All over from the outset, Court Of Appeal (5 m Eminent – Katy O’Beel, by Zabeel) resumed with a dominant victory in the $18,500 Betavet Rating 75 1600 metres on 11 September at Riccarton. Having remained back after missing the start when trialling on 19 August at Ashburton, any fears were averted immediately as Court Of Appeal flew the gates to lead easily, in what became the winning of the race. Ridden by Bruno Queiroz, who has recorded seven wins from 18 rides and a strike rate of 2.5 with trainers Mark Walker & Sam Bergerson, Court Of Appeal dictated soft early sectionals before striding more freely from the 800m and she quickened away in the straight to win by two lengths.

It was an excellent resumption by a mare with genuine staying bloodlines, and holds a nomination for the $450,000 New Zealand Cup (Gr. 3, 3200m) on the final day of Cup Week (16 Nov.) at Riccarton. Having her first start on the poly-track, Court Of Appeal ran the 1600 metres in cruisy 1:37.2 and paid $4.00 & $2.20 on the NZ TAB tote.

Click HERE to see the race replay

“It was a really good win, today, and a lovely ride of Bruno’s,” said Mark Walker, training partner with Sam Bergerson.“She’s been a bit tardy out of the gates lately, but he’s a great barrier rider and got her away cleanly to lead and it was great to see her win the way she did. Hunter (Durrant) and the team have got the horses looking well in our stables down there at Riccarton, and getting good results for us in the South Island. She’s was always going to take time to mature, on pedigree, and that will hopefully keep coming to the fore this year and next. We’re certainly looking forward to seeing what she can achieve this season.”

Court Of Appeal – 3rd career victory – Riccarton 11th Sept 2025 
Bruno Queiroz aboard

Purchased for $20,000 by David Ellis CNZM and Fortuna Racing from the Karaka 2022 Book 2 Sale, from the draft of Brighthill Farm, she is owned by Fortuna Court Of Appeal Syndicate (Mgr: John Galvin), an ownership group consisting of 53 individuals

“I think she put a stake in the ground today, by winning fresh-up over a mile when she’s a genuine staying type,” John Galvin said. “I know she was favourite, but there seemed a few things against her: fresh-up off a long break, track, mile, that sort of thing. The start of the race looked a bit awkward, but she got the best of it to lead. It was a lovely ride by Bruno (Queiroz) and she just had too many guns. She has been a bit tardy to begin previously and seemed on the back foot when the gates opened, but Bruno took remedial action and urged her on.”

“She has trained and done most of her gallops on the poly-track down there, so she’s not unfamiliar with the synthetic surface. She’s really blossomed down in the South Island, and I think it’s the right place for her at present. She seems to appreciate the more relaxed setting at Riccarton. Her main targets will be the Metropolitan Handicap and New Zealand Cup down there in November. And a great decision made by Mark and Sam to send her South – they are great judges”

Regarding the purchase of Court Of Appeal, Galvin said: “The buying instructions were that we wanted to buy a staying type from Book 2 at Karaka, and we were expecting to pay quite a bit more than the $20,000 she sold for. Eminent, the sire, is yet to make a decent mark with his progeny, but he clearly has staying pedigree credentials, and anything out of a Zabeel mare, you’re always a chance.

“We’ve had some pretty good results on the poly-tracks this year. It provides so many opportunities for horses at this time of the year that otherwise may not be racing because they don’t handle wet and heavy tracks. It keeps the betting turnover going, keeps prize money flowing to the owners, and a horse like Court Of Appeal doesn’t really handle heavy tracks.”

Brighthill Farm stallion Eminent, a Group Two winner and dual Group One placed son of peerless racehorse and sire Frankel (Galileo) – currently leading the TRC Global Sires Rankings – was trained by Sir Mark Todd and owned by Sir Peter Vela. From the first crop by Eminent, Court Of Appeal is out of a mare that won three times to 2200 metres, in turn from sensational staying mare Katy Keen (Zorro’s Lad), a Group Two and Group Three winner that won 10 times to 2500 metres.

Court Of Appeal is the second winner from Katy O’Beel, following Enright (Power), a three-time winner to 2100 metres.

Interestingly, and not be taken lightly, the win by Court Of Appeal was recorded almost a year to the day that she won her Maiden over 1400 metres on 13 September last year, reaffirming traits of horses peaking at similar times of the year.

Court Of Appeal was strapped by Ruby Rae-Wood.

