Te Akau Winning Treble - Win No.3 Leaderboard

A never say die ride by Joe Kamaruddin won out in the last race on Saturday at Te Rapa, when Leaderboard (6 g Street Cry - Flower Fairy, by Dynaformer) won the $27,500 Mainline Cambridge Rating 74 2400 metres.

Seizing the initiative from an awkward barrier (11) to cross one off in 10^that the post with a lap to run, Kamaruddin appeared under the pump aboard Leaderboard at the 600m. But as the leaders tired off a competitive pace, the pair set to work and finished off strongly to win going away at the line.

“I started to get him going at the 700m,” said the Te Akau apprentice, who recorded two wins on the programme. “He travelled nice but was a bit lazy and I had to get him going. Then he kicked on and kept kicking on.”

On footing that remained Dead6 throughout the day, Leaderboard ran the 2400 metres in 2:34.2 and paid $4.70 & $2.00 on the TAB tote.

Part of the record-breaking season for Te Akau, Leaderboard had capped good form winning the Rating 74 2000 metres on 16 April at Matamata, equalling the all-time record (143) for trainer Jamie Richards in the process. He remained in the same grade and received weight relief to 58.5kg.

Owned by the Fortuna Leaderboard Syndicate (Mgr: John Galvin), Leaderboard was purchased in October 2018 at the Tattersalls Sale in the U.K., soon after winning over 2400 metres in Ireland, and by the same sire as Winx.

“It's a fantastic result for us, today, and it's a big syndicate of people from all over New Zealand,” Galvin said.

“We bought him at a Tattersalls sale to be a stayer. He put his name in lights early, finishing second on debut at Taupo, and winning twice at Riccarton, but fell in a hole with his form after that. Probably firm tracks and racing right-handed, but we've worked that out and I have to pay tribute to Jamie (Richards) for being patient.

“We had some blood issues with him in the spring, as well, but he is set alight again in this campaign. He ran well in two starts over 1600 metres, while looking for more ground, and he's won two in row stepped up in distance.

“What are we going to do now? Needing left-handed tracks, there are a couple of nice two-mile (3200m) races next season. The New Zealand Cup in November at Riccarton, and the Wellington Cup in January at Trentham, so big targets but I think that we've got a horse that's on the way up.

“He's a dogged type of horse, without a huge sprint but he grinds away and that's what you want to see from a stayer.”

Trainer Jamie Richards said: “Credit to everyone at the Colt Barn, Scott (Lucock), Mette (Mosebo) and all the boys that ride them in their work: Roushan (Khan), Parmar (Niranjan), and Sumeet (Pillay), with three winners today.”

Leaderboard was strapped by Trevor Stewart.

Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz