Unbeaten from three starts – all at Group Level – in the 2018/19 season – this is the race record of Fortuna’s outstanding 4yo Mare, MELODY BELLE. Sent for a two week freshen up  after her dominant win in the Group One Windsor Park Plate at Hastings on 22nd September, a result which saw her rating lift to 107, making her the highest rated race horse currently racing in NZ, her resuming trial  at Matamata was always going to hold a lot of interest for her connections and racing followers.

Her work pre trial had been first class and so a bold trial was expected. She certainly didn’t disappoint – drawn the widest in a nine horse field over 1000 metres, on a Slow 9 track and with Opie Bosson aboard (her regular race day rider Shafiq Rusof away on a family visit in Malaysia), she showed plenty of gate speed without urging and glided across the field to sit half a length off the trial leader. On straightening she hit the lead and was strong to the line, with Opie doing his best to restrain her. Click HERE to see the trial replay.

There were smiles all around from connections post trial, Opie had a grin from ear to ear and declared “she is so strong and so competitive”, while Trainer Jamie Richards declared himself satisfied that she was right on track to contest the Group One Sistema Railway Stakes (1200m) at Ellerslie on New Year’s Day after a further trial at Te Aroha on 11th December “We will extend her a bit more at the Te Aroha trial, treat it like a race” were his words to the large group of Syndicate Members on course to watch the trial. Syndicate Manager John Galvin reported to his Ownership Group on her race plans “We will go to the Railway fresh up, then tackle the Group One Telegraph (1200 metres) at Trentham 19th January and then go to the Group One Waikato Sprint (1400m) at Te Rapa 9th February. After that, depending on her form and condition, we will weigh up her options for a return to Australia in the Autumn,” he said.

  Melody Belle – Matamata Trials – 27th Nov 2018

About the Ocean Park – Glitterati Filly named “CHERIE”

CHERIE was acquired at the NZ Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale (for Two year Olds) for Fortuna by renowned thoroughbred judge , David Ellis, who had been instructed by Fortuna’s John Galvin to identify and select a Staying type filly who would be ideally suited for the Classic events in New Zealand (1000 Guineas, NZ Oaks etc) and Australia (Australian Turf Club Oaks and Queensland Oaks) as a Three Year Old in the 2019/20 season. This Filly will spell until end of January 2019 and  will be trained at Matamata by Fortuna’s NZ Trainer, Jamie Richards.

Click HERE to see Video clip of Cherie parading at the Sales Ground with voice over from Trainer, Jamie Richards

Pedigree

CHERIE possesses a strong International Black Type pedigree. By the Champion Racehorse Ocean Park, winner of the Cox Plate – he is a young Sire and boasts 46 winners to date from 93 runners. CHERIE is out of the unraced Mare Glitterati  (by Observatory).

Training history

Broken in during April/May 2018, CHERIE had a typical Ready To Run preparation culminating in a pre sale Breeze Up at Te Rapa 16^th October 2018. View that Breeze up  HERE

Physical type

A strong, well-proportioned type by an exceptional Racehorse in Ocean Park, this filly has plenty of scope and size and presents as a natural staying type who will benefit from a patient approach

David Ellis Reports “John, I have bought several 2yo’s at this Ready To Run Sale and they are all lovely horses, however I would have to say that the Ocean Park Filly I secured for Fortuna represents exceptional value. She has a very strong International Pedigree, but on top of that she is an outstanding physical specimen – a genuine Oaks filly to my eye, she will stay all day and I certainly expected to pay a lot more for her than I did.”

Trainer’s view (Jamie Richards)

“John,  David Ellis and I identified this filly some time ago as one who would be ideally suited for the Classic Three year Old races here in NZ and Australia. Not an early type of filly, we thought she would be really good value at this sale for a buyer, such as yourself, who prefers to take a patient approach.  She has  lovely size and scope and a good paddock spell for a few weeks now, followed up by a full stable preparation during the Autumn of 2019, will set her up nicely for her Three year Old season in the 2019/2010 season.”

 Syndicator’s view (John Galvin)

“We have had much success with the Fortuna Fillies we have acquired over the years and at this Sale I was set on buying a Staying type of Filly whom we could set for the Classic Fillies events in her three year old year. My instruction to David and Jamie was to look for a filly with a strong  pedigree, but to focus primarily on “type” and as always, we were firm on budget.  I am happy to say all boxes have been ticked, we have acquired a lovely filly with a strong International pedigree, a physical type that suggests she will get over distance and she came in under budget – great value with this one.”

