Two Fortuna runners this Saturday 31st October – one in NZ and one in Singapore

4yo Mare Rhapsody In Blue impressed when winning her 2^nd career race in the R65 1200 at Taupo in September – however disappointed when stroking a Soft track at Hastings 17^thOctober and up in Grade to the R74 1200. She gets another chance same grade, same trip at Awapuni on Saturday (Race 2 @12.38pm) – she has a nice draw but will need a Good or Dead track to show her best – Sam Wynne takes the mount. Can finish in the money if she shows her best – market has her at $10 Fixed Odds

8yo Hidden Promise is another who won two starts ago in stylish fashion in a Class 5 1800m event only to fail badly at his next start (1400m same grade). He gets back to a more suitable 1800m trip this Saturday, has a nice draw and a 3kg claim courtesy of Donna Logans apprentice F Yussof. A six time winner in Singapore, Trainer Mark Walker cannot fault the horse since his last start failure and gets his chance to atone here in a moderate field (Race 6 @ 7.30pm NZT). Watch market but can feature if back to best.

Te Akau Track work this week – Fortuna Runners –  Matamata

Tuesday 27th October

Melody Belle (T Harris) looked great galloping over an easy 1200 metres in 1.21, last 600 in 39.

Rhapsody In Blue (M Roustoby) galloped in company over 1000 metres in 1.03, last 600 in 36.5.

Thursday 29th October

Navalha (R Khan) worked at three quarter pace over 800 metres in 1.02, home in 46.

Other News

Melody Belle flew to Melbourne on Wednesday 28^th and is now in the hands of Te Akau’s Ashley Handley and stabled at Flemington – she will attempt to win her 13th career Group One event when contesting the LKS Mackinnon Sakes (Group One – 2000m – A$2m) on Saturday 7^th November – Kerrin McEvoy will ride.

Melody Belle at Flemington Thursday 29th October

Burgundy Belle goes to the line in strong exhibition gallop – Te Aroha 28th October

           Picture by Race Images

Two Fortuna runners in Singapore Sunday 25^th October

RED ROVER after a long time away from raceday due to Covid lockdown and then a series of ballot outs finally gets his chance in the Class 3 1200m event Turf (Race 4 @ 5pm NZT). A speedy type by O’Reilly, he has accumulated 4 career wins, including 3 in a row in Singapore in 2019. Has been working well and will be ridden by Senior Jockey JP Van Der Merwe from barrier 10 in a 14 horse field. Slightly tricky draw, no recent race day form, but goes well fresh, likes the Polytrack but gets Turf here. Needs luck from the draw and to handle the Turf, but can run into the money if he gets both – will be at odds.

Federation contests the other Division of the Class 3 1200m Turf. A four time winner in Singapore, this strapping son of Written Tycoon is a talented galloper, but has had feet issues. Now over those and back to 1200m with blinkers on, he is ready to put his best foot forward. No 3 rider in Singapore Louis Beuzelin takes the mount from Barrier 7 in a 14 horse field. Working well, loves the Turf, nice weight at 55kgs, Federation presents as a good each way chance in this race at good odds

Te Akau Track work this week – Fortuna Runners –  Matamata

Tuesday 20th October

No timed work for Fortuna runners

Thursday 22nd October

Burgundy Belle (J Kamaruddin) worked at three quarter pace over 800 metres in 59.9, home in 44.8.

Charmaine’s Dream (M Grylls) worked along nicely at three quarter pace over 800 metres in 1 minute

Other News

Unfinished Mackinnon business for Melody Belle

12-time Group One winner Melody Belle. Photo: Trish Dunell

Star Kiwi mare Melody Belle (NZ) (Commands) will be making a hit-and-run raid to Melbourne for the Gr.1 $A2 million Mackinnon Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on November 7. The 12-time Group One winner has been in imperious form since returning to her homeland following two inconclusive runs in Sydney earlier this preparation, and trainer Jamie Richards, in consultation with her owners, is keen to have another tilt at the Mackinnon. The six-year-old mare won last year’s Gr.1 Empire Rose Stakes (1600m) at Flemington before a luckless second in the Mackinnon to Magic Wand a week later.

