TE AKAU SEASON OF SUCCESS – BRILLIANT SPRINTING TREBLE

As we look back on a remarkable season trans Tasman for the Te Akau team, we salute a bold, bay filly who blazed her name across Melbourne’s spring stage with a hat-trick of victories and performances that had Australian racing fans sitting up and taking notice …

Bellatrix Star (3 f Star Witness – Alana’s Party, by Exceed and Excel) delivered one of the most scintillating highlights of the season when she stormed home in the A$300,000 Group 2 Henley Homes Schillaci Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield on 12 October. It was her third stakes’ win in a row – each more impressive than the last – and confirmation that this Kiwi filly had truly arrived on one of the sport’s biggest scenes.

Already a Group 2 winner and a finalist for Champion Two-Year-Old honours last season in New Zealand, Bellatrix Star had been expertly handled by Te Akau trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson in New Zealand before she joined the Australian sprinting ranks.

Her Australian ‘re-location’ started with a bang in the Listed Cap D’Antibes Stakes (1100m) at Flemington on 14 September, followed swiftly by a powerhouse display in the Group 3 Scarborough Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley just 13 days later.

But it was the Schillaci that marked her most audacious move yet – tackling weight-for-age company against seasoned older sprinters and pulling off a performance for the ages.

Ridden with ice-cool poise by champion jockey Craig Williams, Bellatrix Star travelled sweetly in seventh, tucked in behind a hot speed. When the field straightened, she was angled to the outside – and with the lightest weight on her back (51kg compared to 58.5kg for her rivals), she launched a brilliant finishing burst. In a flash, she surged past them all to win with authority and class.

In doing so, Bellatrix Star made history: the first three-year-old filly to win the Schillaci since Halibery (Red Ransom) did it 21 years earlier in 2003. And she did it in style – clocking 1:02.9 for the 1100 metres on a Good3 surface, returning $6.70 & $2.00 on the NZ TAB.

“She’s just going from strength to strength,” said trainer Mark Walker. “To beat the older horses at weight-for-age, and to become the first filly in over two decades to win this race – it’s a seriously special achievement.”

Buoyed by her success, Bellatrix Star turned her attention to one of the most iconic races for three-year-olds on the calendar: the $1.5 million Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) at Flemington on Derby Day, 2 November. And while she didn’t win, her effort was nothing short of exceptional – charging from the rear of the field to storm into second, proving she belonged in the best company.

Owned by the Fortuna Bellatrix Star Syndicate (Mgr: John Galvin), she was purchased by David Ellis CNZM and Galvin for $80,000 at the Karaka 2023 Book 1 Sale, from the Phoenix Park draft – another inspired selection by David and the team.

Bellatrix Star’s pedigree is as star-studded as her name suggests. Her sire, Star Witness (by Starcraft), won the very same Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes that his daughter so nearly captured, and he’s gone on to become a top sprint sire in Australia. Her grand-sire Starcraft (Soviet Star) is no stranger to New Zealanders – a World Champion Turf Miler and multiple Group 1 winner across three countries, including Australia, France, and England. He famously won two legs of the Hastings Triple Crown.

On the dam side, Bellatrix Star brings the excellence of Exceed and Excel (Danehill) – Australia’s Champion Sire and elite broodmare influence. With over 5,500 winners and more than 200 stakes’ winners, his influence spans continents and decades. Her dam, Alana’s Party, traces back to The Party Stand (Thorn Park), herself a Group 1-winning mare of versatility and staying power.

Now the winner of over NZ$1 million in stakes, Bellatrix Star’s meteoric rise sadly came to a halt earlier this year when she sustained an injury during training. She is currently spelling in Victoria, receiving the very best of care and recovery.

A star who lit up spring with talent and tenacity, Bellatrix Star gave us moments to savour and a sense of what might still be to come. While her journey has taken an unexpected pause, she’s already written a memorable chapter in the Te Akau story this season – and we couldn’t be prouder.

BACK

The only runner for trainer Mark Walker on 21 July at Bairnsdale (Victoria), West Indies (3 g Fastnet Rock – Anchovy, by Galileo) won the $27,000 Dyson Group Benchmark 58 2200 metres. Contesting the corresponding event after racing well for second over 2200 metres on 23 June at Pakenham (poly-track), West Indies had been devoid of luck before his last start performance and despite carrying top weight (62kg) he rated a top three chance.

Able to secure the trail from barrier one, West Indies was desperate for room turning for home at the 400m, which came on straightening, and he quickened to an advantage and won well.

West Indies was ridden again by Craig Newitt, who was aboard last time, and also when he contested the Victoria Derby (Gr. 1, 2500m) in November at Flemington.

