Fortuna 3yo SIR DARCI makes it three career wins with Te Rapa victory

Fortuna Syndicates 3yo SIR DARCI ( Darci Brahma-Dominant) put in a strong  performance at Te Rapa Saturday 15th March  earning  his third win from eight starts, as he fought the length of the straight to get his nose in front in the $17,500 Red Cabs (Hamilton) Ltd Rating 85 Benchmark event over 1600m with in form Sam Spratt aboard. Watch Race Replay HERE

A fortnight from a top effort for second in the Lindsay Mile at Ellerslie on Derby Day, SIR DARCI started favourite as adverse conditions worsened.

Bred by The Oaks Stud, home of Darci Brahma, SIR DARCI  was a $140,000 purchase, selected  by David Ellis from the 2012 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Yearling Sale for  Fortuna Syndications.

SIR DARCI  overcame the inclement weather of Cyclone Lusi which saw the track was down-graded to a dead 4, impressing his trainer, Jason Bridgman. “It was a good tenacious win against older horses in a Rating 85. The track conditions were marginal for him today but he settled nicely and he quickened so fast on the corner that he probably got to the front a little too soon. It was very brave for him to keep finding like he did,” he said.

Fortuna Director John Galvin agreed, saying: “It’s never easy for a three year old to beat older horses, particularly when you are out of your grade. Jason has been very patient with him, letting him strengthen, and his natural ability carried him through today. His last two starts have been top efforts, so we were happy to see him get another win.”

Jockey Sam Spratt had plenty of praise for her mount, saying “he is a lovely horse , he travelled up nicely and  got to the front so easily, I was afraid I had gone too soon but he kept finding as they came to him. It was a big effort.”

Next on the program for SIR DARCI  is the Group 3 Manawatu Classic for 3 year olds over 2000m at Awapuni on March 29. This has been his target race ever since he was taken out of the Derby. John Galvin explains, ” The Derby simply came up too quick for him but he is looking for more ground, so the 2000 metre trip of the Manawatu Classic should suit him nicely.”

SIR DARCI is raced by the Fortuna Sir Darci Syndicate, an ownership group of over thirty individuals.