He doesn’t win out of turn, but when he does, VON SNITZEL, the 6yo Gelding by Snitzel out of Lumir, gives a sight. Ridden by Stable Apprentice, Shafiq Rusof, who is riding in white hot form. VON SNITZEL was settled back worse than mid field in the 1100 metre Class 5 event, was taken to the outside as they turned and then mounted a sustained run to get up on the line, winning by a neck margin. Trained by Premiership leading trainer, Mark Walker and raced by the Fortuna Von Snitzel Syndicate, an ownership group of 24 individuals, VON SNITZEL has won three times in Singapore and had fifteen minor placings from 36 starts with total prize money won of $120,000. Click HERE to watch race replay.

3yo Filly SECRET SPICE (Sahkees Secret-Caparison), resuming after last racing at the end of October, put in an excellent last to first effort in an Initiation event over 1200 metres in Singapore Friday 13th March. Beautifully ridden by Former Champion Apprentice, Rizuan Shafiq, who has only just returned to racing after a lengthy suspension, SECRET SPICE settled well back in the running, however Shafiq gradually eased her up along the rail from about the six hundred metrs mark, the gaps kept opening and she prevailed by a head on the line . Click HERE to see the race replay

” She has always shown promise,” said Fortuna Director, John Galvin,” but was still a bit immature, so (trainer) Mark Walker elected to give her a nice long break through November/December and she has come back a bigger, stronger horse. 1200 metres is well short of her best and we look forward to her getting up to 1600 metres and beyond.”

Out of the Group winning mare, Caparison, SECRET SPICE was acquired by David Ellis on behalf of Fortuna at the 2013 Karaka Yearling Sale. She is raced by the Fortuna Secret Spice Syndicate, an ownership group of twenty seven individuals.

“I love buying this type of horse,” says Fortuna Director, John Galvin. “HIGH CHAPARRAL was a simply outstanding race horse and also an outstanding Stallion at Stud. He has left his stamp on this Filly, who has all of the physical and pedigree attributes to be a genuine staying type. Out of a winning Keeper mare, she carries some of the best Stallion blood of the last fifty years; she has plenty of size and scope to develop into an Oaks/Derby type Filly as a 3yo and as an older horse, the staying trips will be her friend.”

Three days after buying this Filly, the family received a boost with her half sister, the 3yo Filly ANA (by Tavistock) breaking Maidens at New Plymouth at just her 3rd race day start,

This Filly will be trained by Jason Bridgman at Matamata. While appearing to be a genuine staying type, the objective will be to commence her racing career in the late Autumn of 2016 to set her up for a tilt at the Classic 3yo Fillies races as a 3yo in the 2017/17 racing season.

Shares can be acquired in this Staying Type Filly for $14,000 per 10% share, $7,000 per 5% share and $3,500 per 2.5% share with ongoing costs of $320 per month per 10% share, $160 per month per 5% share and $80 per month per 2.5% share. Monthly payments start 1st April 2015. Initial costs include cost of horse, GST, all Fees, insurance until 31st Jan 2016 and over $16,000 of working capital.

Lot 94, the DARCI BRAHMA-OBSESSION ( by Bachelor Duke) Colt was acquired by Fortuna on the first day of the Premier Sale. This Colt had been picked out by David Ellis and Mark Walker as a sprinter/miler type who would be ideal for racing in Singapore, a jurisdiction in which Darci Brahma has been dominant Sire in the past couple of years.

Mark Walker comments as follows ” The Darci Brahma’s tend to be very lad back types and they adjust well to Singapore conditions – this Colt was an early foal (August 19th) and is extremely well developed. He has a great pedigree from a family with lots of black type and will make a lovely type for Singapore racing”.

This Colt will have a full preparation in New Zealand including two or three trials before traveling to Singapore some time in 2016.

A 10% share can be acquired in this lovely horse for $12,000, a 5% share for $6,000 and a 2.5% share for $3,000. These initial costs include the cost of the horse, Sales and Promoters Fees, Insurance Premium through to 31st January 2016, all costs of shipping the horse to Singapore and $15,000 of working capital. Ongoing costs which commence 1st April 2015 are $320 per 10% share, $160 per month per 5% share and $80 per month per 2.5% share.

