAY THE RUN OF THE DAY

As expected your Snitzel colt won as cosy as he liked in the two year old race at Riccarton. It takes a very special youngster  to win a stakes race on debut but in saying that the win came as no surprise to most of us. It was well documented how impressive the trials win at Avondale was in late March and you’d have to expect that the Riccarton win was simply a stepping stone to much higher honours in next season’s  three year old campaign.

He wasn’t foolproof according to rider Opie Bosson but that in some ways is good to hear because he will naturally build on the experience. When you told me ,John, how much you paid for him, jist $165k, your investment in conjunction with Mark Walker and David Ellis hit the bulls eye. I’m not a bloodstock valuer but I’d be surprised in today’s market if Zafar wasn’t worth 4 times the purchase price if not more.

I vividly  recall viewing the colt at your well received Open Day in February and he looked the part from top to toe. It’s little wonder the syndicate was a sell out in double quick time when you first advertised.Well done to all Fortuna owners involved with him.

I also understand that some of you are also tied up with arguably this season’s top two year old, Lara Antipova. What a season you are having and what’s around the corner for you all in the 1926-27 season with the pair is simply mouth watering. Good luck to you all.

MY THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK – MORE R65,R75 AND MAIDENS PLEASE!

RACING is becoming a big balancing act. While we have a rich tradition and history in the industry we love cracks continue to appear. The foal crops are down; the field sizes aren’t as big as they once were, some tracks aren’t holding up as well as they once did and for clubs trying to get bums on seats outside the major carnivals seems a never ending uphill battle.

Adding to all this is the shrinking economy and the cost of living crisis. High interest rates have constrained household spending. Businesses are facing a tough and hardened economic reality and racing is right in this thick of all this. The fuel costs are a major industry strain, too.

What should those in charge of our business  be doing right now? As most of us realise, the turnovers are the key.
We are more fortunate to today with the technology to be able to bet to the last second and it doesn’t bear thinking about what state we’d be in if the betting arm wasn’t as streamlined as it is.

Are there ways and means where we can at least steady the ship if not grow the turnovers with the cards we’ve been dealt? Of course we can!  I’ve also thought I was a half glass full sort of guy. What is available rather than what is lacking is a good way to remain positive I reckon.

Let’s start with the programming. I would be working with the NZ trainers more than ever and programme the types of racing that suits. Not enough of this happens. Sadly it’s not always happening because the programming is out of kilt.

At this time of the year the maidens and rating 65 gallopers over varying distances from 1200m to 2000m should dominate the programmes nationwide. In comparison two  year old racing should be limited. Clearly we don’t have the numbers for the youers as field sizes consistently are too low. Nor do we have sufficient numbers for open sprinters or open handicap races at this time of the year. The odd two year old race or open sprint and open handicap is okay but the majority of such events currently programmed should  replaced with further maiden, rating 65 and rating 75 events in order to satisfy all needs.

COMMENTATORS CALLS

TONY Lee will always be remembered as the caller who gave us a line at the end of one of many of his excellent calls, “ the dream burst into reality.” Of course he was referring to the magnificent stayer, Castletown when he won his third Wellington Cup in 1994.

Over the years we’ve been drawn into some magical one liners with our race callers.
Along with Tony’s epic call, how could we forget Bill Collins’s Cox Plate in 1982 when he uttered that famous line “Kingston Town can’t win” at the 500m mark at Moonee Valley. Of course, he did win!

Then there was Keith Haub at Ellerslie on June 6, 2001.
It was the Great Northern Steeples and after 6.4kms and fences an almost out of breath “Haubby” declared –
“I can’t split them it’s a deadheat” after Sir Avion and Smart Hunter went tooth and nail from the start, right to the finish. Keith was spot on. It was a deadheat!

I’m highlighting these flashbacks because I heard a call last week from Matt Hill in Victoria  as he emphasised in the running a horse by name of No No No No No! While the horse was unplaced he seemed to enjoy calling this quirky name.
Heaven knows, one of funniest calls  belongs to the “Peter Kelly of USA” Tom Durkin at the Saratoga racecourse in 2008. The horse is called Arrrrgh! Have a listen HERE
Enjoy

 MELBOURNE CUP TOUR WITH LISA ALLPRESS & ME

We would love to have you join us on the Sporting Tours Lexus Melbourne Cup week.
I’m looking forward as is my co host former multiple premiership winning jockey Lisa Allpress who was great at the helm and fully appreciated by the 70 on board last year.
exciting it’s the “add ons” and the wonderful like minded people we continuously attract gives the  a “bucket list big tick”.
Check out the flyer below and if you need further information please drop me a line dcoppins@xtra.co.nz

FROM TE RAPA

TRISTAR: did well on the track that dried out. She needs it wetter. She has weighed in her last 9 starts. She won twice in May last year on heavy 10’s at Trentham and Te Rapa.

GROCERS GIRL: she looked cramped for room inside the last 400 in the two year old. It was only her second start. She’s a tallish filly and will be a better horse in the spring but if the stable elects to go again before the campaign ends stay with her.

TISSE: he was the quickest over the last 800, 400 and 200 at Te Rapa. That was his first run for over 3 months. I’m not sure what the stable has in mind but he’s one to keep close tabs on

Some 30 of you took up the Fortuna  offer for the “free tips” last  weekend. I hope you enjoyed this exclusive  email service. I might do it again later in the year but in the meantime feel free to get in touch if you’d like to join the regulars.

Good punting!

Des Coppins
021 448 052

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