It was certainly a big thrill for me personally to open the New Zealand Herald on Monday morning to see that my long time business associate and very good friend, David Ellis, had been awarded a Knight Companion in the Kings birthday honours list. I have known David since 2002, he bought his first horse for me, Kapsdan, as a private stable client in 2003 and she went on to be a Stakes winner (Wakefield Challenge Stakes) as a two year-old – in the following year, I took shares in Darci Brahma, also a horse that David had selected at the Karaka sales and ever since 2007, when I established Fortuna Limited as an Authorised Syndicator, David and I have worked together buying yearlings, ready to run horses and tried horses at various sales. Over that time I have observed David and his outstanding wife, Karyn, now Lady Karyn of course, steadily build Te Akau Racing from what was an “up and comer” in those days, to the international powerhouse that it is now – and talking of Lady Karyn, it is worthwhile noting that previously, as an individual in her own right, she had been awarded the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM) for services to the community, the art and racing – well done Sir David and Lady Karyn and I am sure that all of our syndicate members and other readers of the Friday Flash will join with me in offering sincerest congratulations on a very well-deserved award.
It is a well-known in fact among participants in the racing industry, be that owners, trainers, jockeys, syndicate members or punters that you are bound to leave the racecourse on any given day more often “deflated” rather than “elated”, which is why when the winners come we all get so excited. In other words bad luck is just part and parcel of the package and one’s shoulders need to be broad enough to cope with disappointment.
However the experience I had in Victoria last week really takes the cake – as a bit of background Fortuna was having two runners go to the races, one on Friday night at Pakenham, that being the two-year-old Gelding, Opunake and the following day at Caulfield we were seeing the multiple Stakes winner, Bellatrix Star, also resuming after a long layoff. I had traveled to Victoria to attend both meetings and just as I was arriving at Pakenham, I had a phone call from Mark Walker to say that Opunake was being late scratched due to a colic attack – I was able to go straight to the stables and have a look at him and while he was up on his feet by that point after being treated, it was clear that he wasn’t very well. However, after half an hour or so, he was declared fit enough by the vet to be able to travel back to Cranbourne
So taking that one on the chin, I, along with a couple of other syndicate members were all set to watch Bellatrix Star race at Caulfield on the Saturday and, unbelievably the Racing Victoria Vet, when conducting a pre-race check on her, detected that she was suffering from equine arrhythmia, this a form of heart fibrillation and accordingly she needed to be late scratched also.
As I say, just unbelievable that these two events could happen on two consecutive days to two of our horses, who are, incidentally, half brother/half sister – anyway the good news is that both horses recovered very quickly – with Opunake, after travelling back to Cranbourne, he had his head in the feed bin straight away and trotted up perfectly sound the following morning, was able to resume normal work and is now set to make his debut at Mornington on Monday.
With Bellatrix Star, by the following morning, her heart rhythm was back to normal and she was eating normally. She does have to go through some Racing Victoria protocols before being cleared to race again, however the first of those protocols, which was a blood test, showed no abnormalities, the second protocol is an ECG and once the results of that are in and provided they are satisfactory, which we think they will be, then she will be cleared to race and there is a nice race for her back at Caulfield on the 11th of July
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Guest Commentator – Des Coppins
Greetings John and Fortuna followers
I’m sure John you will elaborate on David Ellis CNZM knighthood appointment from the Kings Birthday Honours List. Your involvement with your very first horse with Te Akau, the Group Two Stakes winner, Kapsdan and then the outstanding Darci Brahma in the early 2000’s primarily initiated your strong connection with David who has invariably assisted you in the purchasing of yearlings since your setting up of the successful Fortuna syndication business.
I’ve personally known David for perhaps 40 years, around the time he won his first group one with Cosmetique in the Easter Handicap at Ellerslie. He has certainly been a major contributor to NZ racing in many ways and we often say how much his immense buying prowess at the NZ Bloodstock’s various sales has meant to the industry.
I’m sure David sees this high ranking as an acknowledgment to not only himself and the team around him at Te Akau but for the NZ racing industry overall.
CRAZY REASONS FOR RACE ABANDONMENTS
On Kings Birthday Monday the Te Aroha meeting had to be called off at the half way mark because of strong winds.
These winds blew over the running rails down the straight and just past the winning post and try as they did the casual staff couldn’t reposition them as they kept blowing over. While the pin was pulled it was good to see the balance of the programme given the green light on Thursday and breezing on through without further dramas.
I’ve put the thinking cap on and delved into the historical files to see whether or not we’ve been faced with other aborted meetings over the years either here or overseas for various crazy reasons. Allow me to share 10 other race days that fell into such circumstances.
1 Kumara’s annual gold nuggets meeting in 2020 had to move to nearby Greymouth because allegedly stray pigs “rooted” the back straight. .
