Five Year Old Mare, SECRET SPICE (Sahkees Secret-Caparison) put a good even field of Class 5 gallopers to the sword, sprinting clear in the straight to win by 3 lengths at her home track of Penang. SECRET SPICE who had won three times in Singapore was having her fourth start in Malaysia for Fortuna’s Malaysian Trainer, ex -pat kiwi, Sharee Hamilton. Her Malaysian form had been good with three thirds from her previous three runs. Settling nicely in the run for her rider, S Salee, three back and one off the rail,  Salee mounted a strong run forward at about the 600 metre mark, setting the mare alight to loop the field, the issue was never in doubt once they turned for home. Click HERE to see race result and replays (Race 9)

Fortuna Director, John Galvin, expressed great pleasure at the outcome; “Secret Spice had won three times in Singapore, collecting almost S$130,000 in prizemoney along the way, however she did not settle very well in the Singapore stable environment, so the decision was taken to send her to Malaysia, which provides a more open environment with spelling paddocks etc and the decision has paid off as she has settled beautifully up there and is really thriving,” he said, “I am sure there are a lot more successes in front of her.”

SECRET SPICE was acquired by David Ellis on behalf of Fortuna at the 2013 Karaka Yearling Sales for the sum of $47,500 and is raced by the Fortuna Secret Spice Syndicate, an ownership group of 25 individuals.

Story – Courtesy of the Te Akau Racing Webite

Last Saturday, in the $250,000 BRC Sires’ Produce Stakes (Gr. 2, 1400m) at Eagle Farm racecourse in Brisbane, Melody Belle (2 f Commands – Meleka Belle, by Iffraaj) obliterated her rivals by nearly five lengths.

Trained by Stephen Autridge & Jamie Richards at Matamata, for the Fortuna Melody Belle Syndicate (Mgr: John Galvin), she was purchased for $57,500 by David Ellis, from the draft of Haunui Farm, at the 2016 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Yearling Sale.

Having already won the Karaka Million (Listed, 1200m) in January at Ellerslie, and Sires’ Produce Stakes (Gr. 1, 1400m) on 1 April at Awapuni, furthering her record to four wins from six starts, Melody Belle has won her owners $879,203 in prize money, and now favourite ($2.80) for the $600,000 J. J. Atkins (Gr. 1, 1600m) on 10 June.

Virtually assured of becoming NZ Champion Two-Year-Old, a scratch beneath the surface reveals that Melody Belle stems from the famous Belle family: one of the iconic families in the history of New Zealand racing, which has enjoyed enormous success with fillies in particular.

Marie Leicester, who bred Melody Belle, provides an interesting insight into a family started by her parents, James & Annie Sarten, in 1939:

“She’s the second Melody Belle,” Leicester said. “Mum raced the other one [by Taipan II] and she raced particularly well too, so it must be a good name. She won the Te Aroha Breeders’ Stakes in 1975, when it was in its infancy.

“Belle Fox was the first one that mum and dad bred and she was born in ’39. She had two fillies. One was called Belle Time, by Summertime, and the other was Belle Rosa, by Instinct. Dad gave mum Belle Rosa and he kept Belle Time.

“Within our family, we’ve always said ‘Mum’s family and Dad’s family’. They’re all the one family, but we go back to those two mares all the time – the two daughters of Belle Fox.  The older Melody Belle came from Mum’s line, the Belle Rosa line, and this one comes from Dad’s one, the Belle Time line.

“She (latest Melody Belle) traces back to Honey Belle, who was a very good mare. She won the Foal Stakes when it used to be on New Year’s Day at Ellerslie, the Wellington Guineas, and the George Adams Handicap at Flemington, in the late 60s,” she said.

The grand-dam of Melody Belle, Empress Belle (Sir Tristram), left Tsarina Belle (Stravinsky), a half-sister to Meleka Belle, who finished third in the 1000 Guineas and second in the Champagne Stakes as a two-year-old.

“Meleka Belle and Tsarina Belle are both beautiful looking mares,” Leicester said. “Meleka Belle is from the first crop of Iffraaj and it was because we have the mares at Haunui Farm, and she was a young mare, that we decided to use a first season sire.  Meleka Belle won at Taupo, of all places, when I was (Club) President there. She won at the same meeting as Fix (Iffraaj) won, and they were both three-year-olds.

“Melody Belle is her first foal. I sold an O’Reilly filly out of her last year ($100,000). She’s now got a particularly lovely and very correct weanling filly by Not A Single Doubt, which I’m not sure whether I’ll sell or keep, and in foal to Tavistock.”

