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Hanrahan rates his runners at Ashburton today
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NZ Racing and Breeding News – 11 May 2025
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Stirring Hollindale victory for Antino
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Gamma, the point I was trying to make is that many punters nowadays just won’t bother punting into tight class racing with The Purdon’s dominating a 6 horse field. We will survive if we can keep the grass roots owners and trainers industry alive! The industry will not survive if we continue the way things are going at the moment. When HRNZ states that he believes that things are all positive on a recent interview, we know we are in deep trouble! Good punting. -
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By Chief Stipe · Posted
Te Akau trifecta in Australian Grand National loveracing.nzhttps://bitofayarn.com Leaderboard and Will Gordon on their way to winning the Grand National Steeplechase at Ballarat. (Image: Racing Photos) Te Akau trainer Mark Walker made history at Ballarat on Sunday with an unprecedented trifecta in the A$400,000 Ecycle Solutions Grand National Steeplechase (4500m). Walker saddled Leaderboard for a 25-length win in the showpiece steeplechase, with The Mighty Spar second and Prismatic third. It capped an enormously special Sunday for Walker and the Te Akau Racing team, who also took three runners to Taupo and came away with three winners – Carsolio, To Bravery Born and In Haste. Former Gr.3 Wellington Cup (3200m) and Listed New Zealand St Leger (2600m) winner Leaderboard settled in second spot on Sunday for jockey Will Gordon before taking command when topweight Stern Idol began to tire. Leaderboard and the favourite Noonday Gun seemed set to fight out a tight battle to the finish, but Noonday Gun fell at the final fence and left Leaderboard to cruise to a runaway win. “I can’t really believe it,” Gordon said. “I went out there without any pressure, just riding my race, riding the horse. 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.https://bitofayarn.com “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.” Leaderboard has now had 68 starts for 12 wins, 19 placings and A$861,388 in stakes. Five of his wins have come over jumps, including four steeplechases. “It was a great ride by Will 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. They’re got a dual purpose as well, these older horses, because they help out in the stables by educating the yearlings.” Leaderboard is raced by John Galvin’s Fortuna Leaderboard Syndicate. “The win would have to go down as one of the highlights we’ve had with Fortuna Racing,” Galvin said on Sunday. “The big thing I felt about today was redemption for Leaderboard, because he had that unfortunate fall in the Brierley Steeplechase (3450m), 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. 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 and 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.” -
The part where TAB agencies/agents that were operating from their own premises ,have closed the last few years and you just see betting machines in pubs. Probably similar in NZ , but a weekly or twice weekly trip to the TAB used to be fun to pick some with mates and you could punt at leisure . Now they just want everyone spending their money alone on-line , where they fumble and fail while on the drink or whatever. That's the one sad thing about the modern Business model. Pretty awful, but it works a lot of the time for them. people spend more that way. well they put Sunday racing on every week for those small time parties you mentioned ?? like Kurow today. Has been part of the NZ HRNZ business model for a LONG long time ? so what's the problem ? do you need Midweek as well or something ?? Kurow looked good today . But the Features go to the star players of Nathan Williamson and Stonewall. There's not much left for 'mug' players anymore. Attractive racing through the ceiling, esp the past 3 years. Even more features like the Velocity and the Ascent and the Betcha to add to an incredible year of racing , that HRNZ put on each year. Aussies have been in a huge amount of the Big time racing last 3 years , because it's that good. Many champions racing there past 3 years . I can think of at least 10 Top horses. .And you DESPARATELY need Mark Purdon and Barry Purdon and folk like that , to Keep you competitive mate. They are household names ?? and ARE Important to Punters . they provide the runners Capable of winning the Group 1's and keeping NZ harness on the map. as a force. and not a farce. 😅😉🤪 Mark has run 2nd in the last 4 NZ Cups (or something like that) since Self Assured won it . He's that good he came to Queensland and Won our feature QLD Derby recently, while near retired . on a strange track with strange drivers. Barry held both the Aussies out in the time honoured NZ FFA and Also won the Velocity showday , and Meant To Be won 4 Group 1 trots. a legend of the sport . But a dreaded North Islander .hahaha and you say they are irrelevant and Not important to Punters?? what ? I can't believe you say this stuff? A sport NZ has done so well at for decades . reduced to just need mug racing for mug punters ? You had that today and nearly Every Sunday already ? so can't complain . Luckily I had no Sunday race-day in my time . thank the Lucky stars. No Wonder Waller went to Sydney to be a Big time Gallops trainer. lol.😎🎉 probably irrelevant in NZ lol.🤣 Barry had 2 Red hot favourites the Punters got stuck into last Friday night , because he is THAT good . and Important. Alas they both ran 2nd (we'll just Blame Scott for that 😆, or Zac 🤣) but mainly the NI opposition is just so Good as well, that a world champion of decades in Barry Purdon found it hard to win. Not irrelevant though. Hey and Mark had a drive and bought home the Bacon ok. To make up for it. But lets throw him under the Brodie Bus as well because he can't Punt on him, and so is Not Important. odds are too small. or some shit like that. Lets just look after the Grass Roots/track horse class that win a race a season and Punters lose heaps on trying to chase odds.😋 Punters would of Loved seeing ANDRETTI paying $2 with the Grand Master on mate. So It's All good . I thought it was pretty Dandy anyway. Nothing better than Mark in a 6 horse field while he has 2 of the runners. Money for Jam. 💰 -
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