Fortuna Thoroughbred Syndications successful run of good fortune continued today with 4yo Gelding SIR DARCI (Darci Brahma-Dominant) taking out the Rating 85 event over 1200 metres at New Plymouth, ridden by last season’s premiership winning jockey, Matt Cameron. It was SIR DARCI’S first run as a 4yo after recording a strong trial win at Te Teko on the 5th August. SIR DARCI had fashioned a very consistent record as a 3yo accumulating three wins and three minor placings from nine starts. Click HERE to see race replay

Fortuna Director, John Galvin was on hand to see his charge perform. ” He is developing into a lovely strong horse; as a 3yo we were always just a tad behind the eight ball with him due to a virus that he picked up pre Christmas,” said John Galvin, ” today he was fresh up over 1200 metres, he was very relaxed pre race but did race very keenly in the run; he came into contention as the turned for home, then seemed to hit a flat spot before finding another gear and charging home to win.” 

SIR DARCI’S primary initial target will be the  Couplands Bakeries Mile run at Riccarton on November 12th, but he will need to accumulate more ratings points to gain entry to that event.

SIR DARCI was selected by David Ellis on behalf of Fortuna at the 2012 Karaka Premier Sale from the draft of the Oaks Stud. Trained by Jason Bridgman, he is raced by the Fortuna Sir Darci Syndicate, an ownership group made up of thirty two individuals.

FORTUNA SYNDICATES four year old Gelding, HIGHLY LIKELY, showed that his debut win at Te Aroha in June, at just his second race day start, was no fluke, when taking out the Rating 65 1600 event at Matamata today. Freshened since his June win, connections regarded today’s distance as probably too short for this strapping son of High Chapparral out of the Volksraad mare Starrinka  and with track conditions steadily drying out, there was also a concern that the going may be too good for him. In his favour was a good barrier draw, blinkers for the first time and a 3kg weight allowance for apprentice jockey, Lee Magorrian. The horse just dwelt slightly at the start, however, his rider soon had him up on the rail just in behind the leaders and enjoyed a lovely run in transit. Magorrian peeled him out as they straightened and he burst to lead with 150 metres to go, however faced a stern challenge from Thats How We Roll, who was finishing like a train down the outside, but in a dramatic head bobbing finish, HIGHLY LIKELY got the nod from the judge. Click HERE to see the race replay

FORTUNA Director, John Galvin, who was on track along with a number of the Syndicate Members, was naturally proud of his charge. “He is a lovely horse, a real stayer in the making, he has come on beautifully since his Te Aroha win and still has a lot of maturing to do yet; we probably won’t see the best of him until he is a five and six year old. Full credit to the Te Akau team for their work with this horse; in particular Jamie Richards who rides him in most of his work and has taken him up Ann Brown’s hill at Cambridge a few time recently; this has contributed to his development and fitness levels as well.”

Trained by Jason Bridgman of Te Akau Racing, HIGHLY LIKELY was the top priced lot at the 2012 South Island sale, where he was selected on behalf of Fortuna by Te Akau Racing Supremo, David Ellis. The horse is raced by the Fortuna Highly Likely Syndicate, an ownership group consisting of 25 individuals.

The 3yo Fillies race over 1100 metres at the Taupo August meeting is often a starting point for some very good 3yo Fillies, with 2014 season Sprinter of The Year, BOUNDING winning in 2013 and the multiple Group winning Filly FIX in 2012 and todays renewal lacked little for class with eight of the ten runners having been successful as 2yo’s. The Fortuna runner DARCI’S DREAM was one of those who had been successful as a 2yo, having had five starts for one win, a second and a third. A smart trial winner at Te Teko on the 5th August, she had certainly declared her hand as having the potential to carry over her fine 2yo form into her 3yo season. Confidence in the camp was tempered by the quality of the field. In the run, DARCI’S DREAM was three wide but strode nicely into the race before the turn, however as they turned, she was six lengths shy of the race leader Queen of Navarre, who had not covered an inch of extra ground. 2014 Premiership winning jockey, Matthew Cameron, knuckled down to ride the Fortuna filly out and she showed great strength to run out the final two hundred metres strongly and take out the event. Click HERE to Race Video Replay.

Fortuna Director, John Galvin was on hand to cheer his charge home, “A great result for this horse, every Filly in the field today has Classic race aspirations and for her to win like that is a great thrill for us and all of her owners.” he said.

DARCI’S DREAM, bred by David Ellis and Karyn Fenton-Ellis, was acquired by Fortuna Syndicators at the 2013 Karaka Select Sale, is owned by the Darci’s Dream Syndicate, comprising 30 individual owners and is trained by Jason Bridgman.

The evening of Thursday 14th August saw the 2014 renewal of the Annual NZ Thoroughbred Awards, also known as The Horse of The Year Event. A true celebration of excellence, this occasion honours outstanding achievements in the Thoroughbred industry, both human and equine, over the previous racing season.

