Fortuna acquires a Gelding by Darci Brahma out of Beautiful Girl – To Race in Singapore – $5,000 per 5% share landed in Singapore
Fortuna’s OUR RIVER DANCER wins in Malaysia – Now has Six career wins.
The Veteran 7yo OUR RIVER DANCER (Danehill Dancer-Distinctly) showed that he still has some zip in his legs when winning over the 1100 metre sprint trip at the Perak Turf Club in Malaysia Sunday 14th January. Fresh up after not having raced since late November, “Hunter” as he is nicknamed appeared to be only battling most of the race, running in behind the leaders for most of the race, but under a vigorous ride from 2017 Champion Jockey K C WONG, mounted a strong finishing run to have a long neck to spare at the finishing line.
Click HERE to see Race Video Replay
Fortuna Director John Galvin comments, “This was a very satisfying win. Our River Dancer has had a tricky twelve months with wide barrier draws, race cancelations due to bad weather and injury. He is a big favourite with his Trainer, Sharee Hamilton and her team and has served his ownership team well over the years. He is no Champion, but is honest as the day as long and has fashioned a nice winning record with two wins in Singapore and four in Malaysia.”
OUR RIVER DANCER, who boasts a stout European pedigree (Danehill Dancer – Distinctly – by Sadlers Wells) has now had six career wins, two in Singapore (trained by Mark Walker) and four in Malaysia. 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 News Round up 2nd January
HIDDEN PROMISE makes it 4 Singapore career wins with a strong victory New Years Day
Five Year Old Gelding HIDDEN PROMISE (Postponed-Promissory) had his band of NZ based Syndicate Members leaping up and down in front of their television sets when winning the Class 3 1600 metre event at Singapore’s Kranji Race course on New Year’s Day, bringing up the Gelding’s 4th Singapore win from 15 starts. Resuming at the 1600 metre trip after not racing since 19th November and having his first start in Class 3 company, HIDDEN PROMISE was ignored by Punters and sent out at odds of 20 to 1. Ridden for the first time by expat Kiwi jockey Craig Grylls, HIDDEN PROMISE was away well from the barriers and settled into 4th place on the rails in the running. Approaching the turn, it was apparent that Grylls had a lapful of horse under him and all that was required was an ounce of luck to find a gap between the two leaders. The gap was a while coming, but Grylls bided his time and eventually steered his mount between the two leaders with a compelling finishing run that gave him a three quarter length margin at the line
Click HERE to see the race replay
HIDDEN PROMISE winning – Kranji racecourse – 01 January 2018
Syndicate Racing Manager John Galvin was ecstatic, ” This was an outstanding result for the Team,” he said, ” Hidden Promise had trialed very well on Boxing Day but it was a resuming run off a six week break and he was up in Grade at Class 3 level, so we weren’t quite sure what we were going to get on the day, but what we did get was pretty good. We have been very patient with this horse, he didn’t have his first start until he was a November 4yo and now from 15 starts he has had 4 wins, only been out of the prizemoney in two of those starts and has now won S$125,000 in prizemoney for his Ownership Group. Trainer Mark Walker has done a great job with him and a big thanks to Craig Grylls, who was having his first race day ride for the Fortuna NZ Team.”
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HANDSOME REBEL impresses on debut
Two Year old Gelding HANDSOME REBEL (Denman – London Rebel) impressed when running a close up 3rd to stable mate filly, The Real Beel, when debuting over 1000 metres at New Plymouth on 27th December. Ridden by Dylan Turner, he worked hard to the line and will take big improvement from the run and trip away. He is set to race next Jan 12th at Matamata 1200 metres.
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BEAU GESTE continues to make nice progress
Another who traveled to Taranaki to race at Stratford (New Years Eve) was 3yo BEAU GESTE (Pour Moi- Villa Wanda). A really slow maturing staying type, he struck an unsuitable wet track on debut however Stratford produced a good surface and racing close to the speed, he finished a close up 4th in the hands of Alysha Collett, who opined post race that “the further he goes, the better he will be.”
