Headline News

Fortuna stats for the new NZ season to date are looking good @ 5 wins from 13 starts = Strike Rate of 2.6!!!

And isn’t it great to see Stakes of $65k minimum on Tarzino Day at Hastings tomorrow

Fortuna secures a strong Staying type for Australian Racing – ZEDWILLDO – shares available now
 
2yo  Filly Bellatrix Star wins on debut at Whanganui 2^nd September
 
5yo Dancarina records her 3^rd career win Avondale 6^th September
 
Auckland Thoroughbred Racing announces a $3m Stakes “top up” over and above standard NZTR prizemonies
 

One Fortuna Runners this weekend – at Waverley on Sunday 10^th
 
KHAFEEF tackles the R65 2200m event – Race 8 @ 4.30pm – Mereana Hudson to ride. Back to the flat after a last start Hurdles event at Riccarton. Is very capable on his day, but can be a very difficult ride for his jockeys – if he settles he can feature

Matamata Trackwork

No timed Fortuna Trackwork this week

Singapore Trackwork

Saturday 2^nd September

PRINCE LONHRO (AWAH) 600-40; GUN (ASLAM)600-40; ELLIOT NESS(ASLAM)1000/600-38;KNIPPENBERG(ASLAM)1000/600-37; ENTERTAINER (ASLAM)1000/600-38;

Tuesday 5^th September

GUN (AWAH)600-41; PRINCE LONHRO (JAMIL)600-41

Fortuna secures a strong Staying type for Australian Racing – ZEDWILLDO – shares available now – 45% committed already – a “Cups” type stayer in the making

Here is a wonderful opportunity to get involved with a classy Stayer who will do his future racing in Victoria – the 5yo ZEDWILLDO (Zed – Katie Spice by Mastercraftsman) – will race out of Mark Walker’s Cranbourne base – stablename is “DEZ”

• Acquired here in NZ, he will head to Victoria late September/early October and make his Australian debut mid October
• Has only had one trial in his career – this a winning one at Avondale in August – Click HERE to see that trial (purple silks, green sleeves)
• Has only has one raceday start (for his previous owner) – at Matamata 27th August running a fast finishing 5th over 1400m  after being checked in the run and held up on the turn – Click HERE to see that race video replay
• Inspected by Mark and John at Cambridge 31st August – click HERE to see that parade clip
• Vetted by Dr Ronan Costello 1st September – passed with colours flying – Click HERE to read the Vet report
• Paid for on Monday 4th and transported to Te Akau Stables Matamata – click HERE to see him parading Monday afternoon with voiceover from Mark – as you will hear Mark just loves him
• Presents as a genuine “Cups” staying type – with a deep NZ staying pedigree, has size and the scope and remarkably, as a 5yo now, has only had one trial and one race, so plenty of “miles in the legs” yet
• NZ$1800 per each 1% share and NZ$50 per month from 1 November

As you know we love our stayers and have had quite a bit of success with the ones we have bought to date – they are not easy to buy as it is impractical to try and buy a yearling to develop into a stayer, particularly for a “boutique” syndicator like Fortuna which does not buy large numbers.

But we are always on the lookout and a few months ago, realising that our traditional path of buying tried stayers out of the UK was becoming more difficult – this because of the “deep pocketed” Australian syndication companies and “headline” Trainers and more recently, with the huge prizemoney increases in the Arabian racing jurisdictions, from Arab based entities – we decided to focus more on “homegrown” opportunities – after all, NZ still has some of the best staying bloodlines in world racing, but with so many of our promising staying types getting sold to Aus and Hong Kong, they are not gracing the race tracks here.

I put out feelers to a couple of Bloodstock Agents that I have got to know fairly well with a brief to find me a nice “tried” staying type that was lightly raced, that had plenty of upside and that had shown enough to suggest they would be good enough to compete in Australia. I had inspected a couple of such types over recent weeks and turned them down (this in conjunction with Mark Walker) and then out of the blue, about a week ago, I had one brought to my attention and boy, is he a beauty who ticks just so many boxes.

