Black Type Success for DARCI’S DREAM at Riccarton

Anticipation among supporters of the Fortuna Syndicates 3yo Filly DARCI’S DREAM was high as start time for the time honoured Canterbury Belle Stakes, a Listed event, approached. A dominant winner at her first run as a three year old at Taupo on 20th August, DARCI’S DREAM or “BABY” as she is nicknamed, had been sent south by her Trainer, Jason Bridgman, to tackle the Listed event with the aim of using the race as one of two lead ups into the ultimate prize, the $300,000 Group One NZ Bloodstock 1000 Guineas, run at Riccarton on the 15th November. DARCI’S DREAM had traveled down to Riccarton through the week, accompanied by her very experienced handler, Steve O’Neil.

Drawn well at barrier 4 in the field of twelve runners and ridden by New Zealand’s most successful ever jockey, the evergreen David Walsh, DARCI’S DREAM jumped nicely, camped in behind the speed, was produced to the outside by Walsh at about the 300 metre mark and then provided her trademark finishing run to burst clear, taking out the event by three quarters of a length, to the cheers of her small army of supporters who were on hand along with Fortuna Director, John Galvin. Click HERE to see race replay.

“I want to give a lot of credit to Trainer, Jason Bridgman for the way he has handled this filly,”said John Galvin.” she showed a lot of promise as an early 2yo, winning a trial in August 2013 in dominant fashion and we had earmarked her as a potential Karaka Million type, but Jason kept backing off her as she went through growing phases as a two year old. I was keen to push her along, but he kept pushing back, saying to me that she would be better as three year old and so it is proving.”

A daughter of the Champion race horse DARCI BRAHMA out of the Van Nistlerooy mare, Sweet Dreams Baby, DARCI’S DREAM was bred by David Ellis and Karyn Fenton Ellis, was acquired by Fortuna Thoroughbred Syndications at the 2013 NZ Bloodstock Karaka Select Sale and syndicated to an ownership group consisting of twenty nine individuals, many of then first time owners.

Amazingly, the win by DARCI’S DREAM at Riccarton was the sixth win in a row for Fortuna Syndicate horses, a run that commenced back in June when HIGHLY LIKELY won at Te Aroha.