Dame Margo Fonteyn impressive in breaking Maidens at New Plymouth 1st December
The strapping three year-old filly DAME MARGO FONTEYN franked the high opinion that her handlers Stephen Autridge and Jamie Richards of Te Akau Racing Stables have of her, by taking out the Maiden 1400 event at New Plymouth on Friday 1st of December in dominant fashion. Drawn eight at the barrier in a big field of 16 runners, she was away brilliantly from the gates and shared the lead in the hands of rider Matt Cameron. Mid race a couple of runners went around her, but Cameron was content to take the trail. Shaken up before the turn to get closer to the leaders, the Filly straightened up in second place with the leader, Prince Oz about three lengths clear, however once balanced and asked for an effort by Cameron, she soon gobbled the leader up and went to the post by one and a half lengths with a further two lengths back to the third horse. Click HERE to see the race result and Video replay (click on the Video tab to see replay)
By High Chaparral out of the Keeper mare, Dancing Forever, DAME MARGO FONTEYN was acquired at the 2015 Karaka Premier Sale by David Ellis on behalf of Fortuna Ltd. Fortuna Director, John Galvin, was naturally naturally very happy with his charge’s result. “We have always had a lot of time for this Filly – she has always been a looker, she trialed extremely well when winning a trial at Te Teko in in August – she is a natural staying type and the further she goes the better she will be”
Nicknamed “Cilla” the Filly is raced by the Fortuna Dame Margo Fonteyn Syndicate, an ownership group comprising 30 individuals, many of whom are in numerous other Fortuna Syndicates.
Fortuna acquires 2yo Colt by Caulfield Guineas winner, HELMET at Ready to Run Sale
Great buying at Karaka for the Fortuna Team acquiring this very athletic HELMET 2yo Colt out of the good racemare, SHAMABELLE. Click HERE for more details
Fortuna 2yo Filly, MELODY BELLE, wins on debut at Ruakaka
The promising Fortuna 2yo filly, Melody Belle, stamped her authority over a small but even field on her debut run at Ruakaka Wednesday 12th October in a two-year-old event over 900 metres.
The winner of her only trial at Avondale on September 20, she was not even destined to make her debut at Ruakaka, as the plan had been to trial her again at Cambridge on Tuesday 11th October, however with the Cambridge trials being cancelled due to heavy track conditions and the scheduled race date at Te Aroha 12 October being moved to Ruakaka to obtain better footing for horses, her connections decided to throw her in the deep end and allow her to make her race day debut.
Drawing the ace barrier with the rail out four metres and in the hands of the very competent Cameron Lammas, Melody Belle (nicknamed “Valerie”) was always going to prove a handful, provided she jumped well and saw out the race distance.
She did indeed jump well, held the rail in the run, cornered like a professional and finished the race off under a hold from rider Lammas, much to the delight of a big group of her owners who were on course to support her. Click HERE to see race result and Video Replay.
Syndicate Manager and Fortuna Director John Galvin was very pleased with his charge’s success, “We really liked this Filly at the sales and managed to secure her under our budget” he said, ” and she has never put a foot wrong since. Beautifully bred by a leading Australian Stallion in Commands (by Danehill) and out of a winning Iffraaj mare, she looks as if she has the makings of a really nice two-year-old and is proving to be an astute purchase”
“Valerie” was purchased by David Ellis and Jamie Richards on behalf of Fortuna, at the Karaka premiere sale for $57,500, is eligible for the Karaka Million event in January 2017 and is raced by the Fortuna Melody Belle Syndicate consisting of 31 individuals many of whom have been part of other Fortuna Filly Syndicates .
IT’S OUR SHOWTIME breaks Maiden in dominant style at Otaki
3yo Filly IT’S OUR SHOWTIME (Showcasing-Be Inspired) scored a dominant win in a Maiden 1200m event at Otaki today at her third race day start. Beautifully ridden by Matt Cameron, she went to the lead after the start, was never headed, found a kick in the straight and went on to win by 4 lengths .
Click HERE to see race replay.