His name is ZEDWILLDO and he was acquired by the party we bought him from (Diane Kennedy) off Gavelhouse as a yearling – Diane is a superb horsewoman who gave him plenty of time to develop and mature before getting a saddle on his back, hence why he is so lightly raced. Mark and I were a bit cautious to start with, given him being a 5yo (note that he is a November foal though, so still yet to turn 5) but on reviewing his trial and his raceday start, we warmed to him and then we inspected him last Thursday, we were blown away. He is a very athletic gelding with size and scope, was fabulous in the coat and had a beautiful, loose-moving walk. He was vetted on Friday passing with flying colours – so we secured the purchase and on Monday 4th he traveled to Matamata from Cambridge where Mark will work him for about three weeks, get to know him a bit and then he will be on a plane to Victoria to go to Te Akau’s new stables at Cranbourne and will make his Aus debut soon after arrival

Ben Gleeson, Mark’s assistant trainer, who is now based at Cranbourne has seen the trials and race footage and also the parade footage – Ben was formerly Danny O’Brien’s assistant trainer and of course, they won the Melbourne Cup with Vow and Declare in 2019. so Ben knows quite a bit about what sort of horse can be successful in Victoria and he was also very taken with the footage.

As stated already, he will go straight to Victoria – still a Maiden, we may as well be racing for an A$40k Maiden over there rather than a NZ$18k one here. Kozzi Asano rode him in his trial and race and, as always, we seek riders’ opinions on the horses we are considering – he says “John and Mark, Zedwilldo is a real genuine staying type – he is still untapped in my opinion but has a lovely relaxed action and will stay all day”

PHYSICAL TYPE 

Stands at 16.1 hands high and weighs around the 510kg mark – lovely walking horse as you will see from his parade clips

Mark says “John, I really love this horse – he has a great action, I just loved the way he powered home under testing conditions at Avondale in his trial and his debut raceday performance on a much firmer track had a lot of merit also  – he deserves to have his racing opportunity in Victoria – there are just so many more opportunities for staying types like this bloke in Victoria as they go through the grades – and for wonderful prizemoney also. And of course, if he proves to be really top class, the big Cups races are right there on your doorstep – I can’t wait to get my hands on him.”

Dr Ronan Costello our very good Vet, put him through his paces on Friday morning with a full physical exam, scoping before and after a 1000m gallop and X rays of his forelegs. Ronan is the consummate professional, but when he called me after the exam, he was full of praise for the horse – he said, “John, I inspected Zedwilldo today and a full report is on its way, but I must say that he is a very impressive physical specimen, 100% sound, clean in the wind, clean x rays and as I watched him gallop past me, he took my breath away with just how smooth his action was – lovely horse”

Pedigree – see below – note the dam sire line, Mastercraftsman, Montjeu, Star Way, In The Purple and before that (not shown on the pedigree page, it is Le Filou and Faux Tirage – this is a deep, deep NZ staying pedigree – this is the family of Military Plume and Monaco Consul

Note also that he is by ZED, who has already sired a Melbourne Cup winner (Verry Elleegant)

Plans – he is now in the Matamata Stables, where Mark and Sam will work him along and he will trial at Te Rapa 26th of September – he will fly to Melbourne straight after that – he will have his first raceday start over there a few days after he arrives – Te Akau’s Australian Assistant Trainer Ben Gleeson is already looking at the program – he will probably kick off at 1600m but then step up in trip pretty quick after that and after securing a Maiden win, we will just work him through the grades and see where we get to with him.

Pricing – full paperwork is still to be finalised so we are taking expressions of interest at this stage, but I have done the number and his fully syndicated price will be NZ$180k, this includes Purchase price, Promoters fees, Insurance to 31 Jan 2024, Freight to Australia, Aus GST on entry and working capital of over $10,000.This means a 10% share is $18k, 5% $9k, 2.5% $4.5k and 1% $1.8k. Ongoing costs start 1 November 2023 @ NZ$50 per month per each 1% share – training costs will be higher in Aus than they are here, hence the higher than standard monthly contribution

I am sure this offering is going to be very popular, so please register your interest with me asap by responding to this email – if you are registered, you will not miss out – Please feel free to direct any questions/queries you may have either by email or call/text John 021 921 460

Fortuna Two Year Old Filly, BELLATRIX STAR, shines brightly with winning debut Whanganui 2nd September 2023

Published 3 September 2023

Worthy of favouritism, Bellatrix Star (2 f Star Witness – Alana’s Party, by Exceed and Excel) debuted with victory in the $25,000 Wanganui Chronicle Maiden 2YO 800 metres on Saturday at Wanganui in the hands of NZ Champion Jockey, Michael McNab

Last season Te Akau and Fortuna had success with Rubicon Crossing (Rubick) in the same event and similarly with Bellatrix Star was also purchased in conjunction by David Ellis CNZM and Fortuna Racing’s  John Galvin, who syndicated both Fillies

In her sole trial on 1 August at Te Rapa, Bellatrix Star camped behind two leaders, cornered well, and let down strongly under minimal urging to win and rider Michael McNab was keen to continue his association. While drawing the outside (6) had some drawbacks, ridden conservatively appeared the right approach and although requiring full stretch to claim the pacemaker, Hard Attack (All Too Hard), McNab showed an element of confidence in his charge. Scoring by a nose, with over four lengths to second, Bellatrix Star ran 800 metres in 46.4 on footing upgraded to Soft7 and paid $1.50 & $1.20 on the NZ TAB tote.