John Galvin, who manages the Melody Belle Fortuna Syndicate that owns the multiple New Zealand Horse of the Year, confirmed on the strength of her Gr.1 Livamol Classic (2040m) triumph at Hawke’s Bay last weekend, it was all systems go for Melbourne. “Last Thursday Jamie messaged me to say how good Melody Belle’s work had been on Thursday morning and that if we ran well on Saturday, we should give serious consideration to going to the Mackinnon because she was going so good,” Galvin said. “We agreed to talk about it again after the race and we agreed that she would have to perform superbly well for us to make that call, and of course that is what she did. She annihilated that field. “When we weighed it up, 2000m at Flemington, $2 million race, hit and run raid, just go there and come back, it seemed the perfect race for her. She was desperately unlucky last year in the same event and she is probably going better now than she was then.”

Having returned to New Zealand and won the last two legs of the Hawke’s Bay Triple Crown, connections believe the mare is going as well as ever and given Te Akau already have travelling foreperson Ashley Handley domiciled in Melbourne with stablemate Probabeel, the logistics of the campaign are now much smoother than they were looking earlier in Spring. “She has had a vaccination for piroplasmosis, and Plan A is to take her over on Wednesday November 4,” Galvin said. “If we can get her on the flight the previous week, we would do that to take the risk out of anything happening to that flight on the fourth. “Ashley Handley is already over there, she travelled down through Sydney and did her quarantine and is now with Probabeel, so that logistical issue that was preventing us getting to Melbourne previously has been overcome.”

Initially the plan was for Melody Belle to contest the Gr.1 Captain Cook Stakes (1600m) and the Gr.1 Zabeel Classic (2000m) but Galvin said it was important to showcase the mare internationally. “If she was to win both of those New Zealand Group Ones she would sail past Sunline’s Group One record of 13,” Galvin said. “There are a few that said that is what we should do, but to my mind Sunline’s record is not the be all and end all. As a syndicate manager I want to create a legacy for this mare and win another Group One in Australia, ideally in open company rather than just fillies’ and mares’ grade.”

Galvin said his 34-strong syndicate had thoroughly enjoyed being on hand to watch their pride and joy win back-to-back Group Ones at Hastings. “It was absolutely fantastic. We had a big group of owners here so that itch has been scratched. I informed the owners about the change of plan, and while I haven’t heard from them all the feedback is let’s go for it,” he said. “They know she is going to go there on a hit and run raid for a $2 million race and they know the Group One races they would contest here alternatively are just $200,000 races so it is a significant amount of prize money and a significant scalp to collect if we could pull it off. “There is a nice raceday at Te Rapa on Mackinnon day and we have our other ‘belle,’ Burgundy Belle, racing in the Legacy Sprint and there are several of Melody Belle’s owners that have shares in her as well so that could be an opportunity to get together,” he said.

From

NZ Racing Desk

12-time Group One winner Melody Belle. Photo: Trish Dunell

Star Kiwi mare Melody Belle (NZ) (Commands) will be making a hit-and-run raid to Melbourne for the Gr.1 $A2 million Mackinnon Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on November 7. The 12-time Group One winner has been in imperious form since returning to her homeland following two inconclusive runs in Sydney earlier this preparation, and trainer Jamie Richards, in consultation with her owners, is keen to have another tilt at the Mackinnon. The six-year-old mare won last year’s Gr.1 Empire Rose Stakes (1600m) at Flemington before a luckless second in the Mackinnon to Magic Wand a week later.

