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 sizes 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
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Guest Commentator – Des Coppins
Greetings John and Friday Flash readers
All the best to you and your big group of Owners for your three jumpers at Terang on Sunday John
ONE YEAR FROM THE 5OTH ANNIVERSARY OF BOB SKELTON AND GREY WAY
IT’S the Easter Handicap at Ellerslie on Saturday but not as we knew it in days gone by. Not only has it dropped its ratings progressively over the years but it also moved from its traditional Easter Saturday spot a few years back. Although previously a group one, in 2017 it was reclassified as a group 2 and relegated once more to a group 3 four years ago in 2022.
n 2016, the conditions of the race changed from a handicap to a set weights and penalties in an effort to arrest the decline but reverted back to handicap conditions in 2018.
On Saturday we are one year short of arguably the greatest Easter Handicap, won by the mighty Grey Way in 1977. Few would argue he was the champion sprinter miler of his era.
In winning the Easter the horse affectionately known as the “Washdyke Wonder” lumped 60.5kgs in what was a mesmerising performance ( click HERE to see race replay)
He didn’t just win it, he won it in spite of not having previously scored right handed. Rider Bob Skelton was praying for what almost seemed an impossible gap , less than three horse widths out in tight quarters close to the rails with a clump of high class gallopers surrounding him.
Race outcomes like this don’t come much better. It was a hot field and worthy of group one status.
I used to catch up with Bob Skelton a lot, more so in his retirement. I recall the great man telling me and others at various functions that he could just about point to the spot of grass at Ellerslie where he told Grey Way, “ There’s no way you’ll poke through there,” but he reckons the horse responded with “yes I can !”
He found that needle eye gap alright. He just took charge of Bob.
“ I’ve never ridden a horse with such determination to win and the Easter proved it, ” recalled Bob.
When Bob Skelton passed away in Mornington almost 10 years ago his son Craig asked me to relay a eulogy on behalf of the NZ racing industry. I was honoured to be asked and while most of the Melbourne racing congregation will always remember Bob as the Melbourne Cup winning rider on Van Der Hum in 1976 I reminded them of Bob’s Grey Way Easter and invited them to check out the race on YouTube and witness the most amazing result. I’m sure they did!
TEN INTERESTING FACTS SURROUNDING THE WASHDYKE WONDER
1. Grey Way had 51 wins, 27 seconds and 21 thirds from 164 starts.
2. He raced from 2 to 10 years. He won 4 times as a two year old and twice as a 10 year old.
3. He was inducted into the NZ Racing Hall of Fame in 2010.
4. He set a track record at Trentham over 1400m carrying 60.5kgs.
5. Grey Way was originally purchased by owner Peter South for a jumping career and was trained by Pat Corboy
6. He had a club foot.
7. In one season as a five year old he won 13 races including the Awapuni Gold Cup where he beat Oopik in track record time.
8. He had 13 jockeys who either had one or multiple wins. Those jockeys were Eddie Low, Max Skelton, Noel Harris, Bill Skelton, Mark Burrridge, Doug Holden, Maurice Campbell, Aly Robinson, Brent Thomson, Bob Skelton, Kevin Morton, Karen Coleman and Acka Cowan.
9. He won a sprint at Riccarton with 62kgs.
10. Of the 51 wins, 48 were on firm ground.
Click HERE to see Hall of Fame footage of Grey Way’s career
John comments – When Grey Way in his heyday, I was a young man with a strong interest in following racing and he undoubtedly was one of my racing heroes – much later in the piece (2005), when we were campaigning Darci Brahma at Riccarton for the 2005 NZ 2000 Guineas, I had the privilege of being introduced to Peter South, who of course was the very famous owner of Grey Way – Peter, who was only in his late 30 when Grey Way started his racing career, was still actively involved in breeding and racing and over the next 2 to 3 years I would regularly catch up with him at Riccarton – he was a very engaging individual who was always happy to talk at great lengths about his mighty “Washdyke Wonder” – one of the most interesting things that he told me about Grey Way was that only on very rare occasions would they gallop him ahead of race preparations, preferring just to build his fitness through pace work – you have to wonder if this was a factor in the horse’s amazing longevity. Peter, who had been the Master of the South Canterbury Hunt for several years and an Amateur rider to boot, passed away in 2011 at the age of 74. There is also a Te Akau connection with Grey Way in that his trainer, Pat Corboy, had a daughter Karen, who married Gus Clutterbuck – Gus of course had been a prominent rider in New Zealand during the 70s and 80s, then became a trainer in his own right before linking up with Te Akau to manage their training establishment at Rangiora, before becoming Mark Walker’s assistant trainer in Singapore when Mark moved there in 2010 – Gus and Karen have since retired and now live in Canterbury
ELLERSLIE EASTER EGGS
I can’t let the Easter saga end without mentioning the gallant Sleepy Fox. Way back in 1943 Sleepy Foxhad his first crack at the Easter and was unplaced.
In 1944 Sleepy Fox won his first Easter with 8 stone ( 51kgs). He won it in a canter. The following year he was untroubled with 9 stone 5 (59.5kgs) and then made light of 10 stone 2 pounds ( 64.5kg). As if winning the Easter three times wasn’t enough the seven year old came out in 1947 and carried 9 stone 13 pounds to win his 4th consecutive.
He came back to Ellerslie a year later as an 8 year old for his 6th attempt on a very firm track and it wasn’t to be and believe it or not he returned as a 9yo but he again missed and was immediately retired.
Ellerslie, at Easter, used be a 2 day meeting ( Saturday and Monday) and incredibly Sleepy Fox, throughout his career, won a further 5 races over the long weekend over 7 years starting with the two year old race in 1942 and followed up with the open sprint on Monday 3 times and the wfa Great Northern Challenge Stakes which was also run on the Monday. To win 9 races at Ellerslie at the same meeting is astonishing.
Lest we forget wouldn’t the Auckland Racing Club and the industry be doing itself a huge favour by respecting this amazing galloper at this time of the year with a race name in Sleepy Fox’s honour?
WILL TOTE OPERATORS BE PHAZED OUT?
ARE we getting close to a time when tote operators will be phazed out on race days? So many racegoers these days play digitally. They load up the TAB account and that’s where it starts and ends and the good ladies and men behind the counter are completely overlooked.
I had a quick browse of the figures on Sires Produce Stakes Day last month at Trentham. The betting on course was down 4.7% on last year but the phone betting was up 34%. That’s telling us plenty!!!
In saying this I’d like to see tote operators always on course as a back up especially for the major meetings, like Cup Days.
OTAKI IMPROVERS
RAREZA: wasn’t far away in the open sprint after being slowly away. As that was her first run on a new campaign she should continue to improve and once she strikes the preferred wetter tracks she will take all sorts of stopping. She’s only had one unplaced run in 8 starts on heavy ground.
DESERT MYSTIC: after being very slowly away he did well to end up less than three lengths from the winner. He’s another adept in heavy going and won’t lack opportunities on this current campaign.
ASHOKA: had a shocking run in transit in the r65 over 1200m when caught 4 wide without cover. He also had no luck at Counties in the prior first up run. Soft tracks are his go and he will be winning sooner than later.
Good punting!
Des Coppins
021 448 052
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