Applications can only be made after Investors have perused and signed the NZ Thoroughbred Racing approved Disclosure Statement. This can be obtained from Fortuna Director, John Galvin by emailing HERE or calling John (+64) 21 921 460.

Fortuna Ltd is an Authorised Syndicator in accordance with the Code of Practice established under The (New Zealand) Securities Act (Bloodstock) Exemption Notice 2002

Short listed some time ago by the Fortuna selection team as a real “Oaks/Derby” type filly, she ticks a lot of boxes. By first season Stallion, POUR MOI, himself a powerful winner of the English Derby, she is a half sister to the high class racehorse, LION TAMER, who not only won the VRC Derby at Flemington, but was also rated the top Australasian 3yo of his year.

Fortuna Thoroughbred Selector, David Ellis, commented as follows about this filly. ” I have had this filly in my sights for a while. She has a lovely pedigree with strong staying influences on both sides of the family  and physically, she looks like she will develop into a strong staying type; a real Oaks/Derby Filly.”

Shares can be acquired in this Staying Type Filly for $9,000 per 10% share, $4,500 per 5% share and $2,250 per 2.5% share with ongoing costs of $320 per month per 10% share, $160 per month per 5% share and $80 per month per 2.5% share. Monthly payments start 1st April 2015. Initial costs include cost of horse, GST, all Fees, insurance until 31st Jan 2016 and over $13,000 of working capital.

Applications can only be made after Investors have perused and signed the NZ Thoroughbred Racing approved Disclosure Statement. This can be obtained from Fortuna Director, John Galvin by emailing john@fortuna-nz.com or calling John (+64) 21 921 460.

Fortuna Ltd is an Authorised Syndicator in accordance with the Code of Practice established under The (New Zealand) Securities Act (Bloodstock) Exemption Notice 2002

Just four runs back from a spell, with the previous three runs over sprint trips, READY FORTUNE (More Than Ready-Bahira), stepped up to his favoured 1600 metre distance at Kanji racecourse Sunday 25th January. Drawn in barrier four and with Singapore Champion jockey, Manoel Nunes, in the saddle, READY FORTUNE was always going to get a sweet trip. Ridden back in the field by Nunes, the pace up front was hot, which suited  race tactics perfectly. Nunes set him alight at about the 600 metre mark and READY FORTUNE produced his trademark finishing run down the middle of the track to score by half a length. See Race replay HERE

Trained in Singapore for the Fortuna NZ Stable by Mark Walker, READY FORTUNE is raced by the Fortuna Ready Fortune Syndicate, comprising 33 individuals. He was acquired by Fortuna at the 2011 Karaka Premier Sale  and has now nudged his Singapore earnings to almost $100,000.

Destiny beckons for the smart Fortuna 2yo Filly, WINDBORNE, who will run in the Karaka Million, New Zealand’s richest race, at Ellerslie on Sunday 25th. The talented daughter of DARCI BRAHMA out of the mare, SWEET DREAMS BABY, was ranked 3rd in the order of entry for the 14 horse field. Rankings are determined by prize money won by runners in the season to date.

WINDBORNE was super impressive in winning her first two starts, firstly at Ellerslie in October and then a Listed race at Avondale in November. She was slightly disappointing to connections at her third start, the Eclipse Stakes at Ellerslie on New Year’s Day, finishing 5th in that event. However, she has trained on nicely since and is ready for he big assignment on Sunday 25th.

Syndicate Manager, John Galvin, comments, ” This is a great thrill for her ownership group of 29 individuals. It is extremely difficult to get a 2yo capable of making the field for this race and to have a runner in a Million Dollar race is just so exciting for them.”

Drawn well at barrier seven, WINDBORNE will have the services of NZ Premiership winning jockey, Matthew Cameron, to ride her in the 1200 metre event.

Trained by Jason Bridgman of Te Akau Racing Stables, WINDBORNE was acquired by Fortuna at the Karaka Select Sale of 2014. She was bred by David Ellis and Karyn Fenton-Ellis and is a full sister to the talented Stakes performer DARCI’S DREAM.