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MELODY BELLE finishes 6th in Railway Stakes
Further Group One glory was denied 3yo filly MELODY BELLE in the Group One Sistema Railway Stakes at Ellerslie on New Year’s Day. Steady rain pre race had softened the track into a Slow 8. effectively negating the very god barrier draw (2) that she had drawn. She raced quite keenly in or near the lead and the effort told the last 100 metres. Her cause wasn’t helped by suffering a bad check in the last stages of the race, but the best she would have finished anyway would have been fourth.
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CHANCE TO DANCE Trentham bound
After failing in the Group One Zabeel Classic at Ellerslie on Boxing Day, CHANCE TO DANCE’S racing programme has been reviewed and he will now race next in the Trentham Stakes (2100 metres) Saturday 13th January – this a lead up race for the City of Auckland Cup (2400 metres) at Ellerslie on 27th January
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HIDDEN PROMISE makes it Four Wins in Singapore
Five Year Old Gelding HIDDEN PROMISE (Postponed-Promissory) had his band of NZ based Syndicate Members leaping up and down in front of their television sets when winning the Class 3 1600 metre event at Singapore’s Kranji Race course on New Year’s Day, bringing up the Gelding’s 4th Singapore win from 15 starts. Resuming at the 1600 metre trip after not racing since 19th November and having his first start in Class 3 company, HIDDEN PROMISE was ignored by Punters and sent out at odds of 20 to 1. Ridden for the first time by expat Kiwi jockey Craig Grylls, HIDDEN PROMISE was away well from the barriers and settled into 4th place on the rails in the running. Approaching the turn, it was apparent that Grylls had a lapful of horse under him and all that was required was an ounce of luck to find a gap between the two leaders. The gap was a while coming, but Grylls bided his time and eventually steered his mount between the two leaders with a compelling finishing run that gave him a three quarter length margin at the line
Click HERE to see the race replay
HIDDEN PROMISE winning – Kranji racecourse – 01 January 2018
Syndicate Racing Manager John Galvin was ecstatic, ” This was an outstanding result for the Team,” he said, ” Hidden Promise had trialed very well on Boxing Day but it was a resuming run off a six week break and he was up in Grade at Class 3 level, so we weren’t quite sure what we were going to get on the day, but what we did get was pretty good. We have been very patient with this horse, he didn’t have his first start until he was a November 4yo and now from 15 starts he has had 4 wins, only been out of the prizemoney in two of those starts and has now won S$125,000 in prizemoney for his Ownership Group. Trainer Mark Walker has done a great job with him and a big thanks to Craig Grylls, who was having his first race day ride for the Fortuna NZ Team.”
Trained by 2017 Singapore Champion Trainer, Mark Walker, HIDDEN PROMISE is raced by the Fortuna Hidden Promise Syndicate, an ownership group comprising 29 individuals and was purchased on behalf of Fortuna Syndications by Te Akau Racing’s David Ellis at the 2014 Ready To Run Sale for $65,000 from the draft of Westbury Stud.
Fortuna News Round Up 19th December
Two Fortuna horses to seek Group One glory at Ellerslie over the Summer Carnival
An exciting few days awaits the Fortuna Team in the next couple of weeks. On Boxing Day, Fortuna’s 8yo Gelding, CHANCE TO DANCE, contests the Group One Zabeel Classic (2000 metres) for $200,000 of prizemoney. Irish Bred and the winner of seven races from 28 starts in Ireland and Australia before being acquired by Fortuna in April of this year, CHANCE TO DANCE has won two of his three starts in NZ this Spring, one at Listed Level and the other at Group Three level.
Six Days later, last season’s Champion 2yo MELODY BELLE, contests the Group One Sistema Railway Stakes (1200 metres) for $200,000 of prizemoney. The winner of four races from eight race day starts, MELODY BELLE, has accumulated close to $900,000 of prizemoney in her career to date.
