racing.com reports:

New Zealand is set for a major first-time presence in the $5 million All-Star Mile at Caulfield after Te Akau Racing nominated 10-time Group 1 winner Melody Belle and the emerging Te Akau Shark for the March feature.

The pair, which are the two highest rating horses in New Zealand, joined the highly-promising three-year-old Kiwi galloper Catalyst in the nominations list for the race where the public will select 10 of the 15 runners.

The trio are all highly popular in New Zealand and with the Kiwis gaining a vote for the first time this year, it is certainly possible all three may make the final line-up on March 14 before the final five wildcards are announced.

While a maiden success at racing’s highest level has just eluded Te Akau Shark, who is part-owned by former rugby league great Paul Gallen, the five-year-old enhanced his growing reputation during this year’s Spring Racing Carnival.

Having finished runner-up – by the narrowest of margins – in the Group 1 Epsom Handicap (1600m), he followed up with an eye-catching third in the Cox Plate, where he stormed home after starting from the outside barrier.

Those performances elevated his international rating to 118, two ahead of his stablemate Melody Belle, who claimed an astonishing 10th Group 1 success in the TAB Empire Rose Stakes held over The All-Star Mile distance of 1600 metres on Victoria Derby day.

One week later, the five-year-old mare returned to Flemington and lost no admirers when she charged home late to grab second place behind Magic Wand in the Group 1 Mackinnon Stakes (2000m).

“The All-Star Mile is a great concept and we’re excited to be part of it by nominating Te Akau Shark and Melody Belle,” said trainer Jamie Richards.

“They both deserved a spell in the paddock after their spring campaigns. The Shark came back into the stable this week and Melody Belle will return on Monday.

“Te Akau Shark will most likely kick-off in an open sprint here in New Zealand, and Melody Belle will probably have a few trials at home with a view to starting her off in the Futurity Stakes at Caulfield.

“Melody Belle is a proven Group 1 performer and the Shark has plenty of ‘X Factor’, so we’re very excited about their autumn campaigns. Both horses did us proud during the spring, and we’d like to think they now have enough fans both here and in Australia to get into the top 10.

“It’s a great reflection of New Zealand racing that we have three high-profile horses entered for The All-Star Mile, and if they got there, I’m sure all three would have a great chance of winning the race.

Nominations for the 2020 edition will close at 12pm on Thursday, January 9, with the voting period scheduled to open one week later on 16 January.

The Kiwi stars join Australia’s standout miler of this year’s Spring Racing Carnival, dual Group 1 winner Fierce Impact, and Queensland’s popular Caulfield Guineas (1600m) runner-up Alligator Blood among the early entries for The All-Star Mile.

MELODY BELLE – Victorious in the EMPIRE ROSE STAKES – Group One A$1m 1600 metres – Flemington 2nd November – Opie Bosson aboard

No Fortuna runners this weekend – next runner will be Dundeels’ Girl at New Plymouth Thursday 5^thDecember – she is struggling to find form although has had good trackwork of late

Matamata Track work this week – Fortuna Runners –

Tuesday 26^th November

Plough:

Red Jakkal (A Jones) worked over an easy 800 metres, running home in 43.

Fortuna’s Ready To Run Sales purchase, the 2yo filly by Charm Spirit out of Scattercat (stable name “Charmaine”) is proving popular with 65% of the shares being committed to already. A strong physical type with an excellent pedigree, she will commence her stable preparation under the care of Jamie Richards at Matamata on 10^th December and will be aimed toward a trial late February/early March

 “CHARMAINE” – 2yo Filly by Charm Spirit acquired at NZ Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale

Click HERE to read full details about this filly – great value at $3,500 per 2.5% share

Fortuna has only one runner this week –  FEDERATION who contests the Class 3 1200m event at Kranji Friday 22^nd November. Now a four time winner in Singapore during 2019, this fellow is punching well above his weight – his last start win when resuming off a freshen in the Grade and trip was strong – up in weight and meets a similar quality field – nice draw from barrier 5 and a top man in Benny Woodworth in saddle – he won’t get it all his own way but presents as a strong each way chance in this