Capping a fabulous day for Te Akau Racing, $400,000 Ecycle Solutions Grand National Steeplechase (4500m) winner Leaderboard (11 g Street Cry – Flower Fairy, by Dynaformer) and stable-mates The Mighty Spar (Savabeel) and Prismatic (Savabeel), alongside trainer Mark Walker, made history when becoming the first to ever trifecta the prestigious race.

After the same trio recorded six wins (two wins apiece), and four seconds, from 13 starts over fences last season, Walker, again, had them in terrific form this year, and to saddle a trifecta in the Grand National Steeplechase (4500m) is one of many highlights for the 12-time Champion Trainer, who ticked over 2000 career wins in 2024. Earlier in the day, Walker and training partner Sam Bergerson, took three to race at Taupo, which resulted in Carsolio (Bivouac), To Bravery Born (Snitzel), and In Haste (Snitzel), all winning.

Last season, Leaderboard, the former Wellington Cup (Gr. 3, 3200m) and St Leger (Listed, 2600m) winner, followed his jumps wins by finishing third in the Thackeray Steeplechase (3450m), third in the Grand National Hurdle (4200m), and second in the Grand National Steeplechase (4500m).

While a week prior to the final jumps race of the season, Leaderboard chased well to finish second in the Great Western Steeplechase (3600m) at Coleraine, and given his record of first and second from two course attempts at Ballarat (Victoria), and the services of Will Gordon, Walker was happy with his main charge.

“Leaderboard, I’m really happy with him and he came through his good second in the Great Western Steeplechase (3600m) really well,” said Walker, leading up to the race. “He gets into this race nicely at the weights (65kg). Obviously, Stern Idol is the one to beat and also Noonday Gun is a very promising jumper, but the name of the game is to run out the 4500 metres strongly and with the weight we’ve got and the jockey (Will Gordon) we’ve got in the saddle, that gives him the best opportunity of doing that.”

After camping in second throughout, behind the highly rated to-weight, Stern Idol, Leaderboard did everything right, capitalizing on Stern Idol not seeing out the trip, and Noonday Gun coming to grief at the last fence, before going on to win comfortably.

Click HERE to see the race replay

LEADERBOARD – Australian Grand National Steeplechase – Ballarat  – 17th August 2025

 Will Gordon aboard

“I can’t really believe it,” said Will Gordon, on dismounting. “I went out there without any pressure, just riding my race, riding the horse, and going down the back the last time I thought, I’ve still got a bit of horse here and might be in the finish. “He’s a legend of a horse. Everyone that rides him, or has anything to do with him, just loves and adores him. “There will be a line out the door that want this horse at the end of his racing career. He’s such a gentleman, such a dude to do anything with, a great jumper, and what you saw today was no better of example of that. There are no chinks in his armour. He jumps, travels, and I was happy where we were in the run to be tracking Stern Idol. We got easy enough sectionals behind him and I thought he would be vulnerable late. We were able to sit on his tail, conserve energy, and like I said, his jumping was great. He did the rest. For me, the win is right up there. This is one that has been missing off my mantelpiece and to tick this one off, they’re hard races to win, and only come up once a year.”

From fourth in running, The Mighty Spar kept finding the line for second, under jockey William McCarthy, and Prismatic finished well down the outside, from last, to grab third for jockey Jordan Hart.

“It was a great ride of Will’s (Gordon) and it’s great to see all three horses come back safe,” Walker said. “The girls that strap them, Hayley (Morton) with the winner, Emma (Wilson) with The Mighty Spar, and Lisa (Strike) with Prismatic. They just love these horses and they’re got a dual purpose as well, these older horses, because they help out in the stables by educating the yearlings.”

Owned by Fortuna Leaderboard Syndicate (Mgr: John Galvin),  Leaderboard was purchased by International Bloodstock agent, Hubie de Burgh on behalf of Fortuna Racing in October 2018 at the Tattersalls Sale in U.Kk for 75,000 Guineas and his 12 wins have yielded nearly NZ$950,000 in earnings.