Fortuna Racing Manager, John Galvin, is shaking his head at the prospect of two of his charges contesting these two major events on the NZ Racing Calendar within a few days of each other. “It is an incredible prospect” he says,” here we have two horses, each at the opposite ends of the spectrum, one an 8yo genuine staying type who has been there and done it in three different countries, the other a fizzy 3yo sprinter with an amazing 2yo record, now taking on the big guns at the highest level – it doesn’t get much better than that. And interestingly many of the Members in the Melody Belle Syndicate are also in the Chance to Dance Syndicate as well, so those people are going to get two massive ownership thrills, win, lose or draw within a few days of each other at the same venue.”
Opie Bosson will ride Chance to Dance on Boxing Day and Michael McNab will ride Melody Belle on New Year’s Day
“Chance to Dance” – winning OMF Stakes – Ellerslie 7th November 2017
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Two Fortuna runners to make debuts over the Christmas Racing Carnival
Handsome Rebel (2yo Gelding – Denman-London Rebel) makes his race day debut at New Plymouth on 27th December.
Meteoric Lass (3yo Filly – Stratum-Benetar) debuts at Hastings on New Years Day.
Interestingly, both of these horses were acquired at the Gold Coast Magic Millions Sale, Meteoric Lass at the 2016 sale for A$50,000 and Handsome Rebel at the 2017 sale for A$65,000.
METEORIC LASS at the Matamata trials November 2017
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Fortuna entertains Te Akau Stable staff in Matamata 18th December
An enjoyable evening was had by all at Matamata’s well know Redoubt Bar when Fortuna’s John and Jessica Galvin put on a “shout” for the hard working Te Akau stable staff. John Galvin explains, “the Chance To Dance syndicate had approved a small slice of their winning prizemoney to be paid as a staff bonus and so we decided, seeing that it was Christmas time to give the stable staff a nice evening out. These people put in an incredible effort behind the scenes, getting up at 3.30 am in the morning, rain, hail and shine – they are an extremely dedicated bunch and it was a privilege to be able to show our appreciation in a small way for their efforts.”
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Race Fields Legislation approaches its final Hurdle before becoming law.
The Parliamentary Committee (Chaired by National MP David Bennett) has approved a final draft of the above legislation and all that needs to happen now is for the Bill to go before the House for a final reading – this should be a formality. The Bill puts into place legislation which applies a levy to the betting turnover of International Corporate bookmakers (primarily Australian based) who take bets on NZ Race Fields. Similar legislation has been in place in Australia for three or four years and the Australian Racing Jurisdictions have benefited to the tune of several hundreds of millions of dollars in that time. It is estimated that the NZ Racing Board will benefit to the tune of $15 to $20 million in the first year of implementation – a welcome shot in the arm for the NZ racing industry.
Fortuna News Round Up 12th December
MELODY BELLE Runs 3rd on resuming
Last Season’s Champion Two Year Old, MELODY BELLE, had the first start of her Three Year Old career at Ellerslie Saturday 9th December. In her first race for almost six months she contested the Open Sprint over 1200 metres, taking on a quality field of Open Class Sprinters. Slightly slow away, she went forward on a competitive early pace to position outside the leader, challenged to lead mid-straight and fought hard for third, behind VOLPE VELOCE and HEROIC VALOUR. Her Training Team of Stephen Autridge and Jamie Richards declared themselves very happy with her performance, saying that she had a god blow after the race and would take a lot of improvement from it ahead of her next assignment, the Group One System Railway Stakes at Ellerslie on New years Day.
Melody Belle wins the Karaka Million 29th January 2017
BEAU GESTE to make his race Day debut at Hastings Thursday 14th December
Three Year old Gelding BEAU GESTE (Pour Moi – Villa Wanda), a 3/4 brother to the multiple Group One winner, WALL STREET, heads to the races for the first time this week. A rangy staying type, BEAU GESTE was acquired by David Ellis on behalf of Fortuna at the 2016 Karaka Yearling Sale.