John Galvin, who manages the Melody Belle Fortuna Syndicate that owns the multiple New Zealand Horse of the Year, confirmed on the strength of her Gr.1 Livamol Classic (2040m) triumph at Hawke’s Bay last weekend, it was all systems go for Melbourne. “Last Thursday Jamie messaged me to say how good Melody Belle’s work had been on Thursday morning and that if we ran well on Saturday, we should give serious consideration to going to the Mackinnon because she was going so good,” Galvin said. “We agreed to talk about it again after the race and we agreed that she would have to perform superbly well for us to make that call, and of course that is what she did. She annihilated that field. “When we weighed it up, 2000m at Flemington, $2 million race, hit and run raid, just go there and come back, it seemed the perfect race for her. She was desperately unlucky last year in the same event and she is probably going better now than she was then.”

Having returned to New Zealand and won the last two legs of the Hawke’s Bay Triple Crown, connections believe the mare is going as well as ever and given Te Akau already have travelling foreperson Ashley Handley domiciled in Melbourne with stablemate Probabeel, the logistics of the campaign are now much smoother than they were looking earlier in Spring. “She has had a vaccination for piroplasmosis, and Plan A is to take her over on Wednesday November 4,” Galvin said. “If we can get her on the flight the previous week, we would do that to take the risk out of anything happening to that flight on the fourth. “Ashley Handley is already over there, she travelled down through Sydney and did her quarantine and is now with Probabeel, so that logistical issue that was preventing us getting to Melbourne previously has been overcome.”

Initially the plan was for Melody Belle to contest the Gr.1 Captain Cook Stakes (1600m) and the Gr.1 Zabeel Classic (2000m) but Galvin said it was important to showcase the mare internationally. “If she was to win both of those New Zealand Group Ones she would sail past Sunline’s Group One record of 13,” Galvin said. “There are a few that said that is what we should do, but to my mind Sunline’s record is not the be all and end all. As a syndicate manager I want to create a legacy for this mare and win another Group One in Australia, ideally in open company rather than just fillies’ and mares’ grade.”

Galvin said his 34-strong syndicate had thoroughly enjoyed being on hand to watch their pride and joy win back-to-back Group Ones at Hastings. “It was absolutely fantastic. We had a big group of owners here so that itch has been scratched. I informed the owners about the change of plan, and while I haven’t heard from them all the feedback is let’s go for it,” he said. “They know she is going to go there on a hit and run raid for a $2 million race and they know the Group One races they would contest here alternatively are just $200,000 races so it is a significant amount of prize money and a significant scalp to collect if we could pull it off.  “There is a nice raceday at Te Rapa on Mackinnon day and we have our other ‘belle,’ Burgundy Belle, racing in the Legacy Sprint and there are several of Melody Belle’s owners that have shares in her as well so that could be an opportunity to get together,” he said.

Although she had been crowned the NZ Thoroughbred Horse Of The Year for the 2nd time running just six days previously, Fortuna Star Mare, Melody Belle, (Commands-Meleka Belle) showed that she was not one to rest on her laurels when taking out the Livamol Classic (Group One – 2040m – $250,000) in a breathtakingly dominant fashion at Hastings 17th October. Sent our a strong favourite after being backed in from $2.60 on Thursday to $1.90 as they jumped, things didn’t go perfectly for her at the start. Pre race tactics had determined that rider Troy Harris would be positive out of the gate from her widish draw (barrier 12) and take up a spot behind the speed one off the rail, however some hold ups with loading runners had meant, as Troy Harris put it “she went to sleep in the barriers” and was rather tardy away. So Plan B saw her loping along with only four runners behind her as they left the front straight.   The race was run at a steady tempo, but with still just four horses behind him at the 600m mark, Harris decided that it was time to press the button and set the 11 Group One winning mare alight – she was the widest horse into the straight with six other runners inside her, but it was pretty clear that she was gathering momentum and with a few strides she had gathered in the leaders and extended her break to the line, winning by a margin of 2.75 lengths.

