5 Matamata Wins - Magic Debut Marlborough Bay

From a family that Te Akau has great affinity with, Malborough Bay (2 g Darci Brahma - Spin ‘N Grin, by Spinning World) debuted with victory in the $12,000 Matamata Veterinary Services Maiden 2YO 1200 metres on 13 May at Matamata.

“Mark Walker trained the dam Spin ‘n Grin and she was very good,” said Te Akau principal David Ellis CNZM, who bought her for $65,000 at the 2003 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Yearling Sale and has since bred progeny from the mare.

“She won the Eight Carat Classic (Gr. 2, 1600m) at only her fourth start, finished third a week later in the Royal Stakes (Gr. 2, 2000m), and she was an unlucky second at her seventh start, in the New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders' Stakes (Gr. 1, 1600m).

“Karyn (Fenton-Ellis MNZM) and I together with Glenn & Cathie Holmes bred Malborough Bay and he's another good winner for Fortuna Racing (Mgr: John Galvin) and his owners.”

At the trials on 19 April at Taupo, Malborough Bay produced a well timed finish to win, and negated an awkward draw (9) to frank the feat.

Ridden by Lisa Allpress, Malborough Bay was posted three wide in third, drew to a narrow advantage 200m out and exuded plenty of tenacity to score by a long neck.

“I was really happy with him,” Allpress said. “He jumped relatively well and even though I was three deep with no cover I just felt he was more comfortable in that part of the track.

“He cornered really well, came into it nicely and was strong to the line, so it was just a really nice effort.”

On Soft5 footing, Malborough Bay ran 1200 metres in 1:11.6, last 600m in 36.1, and returned $8.10 & $2.70 on NZ TAB tote.

“It was a tough effort because he had to race three wide,” said trainer Mark Walker, after saddling the 15^thindividual two-year-old winner for the stable this season.

“Spin ‘N Grin was a really good filly who achieved a lot early in her career and she has always been a great mare.”

Fortuna Racing also had the pleasure of racing Group 1 placed three-quarter sister Burgundy Belle (Burgundy), winner of four races, who is now in foal to exciting young sire Extreme Choice (Not A Single Doubt), while Spin ‘N Grin has now left six individual winners of 18 races, including Group 1 and Group 3 placed Éclair Lightning (Darci Brahma).

“We've had great relationship with the progeny of Spin ‘N Grin,” Galvin said. “Burgundy Belle had a wonderful career and we sold her last year as a broodmare, and a couple of others we had with Mark in Singapore.

“David and Karyn bred him, and like Burgundy Belle I had a bit of a struggle getting David to sell this horse to me, but in the end we did a private deal and bought him for $80,000.

“He's always shown a bit, he trialled nicely last spring and won his recent trial. He's more of a three-year-old type and credit to Mark (Walker) because he was going to trial again but he suggested having a throw at the stumps and send him to the races instead.

“Being able to knock a win out as a two-year-old makes the start of his three-year-old season that much easier and hopefully he might develop into a Guineas' type.”

Malborough Bay was strapped by Reece Trumper.

Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz