Fortuna has one runner at Riccarton on Saturday and three at Warrnambool on Tuesday
Riccarton – Saturday
ZAFAR makes his much anticipated debut in the 2yo Listed Berkley Stud Champagne Stakes at Riccarton on Saturday 2nd May – Race 5 @ 1.32 pm with Opie Bosson to ride from Barrier 4 – has made a big impression with his three trials performances – thrown in the deep end here making his debut in a Stakes race, but appears to have a lot of ability –TAB says “Well bred Colt on debut. Okay in a recent trial. Respect any market moves” Showing Odds of $2.30/$1.22
Warrnambool – Tuesday 5th May
Acceptances still to be finalised, but LEADERBOARD has been nominated for the Brierly Steeples while MALBOROUGH BAY and WEST INDIES have been nominated for the Maiden Hurdles event
John will be attending this 3 day carnival and we have several clients making the trek to Warrnambool also
Te Akau trainer Mark Walker reached another milestone on 27 April at Ellerslie, when blueblood filly Avantaggia (3 f Wootton Bassett – Avantage, by Fastnet Rock) provided his 1500th win in New Zealand.
Walker achieved his 2000th global career win in September 2024, having registered 1279 wins in New Zealand, 684 in Singapore, plus 37 in Australia, while since adding another 221 wins in NZ and a further 48 in Australia, bringing his career tally to 2268.
With Te Akau now having a stable in Melbourne, in addition to Matamata and Riccarton in New Zealand, Walker has added 66 wins since 2023 in Australia, and the world-class trainer has been directly involved in 12 of 16 premiership titles for Te Akau.
Walker actually notched his 1000th domestic win in 2022, the same year in which he recorded the fastest 100 wins and NZ record 203 wins in a season.
Walker is also zeroing in on 200 stakes wins, currently on 198, including 41 Group Ones.
Mark Walker
“It can’t be achieved without the support of so many great owners over the years, and, obviously with Dave (Ellis) buying the best yearlings every year, and having Karyn (Fenton-Ellis) syndicating them, it’s certainly not lost on me the quality of horses we get to work with and train at Te Akau,” Walker said. “We’ve also had great support over the years from breeders and a lot of individual owners that continue sending horses our way to train. I’m very thankful to have had the opportunities that I’ve had over the years and started with Te Akau straight out of school. I’m still quite young (55), plenty of life left in me and I’m looking forward to training more winners for the owners. We’re very fortunate at Te Akau to have so many great people working for us. Sam (Bergerson) and I have a great relationship and when I’m at the stables in Melbourne, I know that he and Reece (Trumper) are running the ship really well.
“I think we’ve had 18 wins in the last month in New Zealand, with a Group One among four stakes wins, and we’re tracking at a similar rate to when we won the premiership last year. And we’ve just had our second Group One this month in Australia, so I’m very happy with that. At Riccarton, in Christchurch, our assistant trainer Hunter (Durrant) is doing a fantastic job for us, and in Melbourne we’ve got Ben Gleeson, our assistant trainer, who brings a wealth of experience and does an outstanding job.”
Regarding the quality of young horses coming through the Te Akau ranks, Walker added: “We’ve had 14 wins with the two-year-olds this season, including Lara Antipova (Russian Revolution) and Seize The Day (I Am Invincible) winning the two Group One races, and a lot of the two-year-olds we’ve just given a trial will be ready to go as early three-year-olds.The yearlings that Dave (Ellis) bought this year in New Zealand and Australia are an outstanding line-up of young horses and we’ve still got shares available in some of them. With the prize money on offer, it’s a very exciting time in horse racing throughout Australasia, and Te Akau is doing everything it possibly can to remain at the forefront. We’re very proud of the record we’ve established and we’ve got the right people involved to keep it going strongly.”