Click HERE to watch the replay

“Even though she won by a short margin, it was most impressive given the way she got it done,” said co-trainer Mark Walker, who during a record-breaking previous season of 203 wins, had 29 two-year-old runners, 11 individual winners, 21 wins, 21 seconds, and 12 thirds. “She had to do it the tough way, getting back and running down the leader, and it’s not that easy over only 800 metres. It was a lovely ride of Michael’s, giving her such an educational sort of ride and that will be great experience for her going forward. She will have a little break now at Te Akau Stud. I think she will come back bigger and stronger and I certainly feel she is a Karaka Million type of filly. There is a lot of upside with her and she has the size and scope to really train on.”

BELLATRIX STAR – wins on debut – Wanganui 2nd September 2023
Michael McNab aboard (picture by Race Images)

Boasting a speedy pedigree, Bellatrix Star was purchased for $80,000 by Ellis and Galvin in January at the Karaka 2023 Book 1 Sale, from the draft of Phoenix Park, and owned by Fortuna Bellatrix Star Syndicate.

Fortuna Racing Director, John Galvin, was on course at Whanganui along with a solid contingent of the Ownership Group  – “That was a wonderful debut by our girl – things didn’t go all her way. She was a bit unsettled early in the run, but Michael (McNab) got her balanced, asked her for an effort turning for home, and although Hard Attack gave us a bit of a fright, in the end our girl did enough to win. It’s the first time she’s ever been off the bridle and she’d have learned a lot from that. It was a lovely ride by Michael and it’s why we put him on. He’s a professional and knows how to get the very best out of horses. Her work was really good leading into the trial on 2 August at Te Rapa, her jump outs have been very good also and she worked sensationally on Tuesday. So there was a lot of confidence in the camp. But of course they were all new, all on debut, and just hard to line up. She’s Karaka Million registered, probably now qualified for the race in January with the stake money from today, so we’ll just work backwards from that, give her a break and set her up for a couple of races leading into the KM.”

“Well done to Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson with how they have handled this Filly to date, she clearly has tons of ability, but they have nurtured her very well.”

BELLATRIX STAR – all action – closing stages

Stallion Star Witness (Starcraft) was a dominant winner of the Coolmore Stud Stakes (Gr. 1, 1200m) down the straight at Flemington, before becoming a successful sprint sire in Australia. His son Star Turn, winner of the Schillaci Stakes (Gr. 2, 1100m) is a very good young sire in Australia, while his fillies Global Glamour (Star Witness) was a dual Group One winner of the Flight Stakes and Caulfield Guineas, both at a mile, and Swift Witness won the Silver Shadow (Gr. 2, 1200m). Grand-sire of the filly, Starcraft (Soviet Star) is well known in New Zealand, winning two legs of the Group One Triple Crown at Hawkes Bay, winning Group One races in Australia, France, and England, and becoming a World Champion Turf Miler.

A satisfied Michael McNab salutes the judge on returning to scale on Bellatrix Star

Dam Alana’s Party is by Australian Champion Sire and leading broodmare sire Exceed and Excel (Danehill), who made a name for himself over two decades of world racing and breeding – just an extraordinary sire whose winners have numbered over 5000, 205 stakes winners, including 17 individual Group One winners. Grand-dam The Party Stand, by Stradbroke (Gr. 1, 1400m) winner Thorn Park (Spinning World), was an impressive winner from 1200m – 2000m, at her best around middle distances and included the N.Z. Stakes (Gr. 1, 2000m).

At the time of purchase, David Ellis said: “We had a good horse in the stable by Star Witness named Phantom Witness, that won his first two starts over 1200 metres and we probably didn’t see the best of him. It’s a rarity to find many fillies out of mares by the Champion Sire Exceed and Excel because breeders tend to keep them. This filly has a lot of Exceed and Excel about her and from a dam line that has proved itself at the top level.”