Matamata Track work this week – Fortuna Runners –

Tuesday 19^th November

Plough:

Madame Cherie (M Roustoby) galloped pairs over an easy 800 metres – she is aimed at the Cambridge trials Tuesday 26^th November

READY TO RUN Sale Update –  Fortuna acquires lovely 3yo Type Filly by Charm Spirit

Heading into the commencement of the 2019 Ready to Run Sales and wanting to buy a 3yo Type Filly, we had narrowed the field down to just two lots, Lot 165 – a Charm Spirit Filly and Lot 211, a Reliable Man Filly – as always we had set a budget and were reasonably confident that one of these two lovely types would come in at or under budget. Lot 165 came into the ring mid afternoon Wednesday, was strongly bid and was passed in at $100k, against our budget of quite a bit less than that. Undeterred we decided to see how we went on Thursday morning with Lot 211, however it was sold for $120k and we didn’t even get a chance to bid. David Ellis suggested that he go back and negotiate with the Vendor of lot 165 and I  agreed to this. David played “hardball” saying that he only had $87,500 to spend and after a bit of toing and froing – the Vendor (who is Hong Kong based) agreed – so this lovely filly is now ours – well done David

Click HERE to see link to Lot 165 sales info including an excellent Breeze up Video Clip in quick time (10.69secs). I had inspected this filly on Wednesday with Jamie and she is a strong looking filly who will develop into a lovely 3yo. And get this – she is Karaka Million Series Registered – so while she is no show of making the 2yo race this coming January, strong performances from her during the Spring of 2020 may well see her take her place in the Karaka 3yo Classic (1600m) for $1m at Ellerslie in January 2021 Here is what Jamie says about her “John – David, Mark and I identified this filly early in our inspections as a stand out type – physically correct, she breezed up strongly and has the size and scope to develop into a lovely 3yo type – she walks well and is great buying at this price.”

Charm Spirit (by Invincible Spirit), the leading first season Sire in NZ in 2018/19,  is a young stallion on the rise, while her dam Scattercat, is a race winning mare and a half sister to the Group One winning mare Captivate – this is the family of Culminate, Solstice and Solvini, a great female performing family

We are still doing paperwork for this syndicate so nothing up on the website just yet, however we are taking “expressions of interest” at this stage (on a no obligation basis), so register your interest now and beat the rush – each 1% share in “Charmaine” (her stable name) will be $1400 with ongoing payments of $36 per month per each 1% from 1 February. Note that we took expressions of interest on Khafeef recently we were oversubscribed very quickly, so if this filly appeals, make sure you register your interest

This includes cost of horse, gst, promoter fees, insurance to 31 Jan 2021 and over $9000 of working capital Please email John now or call/text 021 921 460 to register interest

Oh and get this – the Vendor has just been in touch with me and wants to retain a 10% share!!!! – how is that for a vote of confidence from him

Fortuna has only one runner over the coming week in DUNDEEL’S GIRL who races Sunday at Waverley in the Maiden 1200m event (Race 2) – her first race as a 4yo. A slow maturing type who has required lots of patient handling, she had two starts as an Autumn 3yo for a 3^rd and a 6^th. A recent trial winner (3 horse field) at Avondale, her work has been very good. Drawn OK at Barrier 9 and with the benefit of a 3kg allowance from the in form stable apprentice Chelsea Burdan, she will go forward to race in behind the speed – track conditions will suit and she presents as a good place chance.

Matamata Track work this week – Fortuna Runners –

Tuesday 12^th November

Plough:

Building toward racing at Waverley on Sunday, Dundeel’s Girl (M Roustoby) galloped nicely over 1000 metres in 1.07, last 600 in 37.

