Fortuna 3yo Filly INCA BELLE wins on debut at Pukekohe Park 8th November 2022

Given an economical trip by Champion Te Akau apprentice Joe Kamaruddin, Inca Belle (3 f Per Incanto – Belle Vie, by Darci Brahma) recorded a debut victory in the $14,000 NZB Ready To Run Sale 16 & 17 Nov Maiden 1100 metres on 8 November at Pukekohe.

Good through trials stage and having finished strongly for second in a trial on 4 August at Te Rapa, the placement and timing by trainer Mark Walker was exemplary and the race set up perfectly.

Slightly slow away from a mid field gate (9), Inca Belle improved on the inner while a five-wide rush in front passing the 700 metres helped matters. On straightening, she accelerated quickly into contention at the 400m and saw the race out like a filly capable of further, despite drifting out very wide in the run home

Click HERE to see the race replay

Trainer, Mark Walker, down at Riccarton ahead of Coupland Mile day was very please with what he saw, “It was a lovely ride by Joe, saved all the ground and then came out and it was a good effort on debut,” he said “She hadn’t trialled since August but did go to the jumpouts last Friday, which shows the benefit of our jumpout system at Matamata.  It’s great when you can use them on the home track like trials. I think she’ll improve for both the experience and the run and gain confidence as well.”

  INCA BELLE – wins on debut – Pukekohe Park 8th November – Joe Kamaruddin aboard

On Good 4 footing, Inca Belle ran 1100 metres in 1:03.8, last 600m in 33, and paid generously ($11.10 & $2.80) on the NZ TAB tote.

The win also continued a rich vein for Little Avondale Stud leading stallion Per Incanto (Street Cry) whose mare Roch ‘N’ Horse became his higher earner after winning the $3m VRC Classic (Gr. 1, 1200m) last Saturday at Flemington. Inca Belle’s dam Belle Vie is a descendent of the famous “Belle” family, founded by James and Annie Sarten and perpetuated by their daughter, Marie Leicester, with the most famous Members of the family being the 14 time Group One winner, Melody Belle.

The family has been nurtured by Pencarrow Stud since (Sir) Peter and the late Philip Vela bought her fourth dam, Heidi Belle (Copenhagen 11).

Fortuna Director, John Galvin, was on course with a few syndicate Members and was very pleased with the outcome, “She was slightly fractious in the barriers and jumped a bit slow, but Joe didn’t panic and gave her a lovely soft run,”  he said  “He got her out to the middle of the track and I was sure she was going to finish second, but she responded to urging over the last 50 metres and got the job done. She’s a neat, tidy, filly and she’s very athletic. Congrats to Mark Walker, who took the punt that she was ready to race despite just having the jumpout last Friday”

Inca Belle was purchased by David Ellis CNZM and Fortuna Racing for $50,000 at the 2021 NZB Ready To Run Sale, from the draft of Phoenix Park, and is raced by the Fortuna Inca Belle Syndicate, an Ownership Group consisting of 49 individuals, mainly from NZ but also with Australian and Hong Kong based Members,