Regarding the mating of Meleka Belle to Commands, to produce Melody Belle, Leicester said: “I’d always wanted to send a mare to Commands, and every time I saw him in Australia I’d fall in love with him a bit more. I loved his pedigree and everything about him. I thought Meleka Belle was the ideal mare to go to him, and Commands actually died before Melody (Belle) was born”.

“You get fixations about stallions, and with Commands it was (Sir) Patrick’s family on the dam side and Danehill on the other side, so why would you not want to send a mare to him?

“It was a mating I’d always wanted to do, but felt I needed the right mare and thought Meleka (Belle) was the right mare.

“With the mating, I make up my mind where I want to send mares and then discuss with Mark Chitty (Haunui Farm) and we seldom disagree. Then we do a follow-up with a Brain International Limited rating. The Commands – Meleka Belle rating was very good. Anything under 200 is very good and they start off at 100. I think she was about 150.

“She (Melody Belle) has brought tremendous joy to me and her wins have been a real thrill. Even though you sell them, you still see them as your babies and no matter where they go you follow them intently.

“She blew me away on Saturday, as she did when she won the Sires’ at Awapuni. She seems to be able to jump, get a position, and relax, and find another gear when she turns for home. She’s very professional and I couldn’t get over when she came back into the birdcage like an old hack, just so relaxed – as if to say that race is over, what’s next? And her being so relaxed really thrilled me.

“She’s exciting and just seems to do it so easily, and she doesn’t seem to worry what the track is like. That takes me back to Tri Belle, Star Belle and Honey Belle. They could go through it (ground) if it was wet and loose, but not if it was gluey. None of the family could deal with drying, sticky, tracks.

“They say she’s a tough little girl; well most of the Belle fillies are tough. They’ve got that toughness in them and that determination. She’s a good workmanlike filly and tough. They take a fair bit of work and they just seem to relish it.

“The Belle family seems to keep popping up and they give us great joy, and I’m very, very proud of them, but Melody Belle looks to be very good. I could not believe what she did. She just put paid to them. She’s won her last three races, has had virtually a two-month gap between each one and to do that it takes a good horse and it also takes a good trainer.”

Main pic – Melody Belle as a Karaka yearling

Connections were stunned at Eagle Farm today when their Two Year Old Filly MELODY BELLE (Commands- Meleka Belle) won the A$250,000 Group Two Queensland Sires Produce Stakes by a margin of four lengths. With a run reminiscient of her win in the Karaka Million at Ellerslie in January, she bounded out of the gates to share the lead, rider Opie Bosson then eased her into the trail during the race, moved up three wide on the turn and then sprinted away to an ever increasing margin, much to the delight of her small army of supporters who had traveled from New Zealand to witness the race

Click HERE to see race replay

Fortuna Director John Galvin was almost incredulous after the race; ” I knew she had every chance of winning the race, but I didn’t think her win could be that easy,” he said, ” it has been eight weeks since her last run in the Manawatu Sires Produce Stakes and we did have some concerns in the camp because she has only been eating fair since arriving in Australia. I found it hard to fathom her odds in the pre post market when she got as low as $3, but clearly punters were on the mark. It has been a great training performance by Te Akau Racing’s Stephen Autridge and Jamie Richards.”

MELODY BELLE will now contest the Group One JJ Atkins event over 1600 metres at Eagle Farm on 10th January, a race worth A$600,000. Purchased by Te Akau’s David Ellis for $57,500 on behalf of Fortunaat the 2016 Karaka Yearling Sale, MELODY BELLE has now won close to NZ$900,00o for her connections, an ownership group of 32 individuals.

History was made at Te Rapa on Saturday 20th May when the Fortuna 6yo HIGHLY LIKELY (High Chaparral-Starrinka), led all the way to take out the Neil Treweek Maiden Steeplechase over 4000 metres. History on two fronts, firstly it was the first win by a Fortuna horse in a Steeples event and secondly, it was the first time that a Fortuna NZ trained horse had won for any other stable other than Te Akau Racing. A four time winner on the flat for the Te Akau team, Highly Likely (aka “Gringo”) had been transferred to the Kevin Myers Stable last  November in order to pursue a jumping career. A natural front runner, Gringo led all the way in yesterdays event and rider Shaun Fannin (NZ’s Champion Jumps Jockey) was very complimentary about his performance saying “there is a lot more to come from this horse”.