Thursday 14^th November

Plough:

Dundeel’s Girl (M Roustoby) galloped over 1000 metres in 1.05, last 600 in 38

The Fortuna Team have been having a great gallop of late – Consider this – in the last 13 days we have had six race day starts in three different racing jurisdictions, Australia, Singapore and New Zealand. for five wins including a Group One win and a Group One second. MELODY BELLE (Aus), RED ROVER and FEDERATION (Singapore), LEADERBOARD and METEORIC LASS (NZ) have all greeted the judge in that time. Full credit to the two Fortuna Trainers, Te Akau Racing’s Mark Walker (Singapore) and Jamie Richards (NZ), both of whom are leading their respective Premierships in the current season.

Fortuna Strike Rate in NZ season to date – 9 wins from 24 starts – SR 2.67 – 21 prizemoney placings from the 24 starts

Given an armchair ride in front by Chelsea Burdan, Meteoric Lass (5 m Stratum – Benatar, by Distant Music) proved too good winning the $25,000 JA Russell Electrical Rating 72 1400 metres on 14 November at Awapuni.

The win provided trainer Jamie Richards with three wins on consecutive days, following Ginger Too (Iffraaj) on Tuesday at Te Aroha and Leaderboard (Street Cry) on Wednesday at Riccarton.

A genuine competitor and aided by weight relief to 53.5kgs, Meteoric Lass presented in terrific order, sprang barrier nine to lead, and after travelling sweetly it looked pretty obvious approaching the home turn that she had matters under control. Winning by nearly two lengths, Meteoric Lass ran the 1400 metres in a respectable 1:24.1 on footing upgraded a race earlier to Dead5 and paid $5.10 & $2.10 on the NZ TAB tote.

Click HERE to see the Video replay

Meteoric Lass – winning for the 3rd time Awapuni 14th November 2019

“She tries hard and had been knocking on the door, so it was good to see her get a well-deserved win,” said stable foreman Mason Stevens, standing in for Jamie Richards who was at the Matamata Stables. “She’s always shown a lot, right from the start when winning her first two.”

“We had planned to go forward, ideally sitting half a length off the leader, but she took up the speed,” Richards said. “She went quickly enough, but with her allowance and the way the track was playing she got away with it. She’s a mare with good consistent form and I was really pleased to see her win because John (Galvin) backed our judgement that we could keep her sound, after an injury last season, and thankfully it’s all come together well. There’s now a chance she can get through to the next grade and possibly pinch some black type somewhere. She’s best placed with a little bit of easing in the ground and I think she enjoyed the track today.The team at the main stable, Tracy Collis and Kate Belsham, have done a great job in getting her to the races in such good order. She’s got a lovely demeanour and a stable favourite.”

Purchased by Te Akau principal David Ellis for A$50,000 at the 2016 Gold Coast Yearling Sale, from the draft of Kitchwin Hills, Meteroic Lass is owned by the Fortuna Meteoric Lass Syndicate (Mgr: John Galvin). Only once further back than fourth, her consistency is reflected in the record: three wins, two seconds, a third, and three fourths, from 10 starts. She is a sister to dual stakes winner Meteoroid (Northern Meteor), who won eight times over 1200m/1400m in Australia, from a mare that has left four winners of 16 races.

Fortuna Syndications Manager John Galvin said after the race: “This Mare really deserves this win,  she had been a bit slow to mature and patiently handled to win her first two starts and then she had an injury setback in January of this year – we gave her plenty of time to come right and this preparation she has been knocking on the door without quite doing enough to win. At the end of day she is a hell of a nice horse and David Ellis has, once again, done a great job in selecting another multiple winning horse within our budget range – and Jamie has done a great job managing her through her issues”

Meteoric Lass is owned and raced by the Fortuna Meteoric Lass Syndicate, an Ownership Group of 36 individuals and was strapped by Tom Harrison.

Story Credits to Jeff Dore

Cool, calm, and collected, Troy Harris continued the family magic with another faultless winning ride on international recruit Leaderboard (5 g Street Cry – Flower Fairy, by Dynaformer) in the $30,000 Wuhan Jockey Club Rating 72 2000 metres on 13 November at Riccarton.

