Mr Fortrus and connections post-race
- The middle day of the Grand National Festival is run on the Polytrack as has been the case since 2022 when that track came into being. This has been a success with greater starter numbers and a bigger average field size for flat races. Also, given the recent history throughout New Zealand of abandonments in wet weather the question must be posed as to how realistic trying to run three turf track racedays in eights days in the middle of winter really is in this day and age.
- The John Blackadder trained MR FORTRUS was having his fourth start in the South Island and his third on the Riccarton Park Polytrack when competing in $75,000 Polytrack Championship over 1200 metres. He reversed the form of his previous sixth of nine on the turf at Oamaru to sit outside the pacemaker, lead on straightening and beat the fast-finishing TUMUCH and MOTIONTIME. Jasmin Fawcett rode the seven-year-old gelding who is part owned by Club Treasurer Phil Blacktopp and one-time national administrator Stu Taylor.
- The Club recognised retired hospitality maestro Marty Fuller with a race in his honour for 43 years of sponsorship support. John and Karen Parsons prepared ELEGAT EXPLOSIVE for Ashlee Strawbridge to steer home at the head of the field.
- Brian Noonan is a great supporter of the Club and racing generally and supports the Grand National Amateur Championship through his business Nautical Insurance. This race is a most popular highlight of the Grand National Racing Festival. Veteran amateur rider Scotty McNab has long wanted to win this race and finally got his reward riding LITTLE THIEF for his great friend, Wanganui trainer, Kevin Myers. LITTLE THIEF held out DEVIL IN DISGUISE who had huge local support being ridden by Lance Robinson’s stable rider Alyssa Parris who was having her first ride in a race.