Leaderboard Leads the Way

The second of two wins at Riccarton on Saturday came courtesy of the European import Leaderboard ...

Confidently ridden by Troy Harris, international recruit Leaderboard(5 g Street Cry - Flower Fairy, by Dynaformer) appreciated the wide expanses to win the $22,500 Pryde's Easifeed Rating 65 1600 metres on Saturday at Riccarton. 

Patience is a Harris trademark - his father Noel had it down pat - and the ride by Troy exemplified the skill. Away well but content to steady off a competitive pace, Harris had Leaderboard travelling beautifully in 10^thbefore tracking up with a lapful of horse into the straight and the outcome looked probable after being presented widest at the 200m. 

Winning at his second start in New Zealand, Leaderboard ($4.30 & $1.90) had clocked the fastest last 600m (36.1), coming from last to finish fourth, when resuming in the Rating 65 1300 metres on 20 September at Taupo, and appeared a strong chance of getting into the finish.

“I like this horse and it was nice run,” said trainer Jamie Richards, not long before saddling Te Akau Shark (Rip Van Winkle) in the Cox Plate (Gr. 1, 2040m). “He's shown us plenty since he arrived, and a horse that John Galvin bought from Europe.

“He's a lovely, big, athletic horse, with a good attitude and we sent him down (South Island) looking for better ground. We'll pick out another race during the carnival, either a Rating 72 1600m or 2000m, and it looks like there's plenty more wins in front of him.”

Owned by the Fortuna Leaderboard Syndicate (Mgr: John Galvin), he was purchased last October at a Tattersalls sale in the U.K., soon after winning over 2400 metres in Ireland, and, by the sire of Winx, he looks an ideal staying prospect to work through the grades.

Soon after accepting the accolades, Galvin said: “It's a room (winner's circle) I've been in a few times here in the past. There are around 60 owners in the group and we had about 15 on course. Most were from Christchurch, but also Ian and Christine Price from New Plymouth. He's their first horse and a winner at his second start.

“Troy (Harris) said the horse does nothing in the early run and the further he goes the better he will be. He had a few traffic problems but once he came off heels it never looked in doubt, really. 

“We think he's a serious racehorse and Jamie has been thrilled with him. While today wasn't a huge test, it was still a test and he's done it. So, well done to everyone involved.

“After David Ellis recommended him to me, I asked (bloodstock agent) Hubie de Burgh to find a European bred stayer that had a typical pedigree and the type that could turn into a cups horse down here (New Zealand). So, he went to last year's Tattersalls Horses in Training Sale and picked him out. We had a budget of 70 to 80,000 Guineas and we got him for the budget. 

“He had a slight setback in the autumn, which was probably a blessing in disguise, because in that time he's filled out, matured, and developed. 

“He's got a turn of foot and I think Jamie likes that and also that he bounces out of his box each morning and gets straight into his work. He's a sound horse and although a five-year-old he's really only four to Northern Hemisphere time because he was born in May 2015. 

“Paul (Richards) has been really happy with him down here and said his work on Tuesday was super.”

Leaderboard was strapped by Lydia Truesdale.

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