A bold front running ride by the veteran Singapore jockey Benny Woodworth, paved the way to victory for the Fortuna Syndicated 5yo Gelding HADEER (Savabeel – A Beautiful Princess), in the Class 4 1200m event on the Turf at Singapore’s Kranji racecourse on Saturday 7th November. Drawn barrier eight in a field of twelve runners with a short run to the first bend, Woodworth took all of the risk out of the equation, jumping well from the barrier, crossing the field and surging to the lead. Setting a strong steady pace, HADEER turned into the straight with a margin, found a kick and had a two length lead on the chasers at one point but went to the line half a length in front of the second horse.

Click HERE to see the race replay

A winner in Australia at Pakenham in August of 2019 for his previous owners, Shadwell Stud, this was HADEER’s 4th Singapore start, having run prize money placings at his other three. HADEER was acquired by Jessica Galvin at the October 2019 Inglis Sale for A$22,500 – as a Yearling offered at the Inglis 2017 Easter Sale HADEER had fetched A$620,000 for his breeder, the Taupo based John Bromley.

Hadeer – wins at Kranji 7th November 2020

Fortuna boss, John Galvin, who just a couple of hours earlier, had watched the Fortuna Star Mare, Melody Belle, run a brave 3rd in the A$2m Seppelts McKinnon Stakes at Flemington was a happy man after Hadeer’s run. “That was a great result for this horse, he had showed us quite a bit with his first three Singapore runs, but full credit to our Singapore Trainer, Mark Walker, who made the wise decision to send HADEER for a freshen up after his 3rd race – this gave the horse time to acclimatise and strengthen a little more. And big kudos to Benny Woodworth for another heady ride”

HADEER is raced by the Fortuna Hadeer Syndicate, an ownership group consisting of 46 individuals

Four Fortuna runners this Saturday 7th November in three jurisdictions, New Zealand, Australia and Singapore

5yo Mare BURGUNDY BELLE takes her place in the Legacy Lodge Sprint (Listed Race – 1200m – $50,000) at Te Rapa (Race 6 @3.25). A gallant last start 3^rd in the Matamata Cup (Listed 1400m) four weeks ago, her first start in Open Company, demonstrated that she is up to this Grade. She was strong in an exhibition gallop at Te Aroha Wednesday 28^th October. Chelsea Burdan takes the mount from barrier 2 in an 11 horse field. Back to 1200m which will suit, forecast rain will provide some easing in the track which will also suit, carries the minimum weight of 53kgs, has good gate speed – she ticks a lot of boxes and presents as a very good Top 3 chance – market has her at $7 Fixed Odds

6yo Mare MELODY BELLE has taken all before her here in NZ since her return from Australia in September, winning two Group One races at Hastings, the first narrowly, the second emphatically. She now returns to Australia to contest the LKS Mackinnon Stakes (Group One – 2000m – A$2m – Race 8 @ 7pm NZT) a race in which she finished a fast finishing 2^nd in 2019. Chasing her 13^th Group One victory, she will be ridden by Melbourne Cup winning jockey, Jye McNeil, from Barrier 6 in a 10 horse field. Nicely drawn at a perfect distance for her, her work has been excellent since arriving in Australia and she presents as a very good each way chance in this event. Currently 3^rd favourite at Fixed Odds of $5

Melody Belle – Livamol Classic – Hastings   – 17 October 2020

In Singapore 4yo SHOWBOUND gets his chance to break Maiden status in a 1200m event on the Turf (Race 5 @ 7pm NZT – S$20,000). Running into the placings in his first four Singapore starts, he failed badly at his 5^th start, after being given no favours by his rider. Freshened since, he has trialed well and his trackwork has been strong. Will be ridden by the in form Ruan Maia. Drawn perfectly in barrier 3, top rider aboard, can race handy or even lead, he is a top 3 chance in this race and has good prospects of greeting the judge for the first time.

5yo HADEER, a winner in Australia, has had three Singapore starts and run into the prizemoney on all three occasions. Freshened since his last race in late August, he has been given a quiet trial since by trainer Mark Walker and takes his place in the Class 4 1200m event on the Turf (Race 11 @ 10pm NZT – S$50,000). Will be ridden from Barrier 8 by Benny Woodworth. Top rider, slightly tricky draw to negotiate with running rail out in the E Position, but is more than capable of a bold showing here – presents as a good each way chance.

Te Akau Track work this week – Fortuna Runners –  Matamata

Tuesday 3^rd November

Burgundy Belle (J Kamaruddin) looked good galloping over 1000 metres in 1.03.2, final 600 in 36.5. Burgundy Belle races in the Listed Open Sprint at Te Rapa on Saturday.

Charmaine’s Dream (D Johnson) galloped over an easy 800 metres in 57, home in 41.4.

Navalha (R Khan) worked at three quarter pace over 800 metres in 59.2, last 600 in 43.5.

Thursday 29th October

Taking on the Listed Sprint at Te Rapa on Saturday, Burgundy Belle (T Harris) galloped over an easy 1000 metres in 1.11, final 600 in 41.

Navalha (S Parmar) galloped over an easy 800 metres, last 600 in 40.5.

Soprano Supreme (M Grylls) a worked at three quarter pace over 1000 metres in 1.15, last 600 in 44.7.

Other News

Bosson’s message a Melody for McNeil

Jockey Opie Bosson reckons Melbourne Cup winning rider Jye McNeil will have a sweet sit on Melody Belle in the Group 1 Mackinnon Stakes writes Ben Dorries

Opie Bosson has ridden Melody Belle to victory in five of her 12 Group 1 wins and has some good news for Melbourne Cup winning rider Jye McNeil ahead of a Mackinnon Stakes tilt at Flemington on Saturday.

There is unfinished business for the Jamie Richards-trained freakishly talented mare at headquarters on Saturday after she flew home into second behind Aidan O’Brien’s globetrotting galloper Magic Wand in the same race last year.

Magic Wand won’t be there to defend her Mackinnon Stakes title, recently retired after having a foot abscess which scuppered her Melbourne spring campaign.

TAB has Melody Belle at $5 to go one better than last year and win the Mackinnon in a market which has Caulfield Stakes winner Arcadia Queen as the $3.10 favourite and Cox Plate fourth placegetter Mugatoo at $4.40.

The contest looks no stronger than last year’s Mackinnon and Melody Belle is coming off two consecutive Group 1 wins in her homeland after a Sydney spring campaign didn’t go to plan.

Bosson didn’t ride Melody Belle in either of her recent Group I wins, due to weight issues, but feels as though the Kiwi mare could cap a huge week for McNeil.

“Jye will love riding her – she is push-button and he can ride her where he wants from the barrier (six of ten),” Bosson told Racenet from New Zealand.

“She is totally straightforward to ride and he will be able to put her anywhere and switch her off.

“It will be a totally no fuss ride for him and I think he can finish off a big week on another high.”

John Galvin, who manages the Melody Belle Fortuna Syndicate that owns the multiple New Zealand Horse of the Year, was convinced by trainer Richards the mare should travel to Australia for the Group I at the end of the Flemington carnival.

The deciding factor was when she demolished her rivals in the Group I Livamol Classic in Hastings last start.

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.