Malborough Bay Mighty Tough

Extending his excellent course/distance record, Malborough Bay (6 g Darci Brahma – Spin ‘N Grin, by Spinning World) won the $35,000 Te Rapa Tavern Rating 75 1400 metres on Saturday at Te Rapa.

Winner of the corresponding event on 5 July, Malborough Bay had since finished second on the course in the Open Handicap 1300 metres on 26 July, and enhanced his course/distance victories to three, with five of his six wins recorded over 1400 metres.

Ridden by four-kilo claiming apprentice Jack Taplin, who reduced the weight to 59.5kg, Malborough Bay was advantaged on Heavy10 footing by drawing wide (10), which enabled him to remain away from the rail and after racing handy to the pace throughout, he kept giving in a close three-way finish.

Winning by a long head, Malborough Bay ran 1400 metres in 1:27.8 and returned $6.10 & $1.80 on the NZ TAB tote.

“It was another really good win today and particular credit to Michael Gray, our racing manager, who was adamant we should choose that race for the horse rather than the earlier race on the card that he was also accepted for,” said Mark Walker, training partner with Sam Bergerson. 

“It was great that the decision was the right one, and he was vindicated with the win. 

“I think the hurdle trials in June and July really smartened him up, just mentally did him the world of good, and his flat form has been very good ever since.

“It’s really good to see him continuing to win and race so well for John & Jessica Galvin (Fortuna Racing) and their crew of owners.”

From a family well known to Te Akau, Malborough Bay is owned by Fortuna Marlborough Bay Syndicate (Mgr: John Galvin).

“It was a great effort today by the horse,” Galvin said. “We had accepted for two races on the programme and yesterday the team was of the opinion that he would contest the Open Handicap 1600 metres, but reassessing things this morning, and taking into account some heavy rain here in Hamilton last night, they elected to run in the 1400-metre race instead.

“The important thing was that he managed to win, with another typically strong performance from the horse. You’d swear he was going to be beaten, but in the last 50 metres, as he always seems to do, he stuck his head out and was very determined to get to the line first.

“He seems to be very resolute, determined, and we asked the jockey after the race whether he thought he was going to win, and he said “no”. It wasn’t until the last 50m that the horse just found another gear and was able to prevail.

“Jack (Taplin) was very happy. He’s a fine young man, only 18 years old, but presents himself and communicates very well. He’s promising and won’t have his four-kilo claim for too long, I don’t think.”

A winner on debut and stakes' placed as a three-year-old in the Group 3 War Decree Stakes (1600m), Malborough Bay has continued to be well managed and trained, and now entering his fourth season of racing, he has matured into a hardy and robust galloper that appears to be at the peak of his powers. 

Te Akau principal David Ellis CNZM bought his dam, Spin ‘N Grin (Spinning World), for $65,000 at the 2003 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Yearling Sale. She was a very good filly trained by Mark Walker, winning the Group 2 Eight Carat Classic (1600m) at only her fourth start - she then finished third a week later in the Group 2 Royal Stakes (2000m), and was hugely unlucky when second at her seventh start in the Group 1 New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m).

Spin ‘N Grin has now left six individual winners of 23 races, including Group 1 and dual Group 3 placed Burgundy Belle (Burgundy), Group 1 and Group 3 placed Éclair Lightning (Darci Brahma), along with Major Tom (Darci Brahma) and Jack’s Secret (Sakhee’s Secret), who each won three races when trained by Mark Walker from Te Akau's Singapore stable.

“We’ve had a lot to do with the family, too,” Galvin added. 

“Burgundy Belle raced in the Fortuna colours and when Mark (Walker) was in Singapore we had Jack’s Secret and Major Tom, so it’s been a good family to us.”

Malborough Bay was strapped by Rhiannon Smith. 

Photo credit - Kenton Wright - www.raceimages.co.nz