• Shares available right down to 1%.
• 10% share $8,000 – 5% share $4,000 – 2.5% share $2,000 – 1% share $800.
• Share price includes all Initial Costs (Purchase price, Promoter and Sales Fees, Insurance through to 31st January 2020, and Working Capital of over $8,000)
• Monthly ongoing costs commencing 1 January 2019 – 10% share $340 per month – 5% share $170 per month – 2.5% share $85 per month – 1% share $34 per month.

Subscribe for Shares in CHERIE HERE

0r Contact John Galvin HERE or call/text John 021 921 460 if you would like more information on this lovely Filly

The Fortuna Syndications 9yo Gelding, CHANCE TO DANCE (Teofilo-Crystal Ballet) gets his 2018/19 season under way in the John Turkington Bulls Cup at Awapuni Saturday 24th November. One  of the highest rated gallopers in NZ at 103 rating, he has been allocated 63kgs in the 1500 metre event and drawn Barrier 1 in a field of 8 runners.

Chance To Dance returns to scale after winning the OMF Stakes (Group 3 ) at Ellerslie November 2017

The winner of nine races (seven in Ireland and Australia) and two in NZ (both at Stakes level) from just 33 career starts, CHANCE TO DANCE has been not seen at the races since mid January 2018 – Fortuna Director, John Galvin reports “He ran into some soundness issues early in 2018 – this led to him having a long break, but he has now trialed well in recent weeks and it is time to get him cracking – he is talented at best, but is an older horse now, so we will just take him along quietly one race at a time and see where we get to with him. Proven over the 3200 distance, the Auckland Cup shapes as a nice race for him.”

Allocated 63kgs by the Handicapper, Te Akau Stable Apprentice, Nik Bakar, claiming 4kgs, will ride

John Galvin’s Top 4 Selections  with Fixed Odds prices are

1. Avilius – $12
2. Yucatan – $6
3. Best Solution – $11
4. Youngstar – $15

Jessica’s Selection is Zacada – $71

Best of luck

Click HERE to view John’s suggested Strategy

Fortuna Director, John Galvin, pulled off a long standing ambition during the early hours of the morning of 30^thOctober when he secured the purchase of the three year old gelding, LEADERBOARD, who has an outstanding Northern Hemisphere pedigree, being by Super Sire Street Cry, the Sire of the mighty Winx, who has now won 29 races in a row and out of a winning Dynaformer mare, Flower Fairy. Well known International Bloodstock agent, Hubie de Burgh, engaged by John to act for him at this sale, had signalled this horse to John as one that would be ideal as a staying type for NZ/Aus conditions.

“It is very apparent that European bred Stayers have the edge presently on their Southern Hemisphere counterparts,” says John, “so instead of taking “coals to Newcastle” we have gone to Newcastle (well in fact Newmarket) and bought the “coals”, acquiring a lovely staying type of horse who has recent winning form in Ireland over 2400 metres. This horse has a great pedigree being by the late Street Cry, who quite apart from being the Sire of Winx and the mighty Zenyatta, who won 19 times from 20 starts, has cemented himself as one of the world’s leading Stallions in recent times with over 120 Stakes Winners. He wants for nothing either on the Female side of his pedigree, with his dam, Flower Fairy, being a winner and her two foals to the races to date both being winners. Flower Fairy is by Dynaformer, a tough USA bred stallion who himself had over 130 Stakes winners, including the winners of a Kentucky Derby (Barbaro) and a Melbourne Cup (Americain)”

LEADERBOARD, while still a Colt had five starts as a Two and Three Year Old, with modest results, but after being Gelded in June of 2018, hit a purple patch of form, running 2^nd fresh up over 2000 metres, 3^rd placings in his next two races before winning over 2400 metres on 12^th October after maintaining a long run from the back of the field. Click HERE to see that replay.

A strong type with plenty of size and scope, LEADERBOARD  stands at 16 hands high and weighs 530 kgs. Click HERE to see Video Clip of him parading and at the trot

“LEADERBOARD” – the Three Year Old Gelding by Street Cry (Sire of Winx)

The plan for this lovely horse is that he will arrive in NZ on 10^th December and will then get a good long spell (eight weeks or so) in a big grassy paddock at Te Akau Stud. He will then go to the Te Akau Racing Stables at Matamata where Fortuna’s NZ Trainer, Jamie Richards, will then get to know the horse, bring him up to fitness, trial him in the Autumn of 2019, get him to the races in the late Autumn with an objective of winning a race or two to get him up in the ratings, then freshen ahead of a Spring campaign in the South Island with his principal target being the Group One New Zealand Cup (3200 metres) being run at Riccarton in mid November 2019. Other targets for him will then be the Wellington Cup (3200 metres) run at Trentham in January of 2020 and the Auckland Cup (3200 metres) at Ellerslie in March 2020.