Fortuna Thoroughbred Syndicators Director John Galvin and his wife, Jessica, hosted a number of Fortuna clients at the event which saw Lisa Latta crowned as Trainer of the Year and Matt Cameron  Jockey of the Year,  with both Lisa and Matt being first time winners of these prestigious awards,

As expected, the dominance of the 4yo Galloper, DUNDEEL (aka ITS A DUNDEEL), in Australia this past season, saw him crowned as Horse of The Year as well as winning the Champion Middle Distance award. Outstanding performances in both NZ and Australia saw the Melbourne Cup bound SILENT ACHIEVER earn the Champion Stayer Award.

Other awards of note were BOUNDING win the Champion Sprinter Award, VESPA the Champion Two year Old Award, PUCCINI the Champion Three Year Old Award while COSTA VIVA took out the coveted Filly of the Year. A regular visitor to the winners podium was Valachi Downs supremo, Kevin Hickman, who won the Owner and Breeder of the Year awards, Kevin being the Breeder and Owner of SILENT ACHIEVER. Veteran Jockey, DAVID WALSH, who during the season established a record for the most career races ever won by a jockey in NZ, was awarded the very prestigious and sought after Outstanding Contribution to Racing award.

Joining John and Jessica at the Fortuna table were Fortuna clients Rick and Anne Middleton, Shane and Marianne Thomsen and Mick and Wendy Willock with Mark and Sarah Chitty from Haunui Stud joining us at the table.

FORTUNA NEWSLETTER – 06 August 2014

READY FORTUNE Deadheating for a win in Singapore 19th July 2014

IN THIS ISSUE

• More Singapore success for Fortuna
• Fabulous Trials Day at Te Teko for Fortuna Horses
• New Syndication Opportunity about to be launched
• Matt Cameron takes out NZ Jockey Premiership
• Upcoming Racing News

Fortuna’s READY FORTUNE wins in Singapore in dramatic dead heat finish.

Three Fortuna runners, Three winners at Te Teko

Trials 5th August

Fortuna  Director – John Galvin

Contact John Galvin directly by email john@fortuna-nz.com or cell phone 021 921 460

” Two out of three ain’t bad” according to the Meatloaf song, but three out of three is even better. And so it was at the Te Teko Trials today with Fortuna presenting three of its runners and scoring a 100% success rate. Fortuna Director John Galvin, who was present, was understandably very pleased with his charges. “Well, it is always nice to have horses that you believe are talented, to perform well on trials days, but what was special today was that all three won their trials with a stamp of authority.”

First away in an Open Trial over 1040 metres was the well performed 4yo SIR DARCI( Darci Brahma-Dominant). SIR DARCI is no stranger to success, haven won three times as a 3yo, but has really strengthened and developed as he has transited to a 4yo. He finished off his trial under no pressure in the hands of Danielle Johnson. 

Second away in a 3yo event was 3yo DARCI’S DREAM (Darci Brahma-Sweet Dreams Baby). Already a winner as a 2yo, DARCI’S DREAM has trained on nicely into her three year old year and went to the line nicely in today’s trial in the hands of Danielle Johnson, one and a quarter lengths clear.

Last but not least was 3yo PRINCE HENRY (Henrythenavigator-Ocean of Tears) in a Maiden 3yo event. Not yet tried on raceday, PRINCE HENRY had shown ability as an Autumn 2yo running 2nd and 3rd in two trials. Spelled subsequently, this strong, scopey gelding was particularly impressive today winning his 800 metre trial with a lot in hand. Rider Matt Cameron was fulsome in his praise of the horse post trial.

Subject to all three horses coming through their trials satisfactorily, all three may be seen on the racetrack in the near future.

READY FORTUNE’s very patient ownership group were rewarded for their patience at Singapore’s Kranji racecourse on Friday night when their charge scored a nail biting dead heat win in the Class 5 event over 1600 metres on the Polytrack. Prior to last night’s race, 4yo READY FORTUNE (More Than Ready-Bahira), had faced the starter 22 times, with sixteen prizemoney winning placings, including five seconds. While sent out the favourite, BASIL, as the horse is nicknamed, did have the top weight and a wide barrier draw to overcome from the tricky 1600 metre start. Indeed, with 100 metres to go in last night’s event, it looked for all money as if READY FORTUNE was going to run 2nd again as the Laurie Laxon trained FOREIGN EXCHANGE, headed him. However  with his characteristic strong finish, READY FORTUNE clawed back over the concluding stages and two strides short of the line, looked to have mastered his rival, but in a compelling heads up, head down finish, the judge could not separate the two. Click HERE to see the race replay

“That was marvellous” said Fortuna Director, John Galvin, “he is as honest as the day is long, hardly ever runs a bad race and has been unlucky not to have won before this.”