Click HERE to see race replay

Melody Belle’s victory was her 17th from 34 starts and her 12th Group One win, putting her one short of the  most Group Ones ever won by a NZ horse, that being the incomparable Sunline

Melody Belle – Livamol Classic – Hastings   – 17 October 2020

Fortuna Director, John Galvin, who had put the Melody Belle Syndicate Ownership Group together back in 2016 was a very proud and emotional man post race. Asked to describe her result, he said, “She was imperious today – in her last start here (Windsor Park Plate) she was brave and gutsy to get up off the canvass to grind out a win, but today she just proved that her title of Queen of the NZ Turf is well deserved. A fantastic result for her 34 strong ownership Group, a really fine bunch of people from all over NZ and one from Australia. And I am so happy for Troy, he has ridden Fortuna Syndicated horses 13 times now for 10 wins, including 4 Group One wins – he is a cool customer off the track and particularly cool on it. A huge thanks to Trainer Jamie Richards for the magnificent job he has done with this Mare and of course all of the Te Akau staff who work with her behind the scenes. Big kudos to David Ellis who acquired Melody Belle for us at the Karaka 2016 sale and who with his wife, Karyn Fenton-Ellis, are taking Te Akau Racing to stratospheric levels.” 

Melody Belle, who was bred by Marie Leicester, was acquired for NZ$57,500 by David Ellis at the NZ Bloodstock Karaka 2016 Premier Sale from the draft of Haunui Farms  and now has career earnings of just over $3,800,000, a 66 to 1 multiple.

Melody Belle was strapped by Mette Mosebo

Four Fortuna runners Friday/Saturday 16^th/17th October, three in NZ, one in Singapore

Khafeef takes his place in the Rating 65 2200 metre event at Wingatui 16^th October – Race 3 @ 1.52pm. Plain in his two previous starts over 1600m at Timaru and Ashburton, he gets his opportunity here to shine over more ground and endeavour to replicate the form he showed in France before we acquired him – he will be ridden by Jason Laking from a handy barrier  – he does need to put his best foot forward here to engender confidence from his connections but will appreciate the step up in trip.

Melody Belle heads to Hastings Saturday 17^th of October to defend her Livamol Classic (Group One 2040m) crown – Race 8 @ 4.25pm. Bolstered by her stunning victory in the Windsor Park Plate at the same venue two weeks ago, she has not put a foot wrong since with her work, her appetite and her demeanour. Troy Harris retains the ride – this Champion mare is a short price favourite to win her 12^th career Group One race

Rhapsody In Blue contests the Rating 74 1200 metre event at Hastings – Race 7 @3.50pm. A last start winner over the same trip at Taupo on 13th September, she has done well since and gets her chance in this event in Saturday company. Danielle Johnson to ride from barrier 3 with 54.5kgs. This is a significant step up from winning a R65 at Taupo to take on a R74 event on a Premier Day, but good draw and top rider gives connections some confidence that she can run into the money

In Singapore, Hidden Promise contests the Class 5 1400m Turf event – Race 1 @ 5pm NZT. A last start winner in Singapore over 1800m on 19 Sept, he steps back in trip here to a distance he has not won at before (he has 6 Singapore wins to his name, all at 1600m or more). Gun Apprentice K Hakim takes the ride and brings his 3kg allowance to the table. Slightly tricky draw from Barrier 9 with rail out in D position, this won’t be easy for him at the 1400m trip, but a quality ride and the 3kg allowance could see him run into a top four placing at Odds!!!

Te Akau Track work this week – Fortuna Runners –  Matamata

Tuesday 13th October

Racing in the Group 1 Livamol Classic at Hastings on Saturday,  Melody Belle (T Harris) galloped nicely over 1200 metres in 1.17.9, last 600 in 36.8.

Rhapsody In Blue (T Harris) pleased when galloping over 1000 metres in 1.04, last 600 in 36.9. She is aimed toward the Rating 74 1200 metres at Hastings on Saturday.