FORTUNA NEWSLETTER
18th January 2015

• Fortuna Ready To Run Purchases almost sold

• Fortuna 2yo Filly, WINDBORNE, to chase Million Dollar Glory in Karaka Million at Ellerslie 25th January

• Karaka Yearling Sales just around the corner

• Karaka Open Day for Syndicators planned for Wednesday 4th February – after the Karaka Sales

Ready to Run Sales Purchases

At the Ready to Run Sales in late November Fortuna acquired two outstanding individuals, one to race in NZ (Stratum-The Party Stand Colt), the other (Postponed-Promissory Gelding) to race in Singapore. Two quite different types; the Stratum Colt, whom we have nicknamed “Billy” is a real get up and go sprinting type who will probably make his race day debut toward the end of February, while the Postponed Gelding (nicknamed “Bart”), being out of a Zabeel mare, has been acquired to contest staying races in Singapore.

Billy is now 92.5% sold, so you would need to be quick if you wanted to participate. He has had one jump out already, doing a second this coming week and then will trial in early February ahead of a planned late Feb race day debut. By a Golden Slipper winning Sire and out of a Group One winning mare, he has great credentials and is a really flashy looker as well. $7200 for a 5% share with $160 per month ongoing costs commencing 1st February 2015 and we will do a 2.5% share for $3600 and $80 per month ongoing.

Bart is a different type of horse altogether. Imposing at 16 hands tall, he throws very much to the Zabeel side, long and lean with a typical stayer’s physique. He was spelled immediately after the sale and commenced a fresh preparation at Matamata on 5th January. He will be aimed for a couple of trials during the autumn with a plan to get him up to Singapore late May, which will give him plenty of time to acclimatise ahead of his 3yo season up there. Identified by Mark Walker as one of his four top selections at the sale, based on the breeze up gallops, he has a lovely low to the ground galloping action and his 10.6 second breeze up time was very impressive for a horse still some way short of maturity. Bart is now 75% sold and a 5% share in him is $6200 with $160 per month ongoing commencing 1st Feb 2015, with a 2.5% share just $3,100 and $80 per month ongoing. Not a lot of money for a horse who will be racing for S$75K in prize money at his first start in Singapore.

Contact John Galvin by email HERE  or call/text 021 921 460 if you would like to be involved in either of these two lovely 2yo’s.

WINDBORNE heads to the Karaka Million.

You know, it is incredibly difficult to get any 2yo to this Million Dollar event. Literally everything has to go right from as far back as about June. The slightest setback such as bit of shin soreness can rob connections of the valuable time they need to make the event. Limited to 2yo’s who were acquired at the Karaka 2014 sale, just 14 will run and the starters are determined by an Order of Entry based on prize money won in the current season.

Fortuna’s 2yo Filly, WINDBORNE (by Darci Brahma out of Sweet Dreams Baby) made a flying start to the season winning her first two starts (Ellerslie and Avondale) on her ear, before being slightly disappointing when 5th in the Eclipse Stakes at Ellerslie on New Years Day. Our post race analysis of that run indicates she did go a bit too hard early and so our aim in the KM race is to ride her a little colder and have her unleash her trademark turn of foot at the end of the race. WINDBORNE is currently 3rd on the order of entry for the race. Click HERE to see that Order of Entry.

Congratulations to all of the 29 Members who share in her Ownership, what a great thrill it must be for you all to be involved with a horse that is to contest NZ’s richest race and win, lose or draw, the memory of that will never fade.

Karaka Yearling Sales

Yes, it is that time of the year again with the Premier Sale session of Karaka 2015 kicking off Monday 26th January, followed later in the week by the Select and Festival Sales sessions.