“We have been very patient with this horse,” reports Fortuna Director, John Galvin,” he trialed in the Autumn as a 2yo, but was quite weak, so we put him aside and since resuming training in the early Spring, he has been brought along steadily. He trialed at Matamata two weeks ago, running a nice 3rd and the Training Team have determined that he can make his race day debut.”
BEAU GESTE – Matamata Trials November 2017
FORTUNA OWNERS DAY a huge success
Fortuna Syndicators held one of their popular Owners Days at Matamata Race course on Sunday 10th December. Attended by approximately 85 Fortuna Syndications Members, the occasion honoured the various jockeys that have ridden successfully for Fortuna over the years, headed up by the now retired Noel Harris. All of the Fortuna horses currently in work at Matamata were paraded, including stable stars, MELODY BELLE and CHANCE TO DANCE, along with the new acquisitions, the Singapore bound AABIR and the Ready to Run sale purchase, the Jakkalbery-Red Alert Gelding “Winston”. A great time was had by all participants.
Fortuna News Round Up 5th December
Fortuna’s Singapore Trainer Mark Walker claims 2017 season Singapore Trainer’s Premiership
With the 2018 Singapore racing season coming to a close on Sunday, Mark Walker has claimed the title of Champion Singapore Trainer for the second time – to add to his five New Zealand Trainers’ Premiership titles!
Congratulations to Mark Walker and all the team in Te Akau Racing in Singapore in winning yet another Premiership!
Mark finished the season on 87 wins. A truly remarkable performance and 22 wins ahead of the second placed trainer.
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MELODY BELLE to make her 3yo debut at Ellerslie Sat 9th Dec
Melody Belle at Avondale Trials 16th Nov 2017
Anticipation is high and nerves are on edge as Saturday 9th December approaches, this being the day that last season’s Champion Two Year Old, MELODY BELLE, kicks off her 3yo Season. Not many Champion 2yo’s carry on to being dominant as 3yo’s, but those that do generally are very, very good. Saturday’s lead up race is a precursor to the Group One Sistema Railway Stakes over 1200 metres on New Year’s Day at Ellerslie and safely through that, the filly will be aimed at the $1m Karaka 3yo Mile on 27th January, also at Ellerslie. MELODY BELLE’s two trials have been first class as she has built to resumption.
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FORTUNA acquires a lovely staying type 2yo at Ready To Run Sale – By Jakkalberry – Stable Name “Winston”
Click HERE to see “Winston” parading at Matamata last week – voice over from Jamie Richards
2yo Gelding by Jakkalberry out of Red Alert
Patience paid off for John Galvin at the recent Ready To Run Sale – it has been well documented how the NZ Trainers and Syndicators were competing with the very deep pocketed Asian and Australian buying bench as the record average price of $108,000 would attest to.
“My instructions to David Ellis and Jamie Richards were to target a staying type with a strong staying pedigree, who passed the vet checks with flying colours and with a budget of no more than $80,000. In the end just nine horses were on our short list, with “Winston” ranked No 2 in our preference. Our No 1 preference went for $430,000!!! – but we were rapt to get Winston knocked down to us for $75,000 late in the sale – the patience paid off.
“My instructions to David Ellis and Jamie Richards were to target a staying type with a strong staying pedigree, who passed the vet checks with flying colours and with a budget of no more than $80,000. In the end just nine horses were on our short list, with “Winston” ranked No 2 in our preference. Our No 1 preference went for $430,000!!! – but we were rapt to get Winston knocked down to us for $75,000 late in the sale – the patience paid off.
Trainer Jamie Richards has this to say about Winston – “John, this horse presents as a lovely physical specimen with a strong staying pedigree – from what we have seen to date, however, we don’t think you will need to wait a long time for him – he is a more of a compact staying type rather than a lean rangy type – our plan is to get him to a trial in March or April of 2018 and then assess him from there. Steve and I think he will make a lovely 3yo staying type.”Shares selling steadily – 55% sold already – contact John by email HERE or call/text 021 921 460 to get involved.