2 in 2013 a 6-metre deep sewerage sink hole unexpectedly opened up on Ellerslie during a race. A horse named Buckles, in the hands of Rogan Norvall, stumbled into the cavity. Thankfully they escaped with only superficial injuries. Engineers discovered the incident was caused by the ancient timber cap of the 1940’s. Over time it rotted which ultimately allowed the ground on the surface to give way.
3 An extreme windstorm tore parts of the grand stand roof off at the Gore meeting a year ago. Scattered debris fell at the near by tie up stalls which contributed to the forced abandonment.
4 Riders collectively voted to abandon a meeting at Sandown, Victoria two years ago when high speed wins swept through the course causing dust storms making it impossible to guide the horses safely.
5 In a historic and tragic incident, suffragette Emily Davison ducked under the running rail during the running of the Epsom Derby on 4th June 1913 and was struck by King George V’s horse, Anmer, at Tattenham Corner and she was killed instantly. Horse and rider, Herbert Jones were uninjurede
6 The race day at Pukekohe two years ago was abandoned because the truck transporting the starting gates broke down.
7 The NZ Cup day at Riccarton was halted mid meeting when a freak hailstorm and torrential rain blanketed the track in ice. The meeting was delayed but resumed 40 minutes or so later.
8 A massive flock of seagulls stopped a race meet at Sandown. A huge swarm of the birds suddenly descended onto the home straight in the autumn of 2005. They flew directly into the faces of the jockeys and horses competing and such was the force some of the runners were pushed sideways. Several jockeys were injured in the chaos and required medical attention. The meeting was subsequently abandoned.
9 In the 1961 NZ Trotting Free for All on Show Day a fire broke out in the stand and despite the flames flying high the race continued and was won by the incomparable Cardigan Bay, the first pacer in the world to win $1million.
10 A large venomous snake camped near the finishing line at the Northam greyhounds at a meeting in 2018. It refused to move. Stewards abandoned the meeting in the interest of safety.
I reckon if I thought hard enough I’d come up with a few more!
WAYNE ANDREWS – A TRUE PIONEER IN RACING RADIO
Do you often think of how and when you got into the job that you may have held for much of your working life? I recollected how my racing career evolved following the passing this week of former sports and racing broadcaster, Wayne Andrews.
Since leaving the bank not long after the 10th July decimal currency change over in 1967 I joined the print media through Jack Petley who hinted to me as a bank teller in Queen St that a job at Best Bets in nearby Symonds Street office was up for grabs. For the record I almost immediately sought an interview with Barry Street, the Editor of both the Best Bets and Racetrack. Surprisingly I got the job.
When Racetrack circulation began to limp the powers that be decided to incorporate the tabloid into the Friday Flash. I moved to Wellington in December 1971 to be part of the editorial team which also produced the Turf Digest.
In the mid 70’s I met Wayne Andrews who was working as an all rounder in sport in broadcasting as mainly the front person for golf and cricket but he had a real passion for racing and started the first network racing radio show, Turf Talk with the Keeper of the Stud Book, Glyn Tucker.
Wayne encouraged me to join in the Friday night chat from time to time and I have no doubt that the 40 years I was in broadcasting whether it was tv or radio, it’s people like Wayne and the late Philip Leishman I owe a lot to.
If you are as old as me you’ll remember the challenges punters had when Radio NZ decides to phase out racing commentaries. It was people like Wayne that pitched hard to his bosses to keep those memorable race callers like Syd Tonks, Peter Kelly, Reg Clapp and Dave Clarkson on the airwaves. The timeline was before Radio Pacific arrived and while these broadcasts gradually faded Wayne fought hard for their existence.
Wayne moved to Sydney in the early 80’s and became a multi franchisee of McDonalds. He had 4 outlets. He never lost the passion for racing , however, and became a volunteer treasurer and committeeman for the Hawkesbury Jockey Club. He also held an owner trainers license and built a track on his farmlet and rode most of the horses himself in light work and trained several winners.
When his marriage dissolved about 20 years ago he soon returned to NZ , caught up with a teenage sweetheart, Andrea, and based himself in retirement in Auckland. He never lost the love of a punt – and a good one – but his health began to fade in the last couple of years when diagonised with Lewy Body dementia.
Gone, but for me personally not forgotten. RIP Wayne.
KINGS BIRTHDAY IMPROVERS
TESTWIN: the Hastings visitor was game in defeat at Te Rapa in the last to just miss third. The track may have been firmer than he wants as his three wins have all been on soft or heavy ground. He can be followed with confidence and won’t lack opportunities on preferred winter footing.
THE DARZI: at only his second start he rattled into second after jumping from an awkward draw in the maiden 1600m at Te Rapa. He will be winning at any tick of the clock.
WILL: I think the wide draw cost him the win. He got back but ran to the line solidly in the maiden 1340 at Wanganui. He’s a good looking type with tons of ability and he will win his share.
Good punting!
Des Coppins
021 448 052
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