Matamata Double - Marlborough Bay Bounces Home

Presented in first-class order and from a family that Te Akau has great affinity with, Malborough Bay (4 g Darci Brahma – Spin ‘N Grin, by Spinning World) was a dominant winner of the $18,500 Wrightway Builders Rating 65 1400 metres on 27 August at Matamata. 

He did well off a wide trip for fifth in the Rating 65 1300 metres on 29 July at Te Rapa, won by stable-mate Hero Worship (Xtravagant), and brought compelling stats to the race.

Solid in each of four recent starts, stakes' placed, Marlborough Bay was a debut winner at his only course attempt, and with the advantage of weight relief to 56.5kg, it added up to see him pose a top three chance.

In the hands of Te Akau apprentice Niranjan Parmar (a2), who had just won the previous race, Malborough Bay was posted three wide in the open before being sent to a handy advantage rounding the home turn and he sustained a powerful finish to win stylishly.

“He loved the ground today and has improved a lot,” Parmar said. “He was three wide, but happy there and finished really well.”

Scoring by two and a half lengths, Malborough Bay ran 1400 metres in 1:25.4, last 600m in 36.0, on Soft6 footing and paid $3.20 & $1.60 on the NZ TAB tote.

“It was a really good win and he’s now two from two on the home course,” said co-trainer Mark Walker. 

“He was suited perfectly by track conditions, a Soft6 with just the right amount of jar out of it, and Parmar is riding in great form.”

Bred by Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM and Glenn & Catherine Holmes, who experienced success during the week with stable-mate Sorcha (Burgundy), Malborough Bay is owned by Fortuna Racing Syndications (Mgr: John Galvin), notching their second recent win following Navalha (Sebring) three days earlier. 

“Matamata has been a happy hunting ground for us and I can remember back to when Mark (Walker) trained Darci Brahma to win a two-year-old race here, before Mark headed to Singapore, where he trained a lot more winners for Fortuna, and that is still continuing,” Galvin said.

“Mark had varied his work, putting him over a few hurdles, and he was certainly very dominant in his win.  While his action on firm tracks can be found wanting, if you like, his action with the right amount of give in the ground was very good today.”

Te Akau principal David Ellis CNZM purchased dam Spin ‘N Grin for $65,000 at the 2003 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Yearling Sale, and trained by Mark Walker she won the Eight Carat Classic (Gr. 2, 1600m) at just her fourth start. She then finished third a week later in the Royal Stakes (Gr. 2, 2000m), and was an unlucky second at her seventh start in the New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (Gr. 1, 1600m).

A broodmare success, Spin ‘N Grin mated well with Burgundy (Redoute’s Choice), whom Ellis purchased as a yearling and who won win five stakes' races. She produced Te Akau homebred filly Burgundy Belle and, owned by Fortuna Racing, she won four races, was Group One placed, and was twice Listed placed.

Spin ‘N Grin has now left six individual winners of 19 races, including 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) whom, trained by Te Akau in Singapore, each won three races. 

“When Malborough Bay was a yearling here on the farm, I rang John (Galvin) and said I’ve got another really nice yearling for you to syndicate, as he’d already had plenty of success with the family, and Marlborough Bay’s furnishing into a really nice horse now.

“We’re coming in off the back of a record-breaking 2022/23 season and have had a very seamless start this season with nine wins so far in the first month, and we congratulate everyone looking after the horses here at the farm and the stables in Matamata. 

“It’s been a very tough winter, but already the horses are starting to really brighten in their coats and with Spring just around the corner we’re looking forward to the racing ahead.”

Malborough Bay was strapped by Cooper Stumbles. 

Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz