Ensuring the day for Te Akau and Fortuna Racing got even better, Tolaga Bay (2 f Alabama Express – Camila Lucinda, by Lope de Vega) recorded a stylish debut victory in the $32,000 Hertz Maiden 2YO 1200 metres on Saturday at Ballarat (Victoria). Not long after unbeaten Fortuna Racing filly Lara Antipova (Russian Revolution) provided Te Akau with their 11^th Matamata Breeders’ Stakes (Gr. 2, 1200m), the same combination gained success with another very promising filly.

Having looked good winning her last two trials, most recently when beginning well to lead and quickening clear to win on 2 February at Cranbourne, Tolaga Bay was solidly supported in betting and ideally drawn (3) to race well first-up. Ridden by Liam Riordan, who has combined with Te Akau to win races in both New Zealand and Australia, Tolaga Bay situated nicely behind the leaders, relaxed to travel well within herself, and after receiving a lovely split entering the home straight, she wound up powerfully for a really good win. On Good4 footing, she ran 1200 metres in 1:11.2, last 600m in 32.7, and paid $4.30 & $1.60 on the NZ TAB tote.

Click HERE to see the race replay

“It was terrific to get a win with her first-up, today,” said trainer Mark Walker, who also had stable-mate Cinturato (Shamus Award) win impressively a day beforehand at Cranbourne. “She’s a big filly that’s only going to improve with time and more distance, as a three-year-old, but she’s shown the talent to race and win at two, so it’s very encouraging. We’ll see how she comes through the race, but the way she won it could see us look towards bigger targets like a Sires’ Produce.”

The $300,000 VRC Sires’ Produce Stakes (Gr. 2, 1400m) is contested on Saturday 7 March at Flemington.

Purchased by David Ellis CNZM and Fortuna Racing (Mgr: John Galvin) for $100,000 at the 2025 Inglis Classic Sale, from the draft of Yulong Stud, she is owned by Fortuna Tolaga Bay Syndicate, an Ownership Group comprising 62 individuals

By C F Orr Stakes (Gr. 1, 1400m) winner and proven Group One producing sire Alabama Express (Redoute’s Choice), the sire of Te Akau stakes winner Discretion Rules and most notably quadruple Group One winner (1400m – 2500m) Treasure the Moment, Tolaga Bay is out of four-time sprint winner Camila Lucinda (Lope de Vega). Tolaga Bay kept alive a terrific producing record by Camila Lucinda, with each of her three foals now winners, including Perfect Beth (Grunt) and Bama Slama (Alabama Express). Dam sire Lope de Vega (Shamardal) is a fantastic influence, along with having Redoute’s Choice and the Danehill sire line. A Champion Sire, Lope de Vega shuttled for four seasons from Ireland to Australia, is the sire of 20 individual Group One winners among 129 stakes winners, and not only a sire of sires, but also a great broodmare sire with 28 stakes winners from his daughters.

“She’s not really a two-year-old type, but the stable has a very high opinion of her and it was very satisfying to see her win today,”   said John Galvin. She was beautifully ridden by Lian to take a sit and just too good for them in the run home. But whatever she does as a two-year-old, we think she can improve on at three, so that is pretty exciting. She’s a big, strong, powerful filly, wasn’t an overly expensive purchase by David and I out of the Classic Sale, but she’s just done everything right through every step of her preparation.

“Mark and the team at Cranbourne have been patient with her, because they were conscious of her being a big, strong, girl, but they’ve looked after her and think she has a bright future. We know the sire can leave a top filly, just look at Treasure the Moment, who also won as a two-year-old, but not until June, and was virtually unbeaten at three, winning two Group One Oaks. There is quite a bit of stoutness in her pedigree, so it will be interesting to see what distances she’ll appreciate next season. It’s not unusual for us to have a nice two-year-old, but to have a couple at the same time, winning a Breeders’ Stakes and nice debut winner, on the same day, is particularly pleasing.”

A contented Liam Riodan returns to scale with Tolaga Bay and Tayla Wilson

Tolaga Bay was strapped by Tayla Wilson.