Thursday 15th October

Racing in the Group 1 Livamol Classic at Hastings on Saturday, Melody Belle (T Harris) looked great galloping over an easy 1200 metres in 1.25, last 600 in 39.7.

Other News

Harris bullish with Melody Belle

NZ Racing Desk

Jockey Troy Harris is confident Melody Belle can record her 12th Group One victory in the Livamol Classic (2040m) at Hastings on Saturday. Photo: Trish Dunell

No jockey will go into Saturday’s Gr.1 Livamol Classic (2040m) at Hastings with more confidence than Melody Belle’s (NZ) (Commands) rider Troy Harris. The 32-year-old Matamata hoop racked up his fifth Group One win when he guided Melody Belle to success in the Gr.1 Windsor Park Plate (1600m) at Hastings a fortnight ago and he has seen nothing since to convince him she won’t repeat the victory in Saturday’s weight-for-age feature.

“She’s bounced back to her best. She’s happy to be home,” Harris said.“She was really strong there last time and I couldn’t pull her up till the 800m which really gives me confidence she’ll run out the 2000m even stronger than she did the mile. “Her work was outstanding this morning (Thursday). If they couldn’t beat her last time, they won’t get close to her this week. That’s just how confident I am going into Saturday.”

Melody Belle was arguably at her most vulnerable for the Windsor Park Plate going into that race off two unplaced Sydney runs and a six-week gap between runs. She surged home in the closing stages to deny stablemate Avantage by a nose, her 11th Group One win and her 15th career win from 32 starts.“ She’s a real racehorse. She just wants to win. She puts herself there and tries her heart out,” Harris said.

Harris has ridden Melody Belle twice now for Group One wins in the Windsor Park Plate and last year’s BCD Group Sprint (1400m) at Te Rapa, part of a remarkable record the jockey has forged for the Fortuna ownership syndicate. He has yet to taste defeat in the colours at Group One level, having also partnered Tell A Tale to success in the Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton in 2008. In all, he has had 12 rides in the Fortuna colours for nine wins, having ridden Tell A Tale eight times for five wins as well as getting two wins from as many starts aboard Leaderboard at Riccarton last spring.

The only potential stumbling block for Melody Belle this weekend could be her draw of barrier 12 but Harris can only see positives in that too after rain this week has seen the Hastings track drop into the slow range. “I was a bit worried when the draws first came out but they’ve had a bit of rain down there and being away from the fence might be an advantage,” he said. “Jamie normally lets me ride the race how I see it. We’ll see how she gets away from the barriers but I wouldn’t mind settling in front of a few of the outsiders. As I said I’m pretty confident. I’d be surprised if she got beaten.”

Harris can only remember riding in the race once before, when he finished 14th on Pentathon in 2008, but he’d like to win on Melody Belle to add to a strong family legacy in the race, joining his father Noel Harris’ three wins in the race aboard Secret Seal in 1987, Castletown in 1991 and Princess Coup in 2007 and his uncle Des Harris’ back-to-back wins aboard La Mer in 1978 and 1979. “It would be a good race to add to my CV and good to go down in the race history with Dad and my uncle,” he said.

Harris has five rides at Hastings, the others being Mandalorian, Son Of Bielski, Excelleration and Original Gangster.

Crowned in 2019 as the 2018/19 Season Horse Of The Year, the question on everybody’s lips leading into the 2020 renewal of this historic event was “can Melody Belle do it again”? Four Group One victories during the 2019/20 Season including one at Flemington on Derby Day (Empire Rose Stakes) with the other three being the three legs of the Hawkes Bay Triple Crown, a feat that had never been achieved before, plus a brave 2nd in the Group One McKinnon Stakes and a 4th in the Group One Doncaster Handicap (when carrying top weight), had set the scene for her. She had been nominated in three Categories (Sprinter/Miler, Middle Distance and Horse Of The Year). Te Akau Shark presented the possibility of being a strong contender in the Sprinter/Miler category with his two Group One victories (Waikato Sprint and Chipping Norton Stakes at Randwick) and high class performances for 2nd in the Epsom and 3rd in the Cox Plate.