“He’s got better ability than a (Rating) 58, that’s for sure, and I actually rode him in the VRC Derby, in his first start for them (Walker and Fortuna Racing),” Newitt said. “He’s probably been a bit frustrating for connections, but his run the other day put the writing on the wall, he was perfectly placed here today, from a good gate, and he had a good run. He felt the winner from a long way out. He had to carry a big weight, but he had favours from the inside gate. He still had to do it, and he probably hit the front and was waiting a little bit. Had he been challenged, I think there was a bit more under the hood, so I’m sure he’s going to win a few more for them.He’s a tricky horse, but we got the measure of them today.”

On Soft5 footing, West Indies ran 2200 metres in 2:19.5 and paid $8.90 & $2.40 on the NZ TAB tote.

Click HERE to see the race replay

WEST INDIES – first win in Fortuna Silks  – Bairnsdale 21st July 2025 – Craig Newitt aboard

On course, stable representative Rachael Kramer said: “Hayden (strapper), it’s his first day at the races, Sage (Duric) is here, and she also rides West Indies in track work, and Froggy (Craig Newitt) was quietly confident after his last start that this could be the day he got the job done. I said to Hayden when they jumped, “yes, he’s found a good spot”, and it was exciting to see his face, watching the race, on his first day. It’s an exciting day for the team.”

Owned by the Fortuna West Indies Syndicate (Mgr: John Galvin), he was offered for sale by Coolmore Stud, at the 2024 Inglis October (Late) Online Sale as a one win 3yo, and purchased by Galvin for A$200,000.

Having had his first start for the new owners in the VRC Derby, West Indies was subsequently given a let up and resumed in March, with consecutive thirds, before quickening from midfield for fourth in the VRC St Leger (Listed, 2800m) on 25 April at Flemington.

“It was a really good win and a lovely ride of Craig Newitt’s,” Walker said. “He’s a slower maturing horse, but we found the right race to give him a confidence-building win. It was good to see him run out the 2200 metres so strongly, which is not easy under such a big weight, and sometimes, these horses, they get the win and can really go on with it. He is out of a Galileo mare, so it’s a slower maturing, staying, pedigree, and we do think he’ll improve as a four and five-year-old.”

“I’m pleased West Indies could beat the Aussies, today,” quipped John Galvin, referring to the West Indies v Australia T20 cricket game, earlier today, in Jamaica, in which Australia won narrowly. “It’s a been long haul and a bit frustrating at times, but he’s run some reasonable races and hasn’t had all favours on other occasions. To get the first win for the new owners is very satisfying. I’ve said to the owners on many occasions, that given his breeding, by Fastnet Rock out of a Galileo mare, we need to be patient with this horse. He’s still just a raw three-year-old and probably won’t be the real deal until he’s a late four-year-old or even a five-year-old. We bought him for the (VRC) Derby, but he wasn’t mature enough to run the 2500 metres out. He’s still only three and got a bright future, I think.”

WEST INDIES – winning post in sight

By Champion Sire Fastnet Rock (Danehill), West Indies is out of a three-quarter sister to European Champion Three-Year-Old Ruler Of The World (Galileo), and from the family of five-time Group One winner, European Champion Older Male, and sire, Duke Of Marmalade (Danehill).

West Indies was strapped by Hayden McInnes.

Hayden McInness celebrates his first day at the races as a strapper with a win by West Indies

With the final month of the 2024/25 racing season over half complete, enjoy our black type review of the many highlights Te Akau owners and the team celebrated …

On a blockbuster night under lights at Moonee Valley, the brilliant Bellatrix Star (3 f Star Witness – Alana’s Party, by Exceed and Excel) delivered a dazzling performance to capture the A$200,000 Group 3 Ladbrokes Scarborough Stakes 1200m on 27 September.

Already a Listed winner after storming home to win the Cap D’Antibes Stakes over 1100m at Flemington on 14 September, this was Bellatrix Star’s first look at the unique Moonee Valley circuit – and she took to it with style and purpose.

In doing so, she followed in the mighty hoofprints of former stablemate and Horse of the Year Imperatriz (I Am Invincible), who also won first-up at The Valley and went on to dominate the venue, winning five races there – including four at Group 1 level. Imperatriz is the only horse to win the coveted Group 1 Sprint Triple Crown, and remained unbeaten at The Valley during her illustrations career.

Ridden with supreme poise by Kiwi jockey and former Te Akau apprentice Michael Dee, Bellatrix Star overcame barrier eight with ease, slotting in beautifully one off and one back. From the 400-metre mark, she was travelling sweetly, and on the turn, she let rip – launching with a powerful finish to take control at the 200m and surge clear.

