Marlborough Bay Marvellous

From a family well known to Te Akau, Malborough Bay (5 g Darci Brahma – Spin ‘N Grin, by Spinning World) won the $35,000 John F Grylls Memorial Classic Rating 75 1400 metres on Saturday at Te Rapa.

Recording his fifth win, Malborough Bay had done very well after racing on pace for a close second in the corresponding event on 14 June at Te Rapa and, facing a similar field, he was rightfully well supported in the betting market to start second favourite.

Ridden again by Te Akau apprentice Hayley Hassman (a3), Malborough Bay secured cover in a bunched field, pushed through between runners turning for home, and fought hardest in a three-way tussle to beat Lotus (Time Test) and Charmer (Charm Spirit).

“He was amazing, he slid right through them on the bend when they opened up and he fought to the line so hard,” Hassman said.

“It’s great to win a race for Fortuna Racing, they’re a great supporter of Te Akau’s and a good supporter of me, too.”

On Heavy10 footing, managed particularly well by the Te Rapa Track Team following 100mls of rain in the preceding week, Malborough Bay ran 1400 metres in 1:31.0, last 600m in 38.7, and paid $5.90 & $1.90 on the NZ TAB tote.

“It was a tough effort and great to see him back in the winner’s circle,” said Mark Walker, training partner with Sam Bergerson.

“It was a nice ride of Hayley’s. She’s riding in great form and with a lot of maturity considering she’s only been a jockey for a short time.

“He will be at the hurdle trials on Monday at Cambridge, and I think all the schooling and added fitness from his first hurdle trial is what won him the race.”

Bred by Aquitaine Bloodstock and Glenn & Catherine Holmes, Malborough Bay is owned by Fortuna Racing Syndications (Mgr: John Galvin).

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, and a very good filly trained by Mark Walker she won the Group Two Eight Carat Classic (1600m) at only her fourth start, finished third a week later in the Group Two Royal Stakes (2000m), and unlucky when second at her seventh start in the Group One New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m).

Spin ‘N Grin has now left six individual winners of 22 races, including Group One and dual Group Three placed Burgundy Belle (Burgundy Belle), Group One and Group Three placed Éclair Lightning (Darci Brahma), along with additional Fortuna Racing owned horses 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.

On behalf of the owners, Galvin received a trophy from Gary Grylls, former jockey and son of John Grylls, and father of premiership leading jockey Craig Grylls.

“With respect to the sponsorship, when I was a boy growing up John Grylls was one of the leading jockeys in New Zealand, of course, his son Gary took over that mantle, and we’ve got young Craig by far the leading rider in New Zealand this year,” Galvin said.

“It’s great of the Grylls' family to sponsor the race and when I saw the name in the racebook it brought back a lot of memories and it’s an honour to be able to win it.

“Malborough Bay is a horse that always runs a nice race, he was beaten a nose here last time, and although a bit worse off at the weights today, he managed to draw on his reserves for a really tough win.

“It was a great ride by Hayley Hassman, who is riding in super form, and a top effort by the training team, Mark (Walker), Sam (Bergerson), and new assistant trainer Reece Trumper.

“We have a few of the ownership team here, so well done to them. Malborough Bay doesn’t win out of turn, but had been knocking on the door and deserved another win.

“We’ve had a lot to do with the family. 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 has also shown some ability over jumps, has had a jumping trial already, and having another one next Monday. We’ll have to see where that ends up, but he certainly has a future as a jumper.”

Te Akau racing manager Michael Gray, added: “Often getting over the sticks can spark them up.

“He just fell short in a close finish here last start and it was really good to see Hayley push him out like that in the finish.  Hayley is getting plenty of chances and she’s improving lots from week to week.”

Malborough Bay was strapped by Rhiannon Smith.

Fun fact: winning on this occasion in July completed a sequence for Marlborough Bay, whose five wins have been recorded in April, May, June, July, and August. 

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