A degree of drama surrounding the event had been caused by the NZ Thorougbred Racing decision five weeks before its holding, to make it “virtual” given the uncertainties at the time around Covid – 19. Seizing the initiative, the Principals of Te Akau Racing, David and Karyn Ellis, decided to hold a “Te Akau Racing” event for their Owners, Staff and other supporters in the upmarket Fosters Lounge at Te Rapa race course and “live stream” the virtual ceremony to the attendees. Fortuna Melody Belle Syndicate had 14 of its Ownership Group in attendance.

Cutting to the chase, the big news of the evening was that Melody Belle scooped the pool, winning all three of the Awards she was nominated for. As expected, there was support from the Voting Panel, (made up of 60 individuals from around NZ from Media and Racing Administrators), for Te Akau Shark in the Sprinter/Miler category, however Melody Belle prevailed with 37 votes to Te Akau Shark’s 16. In Middle Distance category, she received 57 votes and in the Finale, the very prestigious Horse Of The Year Award, she received 54 votes.

Melody Belle  – Tarzino Trophy  – Group One 1400m  – 31st August 2019 – Michael McNab in the saddle

Fortuna Syndications Director, John Galvin, on accepting the Awards on behalf of the Melody Belle Syndicate, an ownership Group comprising 33 individuals around NZ and 1 from Australia, paid tribute to Te Akau supremo, David Ellis, who had purchased Melody Belle for $57,500 on behalf of Fortuna at the 2016 Karaka Million Sale, Trainer Jamie Richards, all of the Te Akau staff who had worked with her and the two riders who rode her her in her Group One victories during the season, Opie Bosson and Michael McNab.

Melody Belle is the ninth horse to win the title more than once. Sunline took the title four times with Show Gate, Rough Habit, Xcellent, Seachange, Mufhasa, Mongolian Khan and Bonneval the other dual winners.

Apart from Melody Belle’s dominance in her various categories, other highlights of the evening were the Te Akau trained 2yo, Cool Aza Beel, winning the Champion 2yo Award, Te Akau Trainer, Jamie Richards, for winning both the Trainer Of the Year and Trainers Premiership Awards, Te Akau Stable rider, Opie Bosson, winning the Jockey Of The Year award (for the 6th time) and Julia Rose Hayes of Te Akau Racing taking out the Award for Contribution to Media, Digital & Content, Julia-Rose emulating her Mother (Karyn Fenton-Ellis) who had won the award in 2012.

See the full list of Awards recipients below:

Two Fortuna runners Saturday 10th October, one in NZ, one in Singapore

With the memory of Melody Belle’s stunning comeback in the Windsor Park Plate last Saturday, fresh in our memories, it is now the turn of our other “Belle” – i.e.  Burgundy Belle,to shine in Black Type company when she tackles the Matamata Cup (Listed – 1400m) for $50,000 this Saturday at her home track (Race 7 @3.53pm). The winner of 4 of her 9 races to date, this lightly raced 5yo never runs a bad race and her resuming run for 2nd at Hastings 19^th September over 1200m was full of quality. Drawn barrier 7 and possessing good natural gate speed, she will be put nicely into the race by leading jockey, Danielle Johnson. Carrying the minimum of 53kgs in this Handicap event, “Lisa” is a strong each way chance in this race.

Burgundy Belle brilliant at Hastings 31st August 2019

In Singapore, Marcus Antonius, a 3yo Gelding by Sepoy, contests the Restricted Maiden 1200m event on the Polytrack (Race 2 5.30pm NZT) for S$75,000. Three unplaced runs in this grade previously, is not the flashest form line, but twice he was badly hampered on jumping and the 3^rd time was beneficiary of a wide draw. Blinker/Pacifiers go on, he jumps from a good barrier (6) in the hands of leading apprentice Simon Kok, who claims 2kgs. Work has been very good, he has had race day experience now from his 3 starts and if he jumps away well from the barriers, he can feature here as an each way chance at odds.