In similar fashion to the ride which providing them victory on 26 October at Riccarton, Harris and Leaderboard had the measure in tote support ($2.40 & $1.30) and executed things to a nicety on the racetrack.

In doing so, Harris kept intact an enviable record aboard Fortuna owned gallopers: being unbeaten twice on Leaderboard, and going back to 2008, winning two from two,  the Canterbury Stakes and the 2000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m), on Tell A Tale (Tale Of The Cat), trained by Mark Walker.

“He’s going to be a nice stayer and races like the Auckland Cup, I think he could be right in them,” Harris said. “The imports are not really big turn-of-foot horses, but slowly get into their work but then I struggled to pull him up. So, the further he goes the better he’s going to be.”

Happy to settle back on the inner, Harris tracked a line of horses off the rail at the 600m, quickened to a challenging position at the 400m and while the margin was not great the manner was convincing.

Click HERE to see Race Replay

LEADERBOARD – Goes Back to Back – Riccarton 13th November 2019

Picture courtesy of Race Images

“It was a good win,” said trainer Jamie Richards, who had father Paul (Richards), Te Akau Racing’s traveling foreman, overseeing proceedings on course. “He relaxed well, built momentum once into the clear and it was a lovely ride from Troy. I don’t think he’s a horse that’s ever going to win by five or six lengths, but he does what he has to and pretty keen once he gets to the front to prick his ears and have a look around. He’s got the making of a really nice staying horse. He’s very athletic, has a good attitude and aims to please. He’ll come home and a have a little break now and I think he’s got plenty of upside for races after Christmas. Thanks also to John Galvin for securing him from Europ and Hubie de Burgh and Will Johnson that were involved in his selection. They’ve picked out a really nice horse for us and we look forward to seeing how he can progress.”

Presented with Dead5 footing on the middle day of the New Zealand Cup Carnival, Leaderboard ran the 2000 metres in a sedentary 2:06.8, but quickened to run the last 600 in 34.3.

Owned by the Fortuna Leaderboard Syndicate, an ownership Group of 71 individuals, he was purchased by John Galvin for 70,000 Guineas on recommendation of International Bloodstock Agent Hubie De Burgh, assisted by Will Johnson, in October 2018 from the Tattersalls Horses in Training Sale at Newmarket, soon after winning over 2400 metres in Ireland. By the sire of Winx and out of a Dynaformer Mare he looks an ideal staying prospect to work through the grades.

“He’s a serious racehorse and every time Jamie talks about him, his eyes light up – he really likes this horse,” Galvin said. “We have deliberately been really patient with him, allowing him to adjust and acclimatise to NZ conditions. Jamie and his team have done a great job with him to date and a special thanks to Paul Richards who has been looking after the horse this past four weeks at Riccarton. We certainly think he’s an up-and-comer, for sure.”

Leaderboard holds nominations for the SkyCity City of Auckland Cup (Gr. 3, 2400m) and Dunstan Feeds Stayers Championship (Special Conditions, 2400m) on 1 January at Ellerslie, and the Barfoot & Thompson Auckland Cup (Gr. 1, 3200m) on 7 March at Ellerslie.

Leaderboard was strapped by Rachael Kramer.

With story credits to Jeff Dore

     Leaderboard Syndicate Members Celebrate his 2nd win

Fortuna Syndication’s Four Year Old Gelding, FEDERATION (Written Tycoon-Bloomingdale Miss), resuming from a freshen up after having raced in late July and aided by a plum ride from Benny Woodworth, blew his opposition away with a dominant 2.5 length win in the Class 3 1200m event at Singapore’s Kranji racecourse on one of the biggest days of Singapore racing, Gold Cup Day.