Acquired via a private Sale by Fortuna’s John Galvin in September 2014 following a buy recommendation by David Ellis, “Jazz” as she is nicknamed has had some issues and is lightly raced as a result. Naturally, Fortuna Director, John Galvin was ecstatic at the outcome. “ We have known that this Filly has more than her share ability, ” he said, ” and her wee setbacks have been frustrating, but looks as if we have a nice filly on our hands.”
It’s Our Showtime is raced by an ownership group of 32 individuals
HIGHLY LIKELY wins again
5yo Gelding HIGHLY LIKELY (High Chaparral-Starrinka), who commenced a fresh campaign at Pukekohe over 1600 metres earlier in April with a solid but unplaced finish, didn’t disappoint favourite punters today when contesting the Jumpers Flay event over 2100 metre at Tauranga. Ridden by the up and coming young Jumps rider, Daniel Miller, HIGHLY LIKELY contested the lead for most of the run, kicked clear on turning for home and withheld a couple of stern challenges to win by 3/4 length on the line for his 4th career victory. Click HERE to see race result and video replay.
Fortuna Director, John Galvin, expressed satisfaction post race. “Highly Likely is not the easiest horse to handle, he has a lot of quirks, but he has responded well to a number of changes that the Training Team have made to his work routine. He is a genuine staying type and while we won’t get carried away with todays’ result, we will seek to progress him through the grades; he is still maturing and developing and there is a nice race in store for him at some point.”
Acquired by David Ellis on behalf of Fortuna at the 2012 NZ Bloodstock South Island Sale, HIGHLY LIKELY is raced by an ownership Group consisting of 25 individual Members.
KING SAVINSKY wins for the third time in Singapore
He doesn’t win out of turn, but when he does win, KING SAVINSKY does so in stylish fashion. Slow away from the barrier in the Class 5 1800 metre event on the Kranji Polytrack, rider Manoel Nunes was content to let the strapping 5yo son of Savabeel lope along at the back of the field. Starting to edge him forward from about the 800 metre mark, Nunes cleverly got his charge onto the back of race favourite, Verglactica and tracked him into the straight. On turning for home, Nunes switched to the outside of the other runner and mounted a strong staying finish to go to the line victorious by the best part of a length. Click HERE to see the race replay
Friday night’s victory was KING SAVINSKY’s third in Singapore from 4o starts and he has now grossed over S$100,000 in official earnings. Acquired at the 2012 Karaka Select Sale by David Ellis on behalf of Fortuna, KING SAVINSKY has 32 individual Members in his Syndicate.
EATONS GOLD wins for the Seventh Time in Singapore
Seven Year Old Gelding EATONS GOLD became Fortuna Syndications most successful horse ever (by wins) when winning in Singapore Sunday 27th April, making it seven career wins and close to S$400,000 of career earnings.
Backing up from a previous win in February, EATONS GOLD was carrying 58kgs, a weight he had not won with previously, but had drawn nicely at barrier and 2 and had Singapore Champion Jockey, Manoel Nunes in the saddle. Away nicely, Nunes settled Eatons Gold in behind the leader, eased him forward before the turn and hit the lead on straightening, refusing to surrender, despite a strong challenge from race favourite, Rich Fortune, going to the line 3/4 of a length clear of his rival. Click HERE to see the race replay.
Trained in Singapore by Champion Trainer, Mark Walker, EATONS GOLD was a $75,000 purchase by David Ellis on behalf of Fortuna at the 201o Karaka Select Sale and is owned by The Fortuna Eatons Gold Syndicate, an ownership group of 27 individuals.
Fortuna Director, John Galvin was naturally very pleased with the outcome. “EATONS GOLD has been a wonderful servant for us in Singapore,” he said, “while not a true top class horse, he hardly ever runs a bad race as his seven wins, seven seconds snd seven thirds and nine fourths from forty eight starts will attest.”