Share price includes all Initial Costs – Purchase price, GST, Promoters Fees, Insurance through to 31st January 2019 and working capital of over $12,000 – Training fees paid up to 1st April 2018
Shares available right down to 1%
10% share $13,000 – 5% share $6,500 – 2.5% share $3,250 – 1% share $1,300.
Monthly Ongoing costs commence 1st April 2018 – $340 per month per 10% share – $170 per month per 5% share – $85 per month per 2.5% share – $34 per month per 1% share.
Shares available right down to 1%
10% share $13,000 – 5% share $6,500 – 2.5% share $3,250 – 1% share $1,300.
Monthly Ongoing costs commence 1st April 2018 – $340 per month per 10% share – $170 per month per 5% share – $85 per month per 2.5% share – $34 per month per 1% share.
And don’t forget we offer Terms, what we call the “Harvey Norman” option – you can pay your share off over a six month period interest free.
Contact John by email or call/text 021 921 460 to get involved in this lovely horse
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Last Call for Fortuna “Owners Day” – Matamata Race Course Sunday 10th December
Don’t forget to register for the Owners Day.
Date – Sunday December 10th
Place – “The Gazebo” – Matamata Race course
Time – 1pm to 4pm
Theme – “Jockeys Day”
Light refreshments will be served
As the theme suggest, we will be honouring the riders that have ridden for us over the years and a number of riders who have ridden successfully for us will be present. We will also be parading a number of the Fortuna horses as well including Melody Belle, Chance To Dance, Aabir (our latest “straight to Singapore acquisition) and “Winston” – our very latest Ready To Run acquisition
Please RSVP as soon as possible if you would like to attend – call John 021 921 460 to register
Fortuna buys Staying Type at Ready To Run Sale – a Gelding by the Irish Bred International Stayer JAKKALBERRY
Fortuna Weekly Round Up 14th November
Fortuna’s JACKS SECRET breaks through for his Maiden win in Singapore
Cliches filled the airwaves late evening Friday 10th November after JACKS SECRET, (five year old gelding – Sahkees Secret-Spin N Grin) won the Class 5 1400 metre event at Singapore’s Kranji racecourse. “All good things come to he who waits,” “Patience is a virtue”, “No longer the bridesmaid” were some of the cliches being employed. This because JACKS SECRET, who had made his Singapore debut in October 2016 had had seventeen previous starts without victory. The horse had not been without form however, as 13 of those 17 starts had resulted in prizemoney earnings and his three previous starts before victory had yielded three seconds in a row.
Drawn the outside barrier in the 14 horse field, rider Vlad Duric elected to go back and ride for luck. Prior to the turn Duric was steadily picking his way through the field and it was obvious he had a mount full of running beneath him and all he needed to do was find clear air in the run home in order to be competitive in the finish. The clear air came, but job was not over as the race leader, Sing Roulette, had established a five length break as they turned. Out in the middle of the track, however, JACKS SECRET had mounted a compelling run, quickly reeled in the leader and went to the line with two lengths to spare. Click HERE to watch the race video replay.
JACKS SECRET – victorious in Singapore – Vlad Duric in the saddle
JACKS SECRET was acquired by David Ellis on behalf of Fortuna at the 2014 Karaka Yearling Sales for the sum of $25,000. He has now accumulated over $72,000 in prize money earnings. He is owned and raced by the Fortuna Jacks Secret Syndicate, an ownership group of 24 individuals, 2 of whom are Singapore residents.
Latest Fortuna acquisition
Shares in Fortuna’s latest “Straight To Singapore” acquisition, the O’Reilly – Neraan 3yo Gelding, named “AABIR” are selling quickly, now 65% sold. A big, strong (16.1 hands) type, AABIR has been well prepared and shown excellent ability going to the trials four times for a win, two seconds and a third.
Click HERE to see video clip of AABIR parading.