Bellatrix Star is raced by the Fortuna Bellatrix Star Syndicate, an ownership Group comprising 69 individuals from all parts of New Zealand and one from Australia with 13 of them being first time investors in a Fortuna Syndicate

Members of the Ownership Group enjoying that winning feeling

Bellatrix Star was strapped by Te Akau racing manager Reece Trumper.

Auckland Thoroughbred Racing announces a $3m Stakes “top up” over and above standard NZTR prizemonies
 
Auckland Thoroughbred Racing (ATR) has today confirmed that it will be contributing $3,094,000 into stakes for the season as part of its annual stakes announcement. Total stakes on offer for the Club’s 2023/24 season is $18,705,000.  This figure sees stakes offered at a $25,000 minimum across all of ATR’s race meetings in the coming season. The amount, which is over and above New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing’s (NZTR) minimum of $17,000, continues the upward trajectory ATR committed to at the time of merger. Following the pleasing trend of last season, the figure is the highest minimum to have been offered by the Club, exceeding 2022/23’s figure of $20,000.

ATR chief executive officer Paul Wilcox says that in addition to the exciting installation of the StrathAyr track at Ellerslie, the Club remains committed to improving stakes in the Auckland area.   “We are firmly focused on growing the industry and stakes increases remain a priority for us. We’ve set an ambitious goal of contributing $15 million to stakes at Ellerslie and Pukekohe Park within 5 years, giving us averages we’ve not seen or heard of in New Zealand racing,” Wilcox said. “This really is a journey for us, and we hope our all-important stakeholders – our owners, trainers and jockeys – have enjoyed the improvement in stakes at all levels while racing with ATR to date and today’s announcement continues to underline our commitment in this area.”

The $20.3 million stakes increase for New Zealand racing as a whole, announced by NZTR as a result of the Entain/TAB strategic partnership, created a real sense of optimism in the industry and Wilcox said that it is pleasing to offer further stakes increases in the Auckland area. “To offer a further uplift on top of the boost the industry has already received for the coming season creates a real sense of confidence in the future of racing in Auckland and beyond for our stakeholders,” he said. “We’ve made no secret of the fact that our new business model is designed to offer sustainable returns to the industry and whilst it may take time to see us ultimately reach the returns we’d like to see, we are heading in the right direction.”

The TAB Karaka Millions race meeting, already New Zealand’s richest race meeting with three races run for $1 million in stakes or above, will continue to be the glamour night of the industry with the Gr. 2 Westbury Classic (1400m) now run for $300,000, $125,000 more than the NZTR minimum. Likewise, the Gr.3 Brighthill Farm Yearlings Concorde Handicap (1200m) and Cambridge Stud Almanzor Trophy (1200m) will each be run for $225,000, $105,000 more than the NZTR minimum.
Wilcox is quick to emphasise however that, whilst ATR’s black-type races have all seen significant increases, the Club has also considered the full spectrum of races when setting stakes for the coming season.

“Whilst it’s pleasing to announce that our Group One races will now be run for $450,000 and our Listed races run for at least $100,000, it’s also important to highlight that our stakes increase formula saw races at all levels achieve an uplift. As an example, all races run at industry non-peak racedays will have minimum stakes of $25,000, better allowing those grassroots participants to continue to enjoy the game.”

ATR plans to conduct 20 race meetings over the 2023/24 season from both Pukekohe Park and Ellerslie, with racing’s headquarters set to return in 2024.
To view the full breakdown of ATR’s stakes for the 2023/24 season, click here.

John comments – “Obviously this is a very welcome and significant announcement which adds another layer of confidence to the growing feeling of positivity that permeates NZ Racing at the present time. Readers may be curious as to where the $3m extra funding comes from? The answer to that is the former Auckland Racing Club had assiduously built up an investment fund over the past few years from asset sales – and now this fund (which totals $60m approx) is invested in income producing growth assets (shares and property) and as a result Auckland Thoroughbred Racing is able to allocate income from this portfolio to enhance Stakes. Further good news on this is that upcoming asset sales (such as the famed Ellerslie Hill) will further boost the investment fund to an estimated $250m approx. – so watch this space for further Stakes enhancement news from ATR”

Guest Selector
 
Guest Selector Gary Williams has an “off day” last week – his disappointment tempered somewhat by the success of Fortuna’s Bellatrix Star at Whanganui, in which he has a share!!!

Here is what Gary says this week;