Te Akau Track work this week – Fortuna Runners –  Matamata

Tuesday 6^th October

Burgundy Belle (T Harris) looked good galloping over an easy 1000 metres in 1.08.

Thursday 8th October

Burgundy Belle (T Harris) galloped over 1000 metres in 1.09, last 600 in 39.

Melody Belle (J Kamaruddin) worked at three quarter pace over 1200 metres, running the final 600 in 43.6.

Other News

The Annual NZTR Horse Of The Year Awards are scheduled for Sunday 11th October – but are being held as a “Virtual” event – Te Akau Racing are holding their own “live” event simultaneously

Yes its true, NZTR, in their wisdom, some five weeks ago, announced that this year’s event would be “crowds free”, citing concerns over Covid-19. This was extremely disappointing to us at Fortuna and David and Karyn Ellis were equally disappointed given Te Akau Racing’s dominance of the nominations in many of the Awards. Not people to let grass grow under their feet, David and Karyn set about organising their own Awards night to be held in the Fosters Lounge at Te Rapa Race Course. Their event will be MC’d by Aidan Rodley and there will be a live link to the virtual ceremony, hosted by George Simon and Kate Gourdie. Melody Belle has been nominated in a number of categories – John and Jessica will be in attendance along with 12 others of the Ownership Group. See below the full list of Categories and nominations in each Category

2019/20 Finalists

For those who are not attending, The Awards will be livestreamed  from the NZTR website (www.nztr.co.nz) on LOVERACING.NZ and Facebook (go to the Love Racing Facebook page) on Sunday 11 October, from 7pm.

The old adage “Form is temporary but class is permanent” was well to the fore Saturday 3rd October at Hastings race course when NZ’s Glamour Mare and Queen Of the Turf, MELODY BELLE, put in an outstanding galloping performance to take out the Group One Windsor Park Plate for the third year in succession. After returning home from Sydney after a couple of sub par performances in the early Spring, the pre race question on everybody’s lips was “can she return to her best?” Punters were taking no chance however with Melody Belle and stable mate and fellow Karaka Million winner, Avantage, vying for favouritism, with the latter starting as the slight pre post favourite. Melody Belle’s connections were wary of the fact that it was her very first time resuming at a 1600m trip and conceded that Avantage had the more recent race day experience,

And what a race it was with The Mitigator opening up a big lead and setting an extremely hot pace. Melody Belle had jumped well from her good gate and settled into 5th position one out from the rail. But Avantage was one back behind her stalking her every move. Melody Belle’s rider, Troy Harris, urged her up before the turn to mount her run, but with every stride she took, Avantage, with NZ leading jockey, Danielle Johnson aboard, was tracking her every step of the way. In the meantime, the horse who caused the big upset in the Tarzino Trophy just two weeks earlier, Callsign Mav, had skipped away at the top of the straight and established a three length break. In scenes reminiscent of the mighty battle between Melody Belle and DanzDanzDance in the 2019 Bonecrusher Stakes where those two mares fought it out the whole length of the Ellerslie straight, so it was with Melody Belle and Avantage, with Avantage going up to eyeball Melody Belle at the 200 metre mark, actually getting her head in front, but then the reigning Horse Of The Year fought back in the shadows of the post with Troy Harris standing high in the stirrups, exultant, once past the post. The time of 1.33.88 was a ripper, breaking the race record of 1.34.05, set by Jimmy Choux back in 2011.