Our Circus Maximus Gelding – “Max” – now in his first Prep at Matamata
Following 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 Stable inspections this week – comments are by Assistant Trainer, Reece Trumper – as you will hear Reece say, “Max” is getting a big tick from his trackwork riders and, while he is definitely going to furnish into a nice 3yo, he is showing us enough to indicate that he could race in the Autumn as a 2yo. “Max” will come to the end of his first Stable prep next week, he will then have 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
5% Share is NZ$6k
2.5% share is NZ$3k
1% share is NZ$1.2k
Monthly ongoing costs from 1 June 2026 are NZ$50 per month per each 1% share
Purchase a share in “Max” today from the link HERE or make contact with John 021 921 460 if you would like more information
“Max” – the yearling by Circus Maximus out of Asama Blue
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Following up on last week’s item about the decline of the “on field” bookies in Australia, here is a nice story. ‘A general love for the game’ – Why on-course bookmakers keep showing up and the carnivals that draw them back
In the next eight days, bookies and punters will go head-to-head at two of Australia’s best-known country carnivals. No one is entitled to win, but vibrant betting rings give those on either side the opportunity to finish in front. Considering the size of the thoroughbred industry, it still relies heavily on the willingness of key people to get in the car and drive long distances to play their role.
The most notable are jockeys, trainers and stable staff, who traverse the roads of Australia, rolling the odometer over on the chance they will get a winner and make it all worthwhile. In an increasingly digital world, it is a somewhat antiquated process, but it is what racing does best. It turns up.
On-course bookies may seem an anachronism in a world of apps, bonus bets and deposit matches, but in an environment where giant corporations rule and cash transactions are increasingly taboo, the old-fashioned satchel swingers persist. With no guarantee of a return, they too jump in their cars. This week it’s Wagga, while next week it will be Warrnambool. Wagga is 460km southwest of Sydney, while Warrnambool is 260km southwest of Melbourne.
Bookmakers are still doing the miles to field at Australia’s country carnivals. (Photo by Vince Caligiuri/Getty Images)
Click HEREto read this story in full – (source – The Straight)
As sporting and racing fans our Anzac weekend couldn’t have gone better. From all kiwi sides winning each of the 5 Super Rugby matches at the unveiling of the worldly accepted Te Kaha Christchurch stadium to the Warriors win at the sold out Wellington Stadium.
I’ll be honest. I was a little blurry eyed on early Sunday evening after such a hectic sporting weekend mixed with black type racing at Riccarton and Te Rapa but a few strong coffees kept me wide awake for the climax, the reappearance of the two best gallopers in the world in Hong Kong, both of course with a NZ connection.
The NZ bred supreme sprinter Ka Ying Rising, bred by Fraser Auret by Shame Express from the Per Incanto mare, Missy Moo, simply donkey licked his rivals in track record time as he notched up win number 20. He will now have a let up before aiming to defend his crown in the $20m Everest in the spring. A couple of hours later Romantic Warrior, in the hands of globe trotting world champion kiwi James McDonald, won his 4th QE2 Cup. It, too, was easy as pie.
The Longines Worlds Best Racehorses list that was released in the first week of April has Ka Ying Rising and Romantic Warrior as numbers one and two. To see the best two global super stars running on the same programme was a great sight for sore eyes. I’m sure you’ll agree, It was well worth staying up for!
25 YEARS OF HARD WORK GETS CHRIS WALLER 199!
WHEN Chris Waller left our shores at the start of the century he was focussed on doing the best he could to make a decent living in his chosen craft. Thoughts of being a version of the two of the greats, Bart Cummings and Tommy Smith would have never crossed his mind. For him it was just trying to make it work and for a while he had to walk on broken glass as he chipped away around the Sydney provincials to get a winner or two with the occasional city win to gradually gain acceptance from his peers and grow his ownership group.
Chris’s enthusiasm was there from day one but generally accepted it wasn’t going to be easy to make a breakthrough into the high profile Sydney scene. However, through dedication, hard work and with well documented limited funds at the start, he made it happen and is in fact now being spoken about alongside those two historical training heavyweights of yesteryear as he closes in on an amazing 200 group one wins.