He is scheduled to travel to Singapore where he will be prepared by Singapore’s leading Trainer, Mark Walker. All going well, he will have his first start in March and will be racing in Restricted Maiden Grade, a grade that carries S$85,000 (approx NZ$90,000 in prize money (no. that is not a misprint)
“Aabir” –
Shares available right down to 1%
5% share $7,400 – 2.5% share $3,700 – 1% share $1,480
Share price includes all Initial Costs – Purchase price, Promoters Fees, Insurance through to 31st January 2019, all transport costs to Singapore and working capital of over $6,000
5% share $7,400 – 2.5% share $3,700 – 1% share $1,480
Share price includes all Initial Costs – Purchase price, Promoters Fees, Insurance through to 31st January 2019, all transport costs to Singapore and working capital of over $6,000
Monthly Ongoing costs from 1st January 2018 – $170 per month per 5% share – $85 per month per 2.5% share – $34 per month per 1% share
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FORTUNA’S Champion Two Year Old, MELODY BELLE to trial at Avondale Thursday 16th November
Yes, she’s back!! MELODY BELLE will have the second of her two 3yo season trials at Avondale this week ahead of her planned 3yo debut at Ellerslie on Saturday 9th December in the Open Sprint. The winner of $865,000 from just seven starts as a 2yo, MELODY BELLE has some ambitious targets as a 3yo, with the Group One System Railway Stakes at Ellerslie on New Years Day being her initial major target and the $1m Karaka 3yo Classic over 1600 metres at Ellerslie being her second major target.
Fortuna’s CHANCE TO DANCE has his summer racing campaign mapped out
8yo CHANCE TO DANCE who has won two of his three NZ starts, both in elite races has gone for a water walker freshen up after his win in the Group 3 OMF Stakes at Ellerslie on Melbourne Cup Day. Having had just four starts in the Fortuna colours, he has already won prize money of NZ$130,000. He will start next in the Group One Zabeel Classic (200- metre -$200,000) on Boxing Day at Ellerslie and from there his plans include the Group One Herbie Dyke Stakes at Te Rapa (2000 metres $400,00) on 9th February and the Group One Auckland Cup (3200 metres $500,000) on 9th March
FORTUNA horses racing this week
VENUS DE MILO races Singapore Friday 17th November, HIDDEN PROMISE races Singapore 19th November, OUR RIVER DANCER races at the Perak Turf Club meeting (Malaysia) 18th November.
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Fortuna’s JACKS SECRET breaks through for his Maiden win in Singapore
Cliches filled the airwaves late evening Friday 10th November after JACKS SECRET, (five year old gelding – Sahkees Secret-Spin N Grin) won the Class 5 1400 metre event at Singapore’s Kranji racecourse. “All good things come to he who waits,” “Patience is a virtue”, “No longer the bridesmaid” were some of the cliches being employed. This because JACKS SECRET, who had made his Singapore debut in October 2016 had had seventeen previous starts without victory. The horse had not been without form however, as 13 of those 17 starts had resulted in prizemoney earnings and his three previous starts before victory had yielded three seconds in a row.
Drawn the outside barrier in the 14 horse field, rider Vlad Duric elected to go back and ride for luck. Prior to the turn Duric was steadily picking his way through the field and it was obvious he had a mount full of running beneath him and all he needed to do was find clear air in the run home in order to be competitive in the finish. The clear air came, but job was not over as the race leader, Sing Roulette, had established a five length break as they turned. Out in the middle of the track, however, JACKS SECRET had mounted a compelling run, quickly reeled in the leader and went to the line with two lengths to spare. Click HERE to watch the race video replay.
JACKS SECRET – victorious in Singapore – Vlad Duric in the saddle
JACKS SECRET was acquired by David Ellis on behalf of Fortuna at the 2014 Karaka Yearling Sales for the sum of $25,000. He has now accumulated over $72,000 in prize money earnings. He is owned and raced by the Fortuna Jacks Secret Syndicate, an ownership group of 24 individuals, 2 of whom are Singapore residents.