Click HERE to see race result and replay

Purchased by David Ellis on behalf of Fortuna at the 2012 NZB South Island Sale (where he was the sales topper at $80,000), Highly Likely is raced by the Fortuna Highly Likely Syndicate, a grouping of 20 individuals.

Seven year old gelding, Chance To Dance, ran gallantly in the re run of the Group One A$2m Sydney Cup at Royal Randwick on Saturday 22nd April. Having run “second” in the same event on April 8th, which was declared a “no race” by the Stewards, the challenge for Chance to Dance (Teofilo-Crystal Ballet) was could he back up with a two week gap over 3200 metres on a Testing heavy 8 track? Settled on the rail mid field by rider Christian Reith, off a very steady tempo set by tear away leader Lasqueti Spirit, Chance to Dance started to come into the race from about the 800 metre peg, when Reith got him off the rail and onto the back of eventual race winner Polarisation and as the field turned for home, the horse looked to be coming into the race strongly before tiring the last 100 metres to finish in 5th place. “That was a super effort” declared his rider, “he tried his heart out, but was running on empty the last 120 metres.”

Fortuna Director, John Galvin, who was on track along with Jessica Galvin and seventeen syndicate Members was philosophical about the result. “It was a great effort by the horse,” he said, “it was always going to be a hard ask to run two 3200 metre races two weeks apart, particularly on such testing ground. His best form has been on Good/Dead tracks and we are very proud of the effort he put in today.”

Chance to Dance, who was acquired by John Galvin at the Inglis Chairmans Sale on March 29th for A$260,000 picked up A$50,000 for his fifth placing. The horse will now travel back to New Zealand for a well earned break. “The plan was always to bring him back to NZ once he had completed his Autumn campaign here in Australia,” said John Galvin. “He will parade at our Owners Day at Matamata on April 30th, then have a good four or five weeks in the paddock at Te Akau Stud before resuming work early June and after trialing at Te Teko in August, we will map out some firm plans for his 2017/18 season and all options, be they contesting the Two Mile races in NZ or bringing him back to Australia to race, are on the table for consideration.”

The Chance to Dance Syndicate comprises 66 parties, all of whom are existing Fortuna clients.

FORTUNA NEWSLETTER

25 September 2017

Fortuna’s CHANCE TO DANCE  winning Karaka Classic Sunday 24th September 2017  – Opie Bosson in the saddle

In this Newsletter

• CHANCE TO DANCE brilliant on his NZ debut – winning Karaka Classic at Pukekohe

• KING SAVINSKY makes it six career wins after wining in Penang

• MELODY BELLE wins Champion Two Year Old of the Year Award

• BURGUNDY – an up and coming Sire to watch

• FORTUNA’s Burgundy Filly – is she a star in the making? Stll a few shares left

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CHANCE TO DANCE brilliant on his NZ debut – winning Karaka Classic at Pukekohe

Denied the opportunity to race in the Group One Windsor Park Plate at Hastings on Saturday, the 8yo Irish Bred Gelding, CHANCE TO DANCE (Teofilo-Crystal Ballet) seized the moment  the following day with victory in the Karaka Classic (Listed)  at Pukekohe. Fresh up over 1600 metres and carrying top weight of 60kgs under Handicap conditions on a Heavy 10 track, CHANCE TO DANCE certainly looked vulnerable, as a Fixed Odds Price of $18 on the morning of the race would attest to. Ridden by Opie Bosson, the horse jumped nicely from a good draw and raced mid field, Bosson resisted the option of going wide on the turn, content to stay one out from the rail and wait for openings  to come in the run home. The gaps opened and Bosson urged his willing mount between two horses with just 50 metre to go and prevailed on the line by a neck.

Click HERE to see the race result and replay.

Fortuna Director John Galvin accompanied by more than 30 ecstatic owners was glowing after the race. “This horse has always had a bit of quality about him based on his very good Irish and Australian form – he has thrived here in New Zealand under the new Training Team and we think he has a lot more to give us yet.”