Depending on the quality of his NZ form in those staying races, an Australian campaign for their major staying races would clearly be a target in subsequent seasons.

Fortuna’s NZ Trainer, Jamie Richards, was very effusive in his praise of LEADERBOARD. He says “John, I love the look of this horse – he presents as the classical European staying type – he has size and scope and I loved his walking action. I have also studied his replays and his racing action looks nice and relaxed and his win was full of merit, circling the field before the turn after being back in the running, widest into the straight but strong to the line. I don’t get to train this type of horse very often and I am really looking forward to him being in my barn.”

This sort of opportunity (i.e. to get involved with a staying type of horse with a proven winning record) does not come along very often. This horse is young (foaled in May 2015) so he is only three (but on arrival in NZ he will be regarded as a four year old, because he is bred to Northern Hemisphere time), has had an ideal grounding (i.e trained and prepared in Ireland where they certainly know how to prepare stayers) and has impeccable staying credentials, both on pedigree and race day form to date.

Shares are available in this horse at $2,400 for each 1% with ongoing expenses commencing 1^st January 2019 of $34 per month for each 1% share. This includes the purchase price of the horse, all fees, transport to New Zealand, Insurance cover through to 31 Jan 2020 and working capital of over $8,000.  Click HERE to obtain application material or call/text John Galvin directly 021 921 460

Applications can only be made after Investors have perused and signed the NZ Thoroughbred Racing approved Disclosure Statement. This can be obtained from the Syndicate Promoter, Fortuna Ltd (Director John Galvin), HERE or by calling John 021 921 460.

Fortuna Ltd is an Authorised Syndicator in accordance with the Code of Practice administered by New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing (Inc) established under The Financial Markets Conduct (Equine Bloodstock) Exemption Notice 2016. Details of this Offer are contained in the Disclosure Statement relating to the Offer

Fortuna horses racing this week are JET SET on debut at Waipukurau Thursday, HIDDEN PROMISE Friday evening Singapore, last start winner OUR RIVER DANCER at Penang on Saturday, SECRET SPICE and EATONS GOLD at Penang on Sunday

The 8yo grey gelding, OUR RIVER DANCER (Danehill Dancer-Distinctly), showed his younger rivals that he still has a bit to offer when taking out the Class 5 1100 metre event at the Perak Turf Club in Malaysia Sunday 20th October. Relishing the wet track “Hunter” as he is nicknamed, sped to the lead in the hands of Senior rider, S Salee and while headed briefly in the last 200 metres, fought back to win by a head over the fast finishing Butch Cassidy, who was also racing in the Fortuna NZ Stable colours.

Click HERE to see  Race Video Replay 

OUR RIVER DANCER returning to scale with victorious rider, S Salee, aboard

Fortuna Director John Galvin comments, “That was fun to watch – give this horse a wet track and the lead and he is very difficult to beat. He is as tough as they come and has been a great servant for his loyal group of owners.”

OUR RIVER DANCER, who boasts a stout European pedigree (by Danehill Dancer out of Distinctly – by Sadlers Wells) has now had seven career wins, two in Singapore (trained by Mark Walker) and five in Malaysia (trained by Sharee Hamilton). He was acquired by David Ellis on behalf of Fortuna Ltd at the 2012 Karaka Premier Sale for the sum of NZ$105,000 and is raced by a NZ based Syndicate of nineteen individuals.

Fortuna has secured the successful Sydney four year old galloper, RED ROVER, and he will now be sent to Singapore to race in the care of Fortuna’s Singapore Trainer, Mark Walker.

RED ROVER winning at Rosehill Gardens – Sydney 2nd April 2018

RED ROVER is beautifully bred, he is by the Champion racehorse and Stallion, O’REILLY out of the successful racemare, PIN UP.

RED ROVER has had three starts in New South Wales for one win (Rosehill) and a third placing and presents as a strong sprinting type who will be set for the major sprint races in Singapore

Shares are available in RED ROVER at NZ$650 per 1% share and NZ$34 per month ongoing costs from 1st January 2019

READ MORE HERE

Watch RED ROVER winning at Rosehill Here

Subscribe for Shares in Red Rover Here

John Galvin, Director of Fortuna Ltd, has made a submission to the NZ Government (Department of Internal Affairs) on the Messara report on New Zealand Racing. Click on link below to read this submission

Submission to the Department of Internal Affairs from Fortuna Ltd

Click HERE to access the full Messara report