On a Good4 surface, she stopped the clock at 1:10.4 for the 1200 metres and returned $10.20 & $2.60 on the NZ TAB tote.

“She was a brilliant winner tonight,” said trainer Mark Walker. “The ride was a perfect 10 out of 10 by Mick Dee, and she’s just continuing to go from strength to strength in Australia.”

Owned by the Fortuna Bellatrix Star Syndicate (Mgr: John Galvin), the filly was purchased for $80,000 by David Ellis CNZM and Galvin from Phoenix Park’s draft at the 2023 Karaka Book 1 Sale.

Her Group 3 win formed the centrepiece of a dazzling three-race streak that would culminate in victory in the Group 2 Schillaci Stakes (1100m), highlighting her rapid rise in class and talent.

With career earnings topping NZ$1 million, Bellatrix Star had firmly stamped herself as one of the most exciting sprinting fillies on the scene. Sadly, earlier this year, she sustained an injury in training and is now spelling in Victoria, enjoying a well-earned rest.

The spotlight continues to shine on stellar performances by the Te Akau team in the 2024/25 season almost ended – Bellatrix Star certainly added her brilliance to the line-up with three shining Group wins in Melbourne – we reflect on the first …

One of the most exciting juvenile fillies of her year, Group 2 Eclipse Stakes winner and New Zealand Champion Two-Year-Old finalist Bellatrix Star (3 f Star Witness – Alana’s Party, by Exceed and Excel) made her presence felt in Australia with a sizzling second-up win in the A$175,000 Cap D’Antibes Stakes (Listed, 1100m) at Flemington on 14 September.

Trained from Te Akau’s Cranbourne stable, Bellatrix Star looked sharp and powerful in the mounting yard – her physique telling the story of a filly who had trained on beautifully from two to three years of age. Having resumed with a solid fifth in the Group 3 Quezette Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield on 17 August, she stripped fitter, was focused, and ready to show her explosive turn of foot.

With Kiwi star and former Te Akau apprentice Michael Dee in the saddle again, Bellatrix Star dropped out near the rear of a compact and high-quality field. Relaxed in the run, she tracked the heavily backed favourite Drifting (Zousain) into the race, before peeling out and surging with purpose through the final 200 metres. Her late charge was emphatic – she burst clear to win going away in a visually dominant performance down the famed Flemington straight.

Despite being largely overlooked in betting markets – drifting out to $26 fixed odds – she proved the punters wrong, returning a juicy $14.10 & $3.70 on the NZ TAB tote. The time for the 1100m was 1:05.9 on a rain-affected Soft7 surface, underscoring her adaptability and class.

This was a memorable win not just for the stable, but also for her delighted owners, the Fortuna Bellatrix Star Syndicate (Mgr: John Galvin), who have been on an unforgettable ride since she won the first two-year-old race of the season at Wanganui last year – an 800m dash that launched her into the spotlight.

Purchased for just $80,000 by David Ellis CNZM and John Galvin at the 2023 Karaka Book 1 Sale, from the draft of Phoenix Park, Bellatrix Star has already returned exceptional value – not just financially but in the joy and prestige of black-type success on both sides of the Tasman.

Her pedigree reads like a blueprint for speed and quality. Sire Star Witness (Starcraft), one of Australia’s most reliable sprint sires, was a dominant winner of the Group One Coolmore Stud Stakes – also down the Flemington straight – and he has passed on his trademark toughness and acceleration to this precocious daughter. Starcraft himself is a household name in New Zealand: the winner of two legs of the Group One Triple Crown at Hawke’s Bay, and a truly international performer, with elite wins in Australia, France, and England. His influence on turf milers globally has been profound.

Bellatrix Star’s dam, Alana’s Party, is by one of the world’s greatest sires – Exceed and Excel (Danehill). His statistics are staggering: over 5500 winners globally, more than 200 stakes’ winners, 18 individual Group One winners, and he is now firmly established as a leading broodmare sire. And the depth continues – her grand-dam The Party Stand (Thorn Park) was herself a Group One winner, taking out the prestigious NZ Stakes over 2000m and winning impressively from 1200m through to classic middle distances.

Sadly, after such a promising start to her three-year-old season, Bellatrix Star sustained an injury in training earlier this year. She is now enjoying a well-deserved spell in Victoria. The good news is that her injury was manageable, her recovery is progressing well, and her connections remain optimistic about her long-term future on the track – and one day, as a highly desirable broodmare.

To date, Bellatrix Star has already earned over NZ$1 million in prize money and left an indelible impression in both New Zealand and Australian racing circles. Her Cap D’Antibes triumph was another example of the firepower in the Te Akau tangerine – and a win that cemented her place among our stars of the season.

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