Holding nominations for both the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups, the next race for CHANCE TO DANCE will race next in the Group One Livamol Classic (2040 metres) at Hastings on 7th October, giving his Trainers, Te Akau Racing’s Stephen Autridge and Jamie Richards a strong hand to play in that event, given that they also train race favourite, Gingernuts. “Ted” as CHANCE TO DANCE is nicknamed, will be ridden by Leith Innes in the Livamol Classic

CHANCE TO DANCE, formerly owned by Lloyd Williams, was acquired by David Ellis on behalf of Fortuna on the recommendation of Fortuna’s Singapore Trainer, Mark Walker, at the Inglis Chairmans Sale in Sydney in April 2017 for A$260,000. He had his first start in the first running of the 2017 Sydney Cup finishing 2nd in the race, only to find the the race had been declared a “no race” by the Stewards. He finished 5th in the subsequent re-run two weeks later. He is now the winner of eight races from just 29 starts and has career earnings of close to $500,000. He is raced by the Chance to Dance Syndicate, an ownership group of 78 individuals.

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KING SAVINSKY makes it six career wins after winning in Penang Saturday 23rd September

Seven Year Old Gelding KING SAVINSKY (Savabeel-Lynisky) led all the way on his home course of Penang in Malaysia. Beautifully rated in front by S Salee, he held on bravely on very heavy track conditions to score his sixth career win, including successes in New Zealand (one), Singapore (three) and Malaysia (two).

KING SAVINSKY is trained at Penang by ex-pat Kiwi conditioner Sharee Hamilton.

Click HERE to see race replays – (Race 5)

KING SAVINSKY was selected and acquired by David Ellis on behalf of Fortuna Syndicators at the 2012 Karaka yearling sale for the sum of $95,000 and is raced by the Fortuna King Savinsky Syndicate, an ownership group of  29 individuals

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Melody Belle Crowned Champion Two Year Old of The Year

Fortuna’s MELODY BELLE  in action at Eagle Farm – Group Two Sires Produce Stakes  27th May 2017 – Opie Bosson in the saddle

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BURGUNDY – an up and coming Sire to watch

BURGUNDY
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FORTUNA’s Burgundy Filly – is she a star in the making? Still a few shares left

“Lisa” – Burgundy – Spin ‘N Grin 2yo Filly

Contact John by email or call/text 021 921 460 if you would like to be invoved in this stunning filly.

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Contact John by email HERE or call/text John 021 921 460

The excitement was palpable among the 24 supporters of Fortuna’s recently acquired seven year old Gelding, CHANCE TO DANCE, who were on course to watch him take his place in the A$2m Sydney Cup, run at Royal Randwick last Saturday. Acquired only nine days before at the Inglis Chairmans Sale by John Galvin for A$260k, the horse had brought good form to the race, but had been ignored by the tipsters and betting public ( oh how we love that) and was starting at odds at over 30 to 1. Bouncing away well from the start, rider Damian Lane had CHANCE TO DANCE handy throughout the run in a race run at good tempo. Making a forward move from about the 600 metre mark, he hit the front at the top of the straight, ran strongly all the way to the line, just getting run down in the last few strides by POLARISATION.

All to no avail, because during the race, the Stewards had called a “no race” – this due to the fact that ALMOONQUITH had broken down early in the race and was laying on the track about 100 metres past the winning post and so for safety reasons the Stewards made the call to abandon the race. Unfortunately, six of the fourteen runners did not hear the abandonment call and their riders continued to race on – the other eight runners pulled up.

Prizemoney for 2nd place was A$380k, but of course, with the race being abandoned, no prizemoney is payable.

The good news is that the race has been rescheduled for Saturday 22nd April and CHANCE TO DANCE, who has pulled up super, will take his place in the field, much to the delight of his small army of supporters.

Rising nine year old Eatons Gold (Jetspur-Road Ranger) showed in very emphatic fashion that he seems unaware of his age, when sprinting away to win the S$60,000 Bench Mark 67 event in the slick time of 59.1 seconds on Kranji’s Polytrack surface Sunday 2nd April.

” This horse has had an amazing career to date in Singapore”, said Fortuna NZ Stable Director, John Galvin, ” he had his first start on 1st July 2011, and in almost six seasons of racing, he has earned prize money in 51 of his 67 starts. He is no superstar, as he has not managed to win in Class 3, but is honest as the day is long, doesn’t know when to quit and always gives a great sight in his races. His recent form in much stronger company than he met tonight has been outstanding and pre-race I thought he represented a great winning opportunity.”

Galvin’s assessment appeared to be shared by the astute betting public who installed the eight year old a 3 to 1 favourite. Drawn in mid field, Eatons Gold bounced away from the start nicely, and Rider Rizuan Shafiq soon had his charge in a perfect one out, one back position. On turning for home, Shafiq eased his mount to the outside of the two leaders, hit the front and went to the line a length clear of his rivals.