Group one number 199 occurred last Saturday in the South Australian Oaks with Panova, who has ridden by his trusty side kick, J-Mac.
A lot of people keep asking the question why is Chris Waller so dominant? I guess we all have our reasons. Perhaps former champion jockey and a senior racing manager to his stable, Darren Beadman can shine further light. Last month I caught up with Darren for a Friday night dinner in Wellington when he travelled across to oversee the two Waller runners in the group one at Trentham. There was just the two of us and we reminisced a bit about some of the champion horses he’s been associated with before chatting about Chris.
I asked him what does he see in Chris “in the field” that may single him out from others. “ He multi tasks like no one else I know, “ said Darren. He spoke about how Chris was able to have three or four conversations all at once with say , a track work rider, the groom, Darren himself, or some other member of his employment group and is always very clear and concise in his questioning or his answers. Chris is so good at picking the right programmes for his horses with his senior staff and with hundreds of horses stabled in Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne it may look hard but according to Darren, who has nothing but praise with the way he functions, “the boss” makes it look easy.
He finds time in the busy schedule to watch Super Rugby matches and the NZ Warriors and any other sport with a black jersey according to Darren and unless he’s in transit Sunday is his day for family and to experience a bit of down time. Most days he will wander around the Rosehill stable and cast an eye over his horses and stand and give the occasional pat.
“It’s an absolute pleasure to be part of his well oiled operation, “ Darren added.
One of Darren’s main jobs includes helping guide the younger riders through the ranks in the stable with lots of support and guidance. As a 7-time Sydney premiership winner and with a current record of 162 wins in the Sydney metropolitan area achieved in the 2006-2007 season, his role would be considered pivotal to the Waller operation.
NINE WALLER FUN FACTS
1 His first group one winner Triple Honour in the 2008 Doncaster came 21 days after J-Mac won his first group one at Te Aroha on Special Mission
2 He is now just 47 group one wins away from the 246 mark, jointly held by Bart Cummings and TJ ( Tommy) Smith
3 Winx gave him his 100th group one on the day she retired after winning the QE2 on Champions Day at Randwick in April, 2919
4 Winx won 25 group ones
5 Fan Girl registered group one number 150 in August 2023
6 There are 25 group one races on the Sydney calendar and he’s won them all and of course some of them multiple times
7 J-Mac has won 56 group ones for the Waller stable
8. From August 1 to the end of the spring carnival in mid November 2025 Waller runners grossed $39m which equates, at the 10 percent rate, a million dollar monthly payout.
9. During the spring carnivals in Melbourne and Sydney his horses won 10 races worth $1m or more.
IMPROVERS FROM ANZAC WEEKEND AT TE RAPA
OLD BILL BONE: He hit the line the quickest at Te Rapa and is clearly on target for another win. Maybe 1600m is the go. MAGICO: has won twice in just 6 starts and soft tracks aren’t an issue. The way he attacked the line at Te Rapa suggests he’s ready to improve on that 4th position. LOTUS: appeared on paper to be running out of its class in the Travis Stakes and to run third was huge. She was in good form this time last year and a repeat is on the cards.
STOP PRESS
FOR tomorrow only the tips for Te Rapa and Riccarton are FREE for Fortuna followers.
The race by race tips will be accompanied by the Best Bets ( 4 winners and 2 seconds from the last 7 meetings).
If you like what you see you’d be welcome to join the regular subscribers who receive these tips on every NZ race day.
Simply email dcoppins@xtra.co.nz and the compilation will arrive before 9am. This offer closes at 7.30am on Saturday.
Enjoy!
John says “We have a considerable number of our Fortuna clients who subscribe to Des’ tipping service and I hear from people all the time telling me stories about how Des’ tips have paid off for them – so this “free” offer is certainly worth taking a look at”