Click HERE to see race replay

Melody Belle – Windsor Park Plate – Hastings  – October 2020

Melody Belle has now won 16 of her 33 race day starts, 11 of those 16 wins at Group One level, a record that now draws her equal with Rough Habit and only two short of the 13 Group One wins amassed by the mighty Sunline. Fortuna Syndications Director, John Galvin, was on course with his wife, Jessica, a part owner of Melody Belle and 18 other Members of the Ownership Group. “What an amazing performance we have just seen,” he said, “Jamie Richards (trainer) had her trained to the minute – what a spectacle for racing fans everywhere.” John also paid tribute to Te Akau racing supremo David Ellis, saying “What an incredible selection record this man has, buying these two great mares in successive years at Karaka, winning Karaka Millions in successive years and today only a nose separated them at the post at their very first race day meeting”

“And what can I say about Troy Harris, three times he has ridden in Group One events for Fortuna (twice with Melody Belle and once with Tell A Tale) and three times he has won for us – an incredible record.”

Melody Belle was acquired by David Ellis at the 2016 Karaka Million Sale for $57,500 on behalf of Fortuna and has now accumulated NZ$3.67m for her 34 Member Ownership Group. She was bred by Marie Leicester, who had the honour recently of receiving the 2020 Broodmare Of The Year Award for Melody Belle’s Dam Meleka Belle

Two Fortuna runners Saturday 3^rd/Monday 5^th October

Reigning Horse Of The Year, MELODY BELLE, is back!!! Not seen on a NZ race track since her victory in the Livamol Classic in October 2019, her last eight starts have been in Australia. However on Saturday 3^rdOctober, she takes her place in the Windsor Park Plate (Group One -1600m – $200,000), a race she has won the past two years. Troy Harris takes the mount from Barrier 4. A recent trial win at Rotorua indicates she is in good shape for this assignment, which is the first time in her racing career that she has resumed at 1600m and she faces a strong field of several runners who have had recent raceday form at this level. Presents as a Good Each Way chance in this

Leaderboard takes his place in the R72 1900m event at Canterbury Park (Sydney) on Monday 5^th October. Finishing a well beaten 12^th placing over 1400m Warwick Farm 16^th Sept in a race run at high tempo when on debut in Australia, he gets up to a more suitable trip here. Sam Clipperton to ride from Barrier 3 in a field of 8 runners. Stable is looking for an improved run here from this staying type of horse.

Te Akau Track work this week – Fortuna Runners –  Matamata

Tuesday 29th September

Melody Belle (T Harris) galloped over 1200 metres in 1.16.2, last 600 in 37.6.

Thursday 1st October

Melody Belle (T Harris), together with the Te Akau runners, Avantage (D Johnson) and Prise De Fer (O Bosson) worked solo at three quarter pace over 1200 metres.

Burgundy Belle (T Harris) looked good working at three quarter pace over 1000 metres in 1.16, home in 45. 

Other News

Written Tycoon surges to the top of Australian Stallion rankings

A Group One double in Australia last weekend by Pippie in the Moir Stakes and Ole Kirk in the Golden Rose saw Written Tycoon take over the coveted No 1 Slot in the General Sires rankings in Australia.

This is of big interest to the Fortuna Team, as we now have three Geldings in Singapore by Written Tycoon, the 5yo Federation, who has already won four races for us in Singapore and the two 3yo/s Prohibition and Titan, recent acquisitions by us who have just arrived in Singapore recently – currently in quarantine, they will be released to Fortuna’s Singapore Trainer, Mark Walker, on Monday 5^th October and he should be making his Singapore debut in January 2021

Shares in Prohibition are fully sold, but we still have shares left in Titan at $9,000 per each 10% share, $4,500 per each 5% share, $2,250 per each 2.5% share and $900 per each 1% share

These costs include horse purchase, promoters fees, transport to Singapore, insurance to 31 Jan 2022 and working capital – great value here when you consider that Written Tycoon’s Stud fee is A$77,000

Read More HERE – applications for shares can be made direct from this link

“Titan” – 5th August 2020