Te Akau Dominates Grand National Steeplechase

Capping a fabulous day for Te Akau Racing, A$400,000 Ecycle Solutions Grand National Steeplechase (4500m) winner Leaderboard (11 g Street Cry – Flower Fairy, by Dynaformer) and stable-mates The Mighty Spar (Savabeel) and Prismatic (Savabeel), alongside trainer Mark Walker, made history when becoming the first to ever trifecta the prestigious race.

After the same trio recorded six wins (two wins apiece), and four seconds, from 13 starts over fences last season, Walker again had them in terrific form this year, and to saddle a trifecta in the Grand National Steeplechase (4500m) is one of many highlights for the 12-time Champion Trainer, who ticked over 2000 career wins in 2024. 

Earlier in the day, Walker and training partner Sam Bergerson, took three to race at Taupo, which resulted in Carsolio (Bivouac), To Bravery Born (Snitzel), and In Haste (Snitzel), all winning - a 100% strike rate.

Last season, Leaderboard, the former Group 3 Wellington Cup (3200m) and Listed St Leger (2600m) winner, followed his jumps' wins by finishing third in the Thackeray Steeplechase (3450m), third in the Grand National Hurdle (4200m), and second in the Grand National Steeplechase (4500m). 

While a week prior to the final jumps' race of the season, Leaderboard chased well to finish second in the Great Western Steeplechase (3600m) at Coleraine and, given his record of first and second from two course attempts at Ballarat (Victoria), and the services of Will Gordon, Walker was happy with his main charge.

“Leaderboard, I’m really happy with him and he came through his good second in the Great Western Steeplechase (3600m) really well,” said Walker, leading up to the race.

“He gets into this race nicely at the weights (65kg). Obviously, Stern Idol is the one to beat and also Noonday Gun is a very promising jumper but the name of the game is to run out the 4500 metres strongly and with the weight we’ve got and the jockey (Will Gordon) we’ve got in the saddle, that gives him the best opportunity of doing that.”

After camping in second throughout, behind Stern Idol, Leaderboard did everything right, capitalising on Stern Idol not seeing out the trip, and Noonday Gun falling at the last fence, before going on to win comfortably.

“I can’t really believe it,” said Gordon, on dismounting. 

“I went out there without any pressure, just riding my race, riding the horse, and going down the back the last time I thought, I’ve still got a bit of horse here and might be in the finish.

“He’s a legend of a horse. Everyone that rides him, or has anything to do with him, just loves and adores him. 

“There will be a line out the door that want this horse at the end of his racing career. He’s such a gentleman, such a dude to do anything with, a great jumper, and what you saw today was no better of example of that.

“There are no chinks in his armour. He jumps, travels, and I was happy where we were in the run to be tracking Stern Idol. We got easy enough sectionals behind him and I thought he would be vulnerable late.

“We were able to sit on his tail, conserve energy, and like I said, his jumping was great. He did the rest.

“For me, the win is right up there. This is one that has been missing off my mantelpiece and to tick this one off, they’re hard races to win, and only come up once a year.”

From fourth in running, The Mighty Spar kept finding the line for second, under jockey William McCarthy, and Prismatic finished well down the outside, from last, to grab third for jockey Jordan Hart. 

“It was a great ride of Will’s (Gordon) and it’s great to see all three horses come back safe,” Walker said.

“The girls that strap them, Hayley (Morton) with the winner, Emma (Wilson) with The Mighty Spar, and Lisa (Strike) with Prismatic. They just love these horses and they have a dual purpose as well, these older horses, because they help out in the stables by educating the yearlings.”

Owned by the Fortuna Leaderboard Syndicate (Mgr: John Galvin), he was purchased in October 2018 at the Tattersalls Sale in U.K., and his 12 wins have yielded nearly $950,000 in earnings.

Leaderboard has now won five jumping races, including four steeplechases.

“The win would have to go down as one of the highlights we’ve had with Fortuna Racing,” said Galvin, who also had 14-time Group One winner and dual NZ Horse of the Year Melody Belle (Commands) in the stable.

“The big thing I felt about today was redemption for Leaderboard, because he had that unfortunate fall in the Brierley Steeplechase, back in April, but he’d run three very good races since then for seconds.

“He’d been beaten by Stern Idol in two of those, and today he was able to come out and beat not only Stern Idol, but also the up-and-comer Noonday Gun. 

“It was a huge thrill. The whole race, he was right there and you got the feeling he was always going to be in contention, provided firstly, he could run past Stern Idol, and secondly, he was able to fend off the grey horse (Noonday Gun).

“We had two of his owners with us, Shane and Colleen Ivory, and they were here last year, as well, when he ran second. So, it was great for them to be here today and see him win.

“It’s an unbelievable training feat by Mark (Walker) to get the trifecta, the first time it’s ever been done in the race. 

“While having plenty of international experience, Mark is a relatively new trainer to the Australian racing circuit, and he’s managed to have his three runners fill the first three placings in the most prestigious jumps' race in Australia.

“It’s a great effort and for him, specifically, with Leaderboard. He just loves the horse to bits and has nurtured him over the last few years to create an outstanding jumps career.”

Leaderboard was strapped by Haylie Morton.