Drawn well in Barrier 4, Woodworth had FEDERATION away well from the barrier, but then eased to take a sit behind the leaders. Some mid race moves by other runners saw FEDERATION shuffled back to slightly better than mid field before the turn. On turning for home, he was behind a wall of horses, traveling well but just needing a gap to open. Spying a gap on the inside of the horse in front of him, Woodworth headed for the fence, FEDERATION took the gap on the inside and once clear, sprinted away for an impressive win

Click HERE to see the Race Video Replay

FEDERATION  now has the grand record of four wins from his nine race day starts, has never finished out of the money in any of them and has taken his prize money tally to over S$180,000.

“Federation” – 4th win at Kranji – 10 November 2019

FEDERATION was secured by Fortuna Director, John Galvin, at the Inglis Digital on line sale (May 2018) for A$90,000 from Vendors, The China Horse Club, following a recommendation by Fortuna’s Singapore Trainer, Mark Walker who heads up the powerful Te Akau Racing Team.

“Full credit to Mark Walker with how he has handled this horse – Mark is a master at knowing just when a horse needs to have a break and after running two good placings at Class 3 level in July after winning back to back at Class 4 level, Mark felt this horse would benefit from a freshen and so it proved, with Federation strengthening, putting on weight and is now an impressive physical type” said Fortune NZ Stable Director John  Galvin. “He has now proved himself at Class 3 level and we are giving serious consideration to tackling the Singapore 4yo Series, the first leg of which is run on February 29th 2020.”

Fortuna’s Singapore Trainer, Te Akau Racing’s Mark Walker,  a five time Premiership winning Trainer in NZ, a two time winning Trainer in Singapore  currently leads the Singapore Premiership in 2019 with  71 wins in the season to date, 16 clear of his nearest rival

FEDERATION is raced by the Fortuna Federation Syndicate, an ownership group of 38 Individuals – the syndicate Membership has an International flavour to it, with members from NZ, Australia, Hong Kong, Singapore and the Philippines.

Fortuna runners over the coming week are MELODY BELLE taking her place in the time honoured Mackinnon Stakes (Group One – 2000m – A$2m) at Flemington Saturday 9th and FEDERATION, already a three time winner in Singapore, who resumes off a freshen in the Class 3 1200m on Sunday 10th – Singapore Gold Cup day. Impressive last start winner LEADERBOARD will be in action at Riccarton Wed 13th November in the R72 2000m event and METEORIC LASS steps up to 1400m (R72) at Woodville on Thursday.

MELODY BELLE  has carried all before her in NZ and now in Australia this season. After dominating the Group One Empire Rose last Saturday she goes to the Group One well again, this time taking on the boys and the girls in the Mackinnon Stakes at Flemington – 2000m – A$2m. This is a much tougher race than last week but she is in scintillating form and has not turned a hair since last Saturday’s race. Has wide draw but is a firming favourite – she is the one to beat.

Melody Belle – Empire Rose Stakes – Flemington 2nd November 2019

FEDERATION is a classy type with three Singapore wins from eight starts and never been out of the money. He resumes at Class 3 1200 after having a decent freshen up. He trialed beautifully a couple of weekend ago, has had a lovely preparation, has drawn well at four and has the unstoppable Benny Woodworth in the saddle. It is a very strong and even field however with many chances – he presents as a good each way chance and the multiples may provide great value as well.

LEADERBOARD was impressive when taking out the R75 1600 at Riccarton a couple of weeks ago. He is back at the same venue next Wednesday, up in trip to 2000m which will not be an issue and up in Grade to R72. Troy Harris retains the ride.  Stable regards “Tiger” very highly – an out and out staying type he will relish the trip and be hard to beat

METEORIC LASS has been knocking on the door without winning – she is due one soon and up to 1400m at R72 at Awapuni 14^th November may well give her the opportunity as she does seem to be looking for a 1400m trip. Each Way

Matamata Track work this week – Fortuna Runners

 Thursday 7^th Nov – Plough

 Meteoric Lass (A Jones) galloped over an easy 1000 metres in 1.09.4, last 600 in 40.2.