Leaderboard has now won five jumping races, including four steeplechases from 14 jumps races in Victoria and, remarkably, has finished in the top 3 every start apart from the Brierley Steeples at Warrnambool in April 2025, where he fell

“The win would have to go down as one of the highlights we’ve had with Fortuna Racing,” said Galvin, who also had 14-time Group One winner and dual NZ Horse of the Year Melody Belle (Commands) race in the Fortuna Silks. The big thing I felt about today was redemption for Leaderboard, because he had that unfortunate fall in the Brierly Steeplechase, back in April, but he’d run three very good races since then for seconds. He’d been beaten by Stern Idol in two of those, and today he was able to come out and beat not only Stern Idol, but also the up-and-comer Noonday Gun. It was a huge thrill. The whole race, he was right there and you got the feeling he was always going to be in contention, provided, A, he could run past Stern Idol, and, B, he was able to fend off the grey horse (Noonday Gun).”

“We had two of his owners with us, Shane & Colleen Ivory, and they were here last year, as well, when he ran second. So, it was great for them to be here today and see him win. It’s an unbelievable training feat by Mark (Walker) to get the trifecta, the first time it’s ever been done in the race. While having plenty of international experience, Mark is a relatively new trainer to the Australian racing circuit, and he’s managed to have his three runners fill the first three placings in the most prestigious jumps race in Australia. It’s a great effort and for him, specifically, with Leaderboard. He just loves the horse to bits and has nurtured him over the last few years to create an outstanding jumps career.”

Leaderboard was strapped by Hailey Morton.

Extending his excellent course/distance record, Malborough Bay (6 g Darci Brahma – Spin ‘N Grin, by Spinning World) won the $35,000 Te Rapa Tavern Rating 75 1400 metres on Saturday at Te Rapa. Winner of the corresponding event on 5 July, Malborough Bay had since finished second on the course in the Open Handicap 1300 metres on 26 July, and enhanced his course/distance victories to three, with five of his six wins recorded over 1400 metres.

Ridden by four-kilo claiming apprentice Jack Taplin, who reduced the weight to 59.5kg, Malborough Bay was advantaged on Heavy10 footing by drawing wide (10), which enabled him to remain away from the rail, and after racing handy to the pace throughout he kept giving in a close three-way finish. Winning by a long head, Malborough Bay ran 1400 metres in 1:27.8 and returned $6.10 & $1.80 on the NZ TAB tote.

Click HERE to see the race replay

“It was another really good win today and particular credit to Michael Gray, our racing manager, who was adamant we should choose that race for the horse rather than the earlier race on the card that he was also accepted for,” said Mark Walker, training partner with Sam Bergerson. “It was great that the decision was the right one, and he was vindicated with the win. I think the hurdle trials in June and July really smartened him up, just mentally did him the world of good, and his flat form has been very good ever since. It’s really good to see him continuing to win and race so well for John & Jessica Galvin (Fortuna Racing) and their crew of owners.”

MALBOROUGH BAY – 6th career win – Te Rapa 8th August 2025 – Jack Taplin aboard (Race Images)

From a family well known to Te Akau and bred by Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM and Glenn & Cathie Holmes, Malborough Bay is owned by the Fortuna Malborough Bay Syndicate (Mgr: John Galvin).

“It was a great effort today by the horse,” said John Galvin, who was on track to witness the win. “We had accepted for two races on the programme and yesterday the team was of the opinion that he would contest the Open Handicap 1600 metres, but reassessing things this morning, and taking into account some heavy rain here in Hamilton last night, they elected to run in the 1400-metre race instead. The important thing was that he managed to win, with another typically strong performance from the horse. You’d swear he was going to be beaten, but in the last 50 metres, as he always seems to do, he stuck his head out and was very determined to get to the line first. He seems to be very resolute, determined, and we asked the jockey after the race whether he thought he was going to win, and he said “no, It wasn’t until the last 50m that the horse just found another gear and was able to prevail.”  Jack (Taplin) was very happy. He’s a fine young man, only 18 years old, but presents himself and communicates very well. He’s promising and won’t have his four-kilo claim for too long, I don’t think.”

A winner on debut and stakes placed as a three-year-old in the War Decree Stakes (Gr. 3, 1600m), Malborough Bay has continued to be well managed and trained, and now entering his fourth season of racing he has matured into a hardy and robust galloper that appears to be at the peak of his powers.

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 23 races, including Group One and dual Group Three placed Burgundy Belle (Burgundy Belle) , 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.

“We’ve had a lot to do with the family, too,” Galvin added. “Burgundy Belle raced in the Fortuna colours and when Mark (Walker) was in Singapore we had Jack’s Secret and Major Tom winning up there, so it’s been a good family to us.”

Malborough Bay was strapped by Rhiannon Smith.