Click HERE to view the race video replay

Acquired by David Ellis on behalf of Fortuna at the 2010 Karaka Premier Sale for NZ$75,000, Eatons Gold  has been a wonderful money spinner for his ownership group of 24 individuals, with career earnings now in excess of S$500,000.

John Galvin revealed post race that Eatons Gold was booked to travel to Malaysia to see out his racing career in the care of Fortuna’s Malaysian based trainer, Sharee Hamilton. “There is no reason why this horse cannot continue to race for another couple of seasons” said Galvin, “and we thought that Malaysia would provide him the perfect opportunity to wind out his career before retiring.” 

Eatons Gold capped off a remarkable week for the New Zealand based Syndication company, Fortuna Ltd, with its 2yo star, Melody Belle, winning the prestigious Group One Manawatu Sires Produce Stakes emphatic fashion at New Zealand’s Awapuni race course and on Thursday the company acquiring the seven year old Australian galloper, Chance to Dance, who will race in the Fortuna colours in the A$2m Sydney Cup at Royal Randwick on Saturday 8th April. “There hasn’t been much sleep this past 72 hours,” quipped John Galvin.

Karaka Million winner Melody Belle (2 f Commands – Meleka Belle, by Iffraaj) stamped her authority over her fellow Two Year Olds with another impressive win in the $225,000 Courtesy Ford Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (Gr. 1, 1400m) on Saturday at Awapuni.

At 32 to 1 when winning New Zealand’s richest race ($1m Karaka Million (Listed, 1200m)) on 29 January at Ellerslie, Melody Belle ended up a $4.70 favourite in the Sires’.

Unsighted at the races since her Karaka Million success on 29th January, Melody Belle indicated to trainers Stephen Autridge & Jamie Richards that her fitness was up to the mark after cruising home for a classy win when trialling over 1000 metres on 21 March at Matamata, with Opie Bosson in the saddle.

Recording his first Group One victory, rider Michael McNab had Melody Belle travelling beautifully in fourth, appeared to have plenty of horse underneath him turning for home and after quickening through a gap to lead at the 200m she ripped away to score by 1 ½ lengths.

On Slow8 footing, Melody Belle ran the 1400 metres in 1:25.5.

Owned by the Fortuna Melody Belle Syndicate, an ownership group of 32 individuals and managed by Fortuna Director, John Galvin, the first foal from winning mare Meleka Belle was purchased for $57,500 by David Ellis on behalf of Fortuna, from the draft of Haunui Farm, at the 2016 NZB Premier Yearling Sale, and recording her third win from five starts took her earnings to almost $700,000.

“What a thrill that was and she’s a stunning filly that will be even better next season,” said Ellis, of the filly bred by Marie Leicester.  Steve and Jamie have had their licence for only eighteen months and that was their eighth Group One win, which is a phenomenal performance.

“ When I first inspected  her I said to Jamie that I had seen an absolutely gorgeous filly, with a lot of speed and the quality and type to go on, and we bought her for what is now an exceptional price.

“I’m thrilled for John Galvin who has done a fantastic job, works really hard syndicating these horses and his Fortuna Syndications business is on an incredible roll.”

Only a matter of months ago, Te Akau and Fortuna Syndications celebrated their 100th success together when Dame Margo Fonteyn (High Chaparral) scored in December at New Plymouth, that total has now raced to 111 joint successes  and last week Ellis purchased the seven year old Gelding, Chance to Dance (Teofilo) for Fortuna at the inaugural Inglis Chairman’s Sale of Elite Racing Prospects on 30 March at the Newmarket complex in Sydney. Te Akau trainers Stephen Autridge & Jamie Richards are now preparing Chance to Dance for the $2m Sydney Cup (Gr. 1, 3200m) on 8 April.

“Post Karaka Million we set her for the Group One Sistema Stakes, but she scoped a little bit dirty and we had to scratch her,” said John Galvin, of the lead up for Melody Belle.

“She then trialled really well at Matamata, and her work since then had been brilliant, even this week on slow tracks. It was always a question mark in our minds about the slow track, until they do it on race day you never quite know. But, on the basis of her work over the last week or two we did have high levels of confidence.

“It was just a matter of whether she would handle the track and whether or not she had luck in the running.

“It was a lovely ride by Michael McNab. He got her into the right place, always within striking distance, found the gap as they turned in and was threatening without looking like she might run away from them, but when she changed legs at the 150-metre mark she put the race to bed,” he said. “I am just so happy for our owners, not only are they having the thrill of a lifetime, but they now own a very valuable filly, one who has a very promising future.”