Fortuna Strike Rate in NZ season to date – 7 wins from 21 starts – SR 3.0

Melody Belle was clearly the star performer last week, but gee, isn’t Red Rover going well in Singapore – 5 starts there for a 3rd, a 2nd and then three wins in a row – He has risen to Class 2 Grade very quickly – having a 7 day freshen and will resume on New Year’s Day

Well, a “three peat” may have been beyond the New Zealand All Blacks at the Rugby World Cup, but for the Fortuna NZ Stable’s RED ROVER, the 5yo Gelding by O’Reilly out of Pin Up, it was no problem. Boasting a Singapore race record of four starts for a 3rd, a 2nd and two wins in Class 4 Grade prior to this race, RED ROVER was now up in grade to Class 3. This rise in class did not seem to ruffle punters however, who sent him out an odds on favourite. Drawn perfectly in barrier 1, jockey Benny Woodworth had his charge away well and raced one back on the rails. Easing him off the rails as they turned, “Bullet”, as RED ROVER is nicknamed, sped for home. Drifting out a few horse widths in the final stages, it looked at one stage as if the swoopers might get to him, but in the end he was too strong, going to the line with a margin of half a length over the 2nd horse.

Click HERE to see the race replay

“Red Rover” – Wins 3rd time in a row – Singapore 03 November 2019

RED ROVER’s win capped off a remarkable weekend for the Fortuna Syndications team with MELODY BELLE winning the A$1m Group One Empire Rose Stakes at Flemington on Derby Day, attended by Fortuna boss, John Galvin accompanied by Jessica Galvin and 18 other syndicate Members. While the prizemoney for RED ROVER’s win (S$70,000) was far less than MELODY BELLE’s, John Galvin was no less ecstatic.  “This was an outstanding result for RED ROVER and his connections,” said John, “not many win three in a row in Singapore and for this horse, who did not cost us a lot to purchase and has needed wind surgery, it was an outstanding result and full credit must go to our Singapore Trainer, Mark Walker, for firstly recommending this horse to us and secondly, making a great job of training him. And a big thanks to Benny Woodworth for riding him so well”

RED ROVER’s win was the 10th win in Singapore during 2019 for the Fortuna NZ Stable and took Te Akau Racing Stables Trainer, Mark Walker, to 71 wins for the season, 18 clear of his nearest rival in the Premiership race.

RED ROVER was acquired by Fortuna in 2018 for A$13,000 and now has prizemoney earnings of over S$100,000. He is owned by the Fortuna Red Rover Syndicate, an ownership Group of 42 individuals from New Zealand, Australia, Singapore, Hong Kong and the Philippines. Several of the Ownership Group were on course to celebrate the victory.

The commentator said it all “Melody Belle is flying home – here comes the Kiwi star – she is a bonny mare, a mighty mare,”

Yes, she did it, a nine time Group One winner in New Zealand and a Group Two winner in Australia, two previous Group One attempts in Australia had eluded her, but today she put the record straight. She shrugged off the wide draw, the wet track and the three wide trip to put in a compelling and dominating finishing run to win at the line by one and a half lengths.

Click HERE to see the race replay.

Fortuna Syndications Director, John Galvin, was on course along with 20 of the 37 syndicate Members. “What a day,” he said, “here we are on one of the great racecourses of the world on one of the greatest race days of the world and we have won a Group One race with our wonderful Mare – it dos not get any better than that.”

Melody Belle has now won 15 of her 25 races, takes her Group One tally to 10 and has accumulated prizemoney of NZ$2,700,000

John Galvin also paid tribute to Jamie Richards, describing him as an outstanding young Trainer, Te Akau supremo, David Ellis, who acquired Melody Belle for $57,500 at the 2016 NZ Bloodstock Sale, Opie Bosson, who is unbeaten on Melody Belle and strapper, Craig Thornton who has been looking after the Mare in her time at Flemington