Three Interesting Fortuna Runners in Singapore this weekend
Two Fortuna runners, the 6yo READY FORTUNE and 5yo KING SAVINSKY clash in Race 1, a Class 5 event over 1700 metres, at Singapore’s Kranji racecourse Friday 26th February. Both have dropped back in Class and both have strong credentials. READY FORTUNE has won four times in Class 5 and is a dangerous lightweight with just 53kgs to carry; to be ridden by the promising apprentice CK NG. A get back type of runner, he will be storming home at the finish. KING SAVINSKY is a two win horse in Singapore after having previously won once in NZ. A big, strapping son of Savabeel, he is primed for this race and will be ridden by Champion apprentice (but now a senior rider) SHAFIQ RUSOF, from a good barrier draw.
Race 1 on Sunday features the 5yo DOUBLE JEOPARDY, one of the best performed Maiden Runners in Singapore. Off the scene for a mandatory three month stand down after suffering a bleeding attack last November, he is a very interesting runner. A natural staying type, the Class 5 1200 metre trip is, on paper, too short for him, but a look at his past form reveals that he is very capable of running this sort of trip very strongly in a fresh state. To be ridden by CK NG (who takes 4kgs off his back) from barrier 4, he presents some danger to this field.
EATONS GOLD makes it Six Career wins in Singapore
Torrential rain greeted the starters as they approached the barrier for the Class 4 Sprint over 1000 metres at Singapore’s Kranji racecourse Friday 19th February. Fortuna’s seven year old EATONS GOLD had drawn out in barrier ten and while suited by the drop back to Class 4 from Class 3, was still going to need some luck from the draw and heavy rain was going to complicate matters as well. None of this seemed to worry the young apprentice CK NG, who had been assigned to the riding duties by Singapore’s Champion Trainer, Mark Walker. He bounced EATONS GOLD out nicely from the start before steadying him into 3rd place in the run. The track was very water logged as a result of the heavy rain and made the event a real slog. At the 300 metre mark, the favourite, LADRONE, had kicked away and it looked as if the task of winning the race night be beyond EATONS GOLD as it was hard to sprint on the very wet surface, however he kept up a sustained run and with LADRONE weakening on his run the last 50 metre, EATONS GOLD got up for a last stride win. Click HERE to see the race replay.
EATONS GOLD’s win was his sixth in Singapore and bought his career earnings up to over S$360,000, a great reward for a faithful servant, who rarely runs a bad race. Interestingly enough, that sixth win means that EATON equals the winning record of the very good galloper, TELL A TALE, who up until now, has held the record for the most wins by a Fortuna horse.
Raced by the Fortuna Eatons Gold Syndicate, the horse was acquired by David Ellis on behalf of Fortuna at the 2010 Karaka Select Sale for $72,500
LADY IFFRAAJ makes it back to back wins In Singapore
It was a busy and successful sporting day Sunday 31st January with New Zealand teams taking out the World Rugby Sevens in Wellington and the Black Caps clinching the One Day Cricket Series against Pakistan at Eden Park. But for a group of 33 people scattered around different part of New Zealand, their main focus for the day was how their talented 3yo Filly, LADY IFFRAAJ, would perform in the S$75,000 Novice event at Kranji race course in Singapore. An emphatic last to first winner at her last start in December, “LORDE” as this filly is nicknamed had been freshened and was now stepping up in grade over 1000 metres on the Kranji Polytrack. Drawn nicely at barrier 4, LADY IFFRAAJ had the services of up and coming Mohammed Firdaus to ride She jumped nicely and settled in third place behind the pacemaker NOVA EAGLE (Nunes) and BE BOLD (Brown). As they turned, BE BOLD surged up to wrest the lead from NOVA EAGLE, but LADY IFFRAAJ was poised to pounce and mounted an irresistible finishing run to take the lead in the last 100 metres and won the event by three quarters of a length. Click HERE to see race replay.
Fortuna Director, John Galvin was naturally very pleased, ” We have always had a lot of time for this filly and she seems to have more than her share of ability. She could prove to be a very good horse in Singapore in due course.”
LADY IFFRAAJ has now had five starts in Singapore for two wins, two seconds and a third and has already amassed S$100,000 in prizemoney earnings. Bred by Jamieson Park, she was acquired for Fortuna by David Ellis at the 2014 Karaka Premier Sale for NZ$27,500