A carefully crafted and well executed plan came off when the seven year old Gelding CHANCE TO DANCE (Teofilo -Crystal Ballet) who is guaranteed a start in the Sydney Cup April 8th,was knocked down to  David Ellis.

“We bought the horse for A$260,000 at the sales, through Jamie (Richards), for John Galvin’s Fortuna Syndications,” Ellis said.

“After the Sydney Cup we plan for him to campaign him at the Brisbane Cup Carnival, and following that, he will return to New Zealand where we expect him to be a competitive weight-for-age and cups horse back in the New Zealand.”

Bought two years ago by Nick and Lloyd Williams, who made history when Almandin (Monsun) became their fifth Melbourne Cup winner last year, the Irish import Chance to Dance has won seven of his twenty-seven starts, $450,795 in prize money, and after recently finishing fourth in the Adelaide Cup (Gr. 2, 3200m) under 58kgs, he drops to 51.5kgs next Saturday.

“We identified this horse through the Chairman’s Sale, which has been a great initiative by Inglis to offer these elite racing prospects,” Ellis said.

“We had the horse inspected at Williams’ Macedon Lodge in Victoria by Brent Thompson from New Zealand Bloodstock, vetted by Dr Maxine Brain at the same time and also had our NZ based vet Dr. Douglas Black with Maxine, check out his X Rays etc.”

Richards said: “The horse is going to have a hit out on Saturday morning in Victoria, as his preparation continues towards the Sydney Cup. He will then travel to Sydney early next week and join Gingernuts in the boxes we have at Randwick, and Steve and I will top off his training ahead of the Cup.

“John Galvin had previously purchased an older horse, Zabene, syndicated him and he raced on successfully under the Te Akau banner to win a couple of times,including a listed victory in the Metropolitan Handicap at Riccarton.   Mark Walker has been quite influential in discussions with John about approaching syndication in a slightly different manner, buying tried horses and ones with quality such as this that is rarely available for sale.

“Chance to Dance has not got many miles on the clock, is a very good-looking horse, and it will be exciting to get to know him better over the next week to ten days and both Steve and I are t about thrilled about having the opportunity to train him.”

With Chance to Dance being a live prospect in the Sydney Cup, at $15, Fortuna Syndications receive another shot at glory soon after Melody Belle (Commands), bought by Ellis and prepared by Autridge & Richards, took out the $1m Karaka Million (Listed, 1200m) at Ellerslie. Melody Belle tackles the Group One Manawatu Sires Produce Stakes at Awapuni on 1st April.

“Mark Walker and I have regularly talked about the idea of buying a proven staying horse out of Australia, who could be termed second-tier, but also a potential top performer at a good value investment price,” Galvin said “and Mark was the one who brought this particular horse to my attention.”

“The thinking being that once settled in they could prove pretty competitive at the top end in New Zealand. That’s been underlined by imported proven horses like Willie Cazal winning the Livamol Classic, and Mr Impatience winning the Wellington Cup.  These sorts of horses are obviously not easy to come by and two or three we have looked at in the past couple of years were not sound.

“He’s extremely readymade, is a genuine live prospect in the Sydney Cup next week, and our due diligence suggests that he is indeed a very sound and capable horse. He’s won over 2400 metres in February at Caulfield, and after getting a bit further back than intended he finished fourth in the Adelaide Cup, so clearly 3200 metres is not beyond him.

“Following inspection by the experts, the conclusion they came to was that there was no physical reason why we could not buy Chance to Dance, and expect him to be running up to the form that he has  shown to date.  In the meantime, behind the scenes, I’ve been promoting this horse to the Fortuna clients, taking expressions of interest, and as at auction time had ninety-five percent commitment,” he said.

Last December, Te Akau and Fortuna Syndications celebrated their 100th success together when Dame Margo Fonteyn (High Chaparral) scored  at New Plymouth and that total has now soared to 110 winners in the intervening weeks.

“Buying this horse is definitely  a coup for Fortuna and Te Akau,” Galvin said, “and I want to pay tribute to those fifty one of our clients who have flocked to support this concept as we have promoted it over the past couple of weeks – I detect genuine excitement from all of them that they are having a shot at a $2m race in just a few days time.

” I also want to thank the Williams family for putting up such a quality horse for sale, providing us the opportunity to purchase him.”