Trained by expatriate New Zealand Trainer, Mark Walker, READY FORTUNE was ridden by Singapore’s leading jockey, Manuel Nunes.

READY FORTUNE was selected by David Ellis for Fortuna Thoroughbred Syndicators at the 2011 Karaka Yearling Sale and is raced by the Fortuna Ready Fortune Syndicate, an ownership group comprising 37 individuals

While not a Fortuna horse (unfortunately), the success of NZ owned and bred SPALATO in the Singapore Derby on Sunday 13th July was a success well worthy of celebration by all of those  involved in racing thoroughbreds in Singapore. Unbelievably, SPALATO, a 4yo Gelded son of Elusive City, had his first ever race day start on the 4th May, winning that event by 9.8 lengths. Another commanding victory winning by 4.5 lengths on the 18th May was to follow. A few eyebrows were raised when connections then made the decision to start SPALATO in the Group One Patrons Bowl on 22nd June, but the horse duly delivered, even if the margin was only a nose. Questions again were  posed about SPALATO’s ability to handle the 2000 metre trip of the Derby, given that his three previous victories had been at 1000, 1400 and 1600 metres respectively, but in a stunning display of power, SPALATO, in the hands of Champion Singapore jockey, Manuel Nunes, simply sprinted away from his rivals in the straight, winning by 4.3 lengths. Click HERE to watch race replay.

Bred in New Zealand out of the mare, Ellington (by Duke Express) by the well known equine photographer, Trish Dunnell and raced by Trish and her husband Graham Mackie, SPALATO has now won approx S$940,000 in just four race day starts plus collected a further S$50,000 as a bonus for winning the Derby. SPALATO will now go for a well deserved break and no firm plans have been announced for his future racing direction, but as well as the wonderful prize money on offer in Singapore, there are bound to be plans being hatched by Trainer John O’Hara and the connections for forays to Dubai or Hong Kong for this very talented New Zealand bred racehorse.

“A long time between drinks” was an appropriate adage when Fortuna’s 5yo Gelding VON SNITZEL ( Snitzel-Lumir) won in Singapore Friday 27th June. The last time that VON SNITZEL had greeted the judge had been 810 days earlier, in April 2012. Not that the horse has been unproductive in that time as he had won prize money in twelve of his twenty five starts.

Drawn well at Barrier two on the Turf track and in the hands of the very capable Lisa Allpress, VON SNITZEL went straight to the lead, dictated terms in front, cornered under no pressure from the rider and maintained his advantage down the long Kranji straight, winning with a two length margin in hand in the smart time of 1.23.67 for the 1400 metre trip. Click HERE to view race replay

” I am so happy for the Syndicate Members” was Fortuna Director John Galvin’s response straight after the race, ” they have had their patience tested severely in the past two years; however he has generally run very honest races and his accumulated earnings in Singapore are now around S$95,000, so he has more than paid his way. He was very unlucky last start, getting badly squeezed just short of the post and with his good barrier draw tonight, we did think he was a real chance.”

Selected by David Ellis on behalf of Fortuna at the 2010 Karaka Premier Sale, VON SNITZEL is raced by an ownership group comprising 24 individuals.

Promising three year old gelding, HIGHLY LIKELY (High Chaparral-Starrinka), produced a gutsy effort in very testing conditions at Te Aroha today, when taking out a Maiden 2200 metre event at just his second race day start. Fortuna boss, John Galvin, was well pleased with his charge’s effort. ” Let’s put this in persecutive,” he said, ” this horse is just having his his second race day start, the trip is 2200 metres, the track is a Heavy 11 and he is just a three year old racing against older horses and lugging 68.5kgs, because it was an amateur riders race – that is a big effort under the circumstances and aided by a lovely ride by Jamie Richards.” Click HERE to watch race replay – HIGHLY LIKELY goes from barrier three and is in the Fortuna colours of Tangerine/Blue with White Sash.

HIGHLY LIKELY, acquired for Fortuna by David Ellis at the 2012 South Island Yearling Sale, has a lovely pedigree, by the Champion Race Horse and now successful Stallion, High Chaparral, out of the Volksraad mare, Starrinka, herself a half sister to the well performed The Meista.  Trainer Jason Bridgman and Syndicate Manager, John Galvin, have always had a lot of time for the horse, but have handled him patiently as he is still developing and maturing. “HIGHLY LIKELY is still very much a work in progress” says Bridgman, “a year from now he will be more mature and a lot stronger as a result; he has the potential to be a really top line winter galloper in the years ahead.”

HIGHLY LIKELY is raced by the Fortuna Highly Likely Syndicate, an ownership group of twenty five individuals. He was ridden in today’s event by amateur rider, Jamie Richards, whose day job is racing manager for Te Akau Racing Stables. Jamie has now had seven race day rides for four wins and two seconds, a great record in Amateur riding events. Jamie has a great pedigree himself, being the son of former South Island jockey and now successful Wingatui trainer, Paul Richards.