As always Fortuna will be active aiming to acquire four to six quality yearlings. Regular followers of this newsletter will know that Fortuna likes to but in the “sweet spot” range of between $50,000 and $150,000, a price range that enables the acquisition of well conformed, nicely pedigreed thoroughbreds. It is notable that Fortuna’s best performer this season to date, the Listed winner and Group One placed, Darci’s Dream, only cost $45,000 at the 2013 sale. Her Karaka Million bound full sister Windborne, cost a bit more at $100,000 in 2014, but still great value given what her residual broodmare value would be currently. At the 2014 Premier Sale, we also bought the Iffraaj-Naturo filly for just $27,500 and while she has yet to go to the races, her recent trial’s performance would indicate that she has the makings of a lovely filly.

We already have short list in place with a final cut being made during this coming week. Some on the list will sell for a lot more than our budget, with others we get lucky and acquire them for less. All going well, by the end of the Select Sale (we don’t usually buy at Festival), we will have our four to six horses. At least one. maybe two, will have been acquired to race in Singapore and there will be a mixture of sprinting and middle distance/staying types. Ideally at least one of them will be contesting the 2016 Karaka Million!!

We have become very keen on fillies over the past two or three years, because the racing patten here in NZ certainly tends to favour the fairer sex and if you can get a good one, the market for well performed broodmares is very buoyant indeed.

In this age of super fast technology, our acquisitions are usually up on our website within a couple of hours of being bought. If you would like “first preference” of any of our acquisitions then email me HERE or call/text me 021 921 460 and you will receive an email giving details of any acquisition BEFORE it goes up on the Fortuna website. Finally, if you are planning to attend any of the sales sessions, please don’t hesitate to make contact with me; I will always make time to catch up with existing or potential clients.

Karaka Open Day Invitation

New Zealand Bloodstock in conjunction with NZ Thoroughbred Racing are sponsoring an Open Day for Syndicators at the Karaka Sales Centre on Wednesday 4th February between 5pm and 8pm.

Fortuna will be participating in this event which will include parades of selected yearlings and interviews by the MC with Syndicators.

All are welcome, including your friends, family and work colleagues, so if you would like to attend just email us  HERE. We look forward to seeing you there.

The money was hot for 2yo Filly, WINDBORNE, at Avondale today, closing at $2.20 on the Tote, but her effort justified punters’ optimism. Drawing 6 at the barrier, she jumped well, but then was crossed by two horses from outside barriers, causing the daughter of DARCI BRAHMA to over-race for about 100 metres. However rider Matt Cameron eased out of the speed duel and let his mount come back under him and relax. Turning for home WINDBORNE, as she did at Ellerslie with her debut win, took a few strides to balance up and then, with an electrifying turn of foot, sprinted away from her rivals, clear at the line by one and a half lengths. Click HERE to see the race result and Video replay.

A full sister to the 3yo Filly, DARCI’S DREAM, who just one week ago ran 2nd in the Group One NZ Bloodstock 1000 Guineas, WINDBORNE is nominated for the Karaka Million event to be run at Ellerslie 25th January and will probably head to Ellerslie to tackle the Group Three Eclipse Stakes over 1200 metres on New Years Day as a final lead up race to the Karaka Million.

WINDBORNE (Darci Brahma-Sweet Dreams Baby) was bred by David Ellis and Karyn Fenton Ellis and offered at the 2014 Karaka Select Sale, where she was acquired by Fortuna Syndications Director, John Galvin for $100,000 and syndicated to an ownership group of 29 individuals.

“I am so happy for the Syndicate Members,” said John Galvin,  “several are first timers and quite a few of them are also Members of the DARCI’S DREAM Syndicate, so they have had a great week in racing.”

Racing in Race 3 at 1.35pm,  Windborne (2 f Darci Brahma – Sweet Dreams Baby) –  to be ridden by Matt Cameron; received a lovely trail and came clear to win untouched on debut in the 2YO 880 metres on Oct. 25 at Ellerslie, and following a brief freshen-up she takes her place in barrier six for the Murdoch Newell 2YO Stakes (Listed, 1100m). The current $2.80 fixed odds favourite for the race, having clocked a sizzling last 600m in 32.8 when winning at Ellerslie, she appears to have done very well between races and strips in tip-top condition. A sister to Darci’s Dream, who last Saturday did Fortuna and Te Akau proud when finishing runner-up in the 1000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m), she possesses all the right attributes in a young filly to take some beating.