Fortuna acquires European Stayer “Leaderboard” at the UK Tattersalls Sale
Fortuna Director, John Galvin, pulled off a long standing ambition during the early hours of the morning of 30thOctober when he secured the purchase of the three year old gelding, LEADERBOARD, who has an outstanding Northern Hemisphere pedigree, being by Super Sire Street Cry, the Sire of the mighty Winx, who has now won 29 races in a row and out of a winning Dynaformer mare, Flower Fairy. Well known International Bloodstock agent, Hubie de Burgh, engaged by John to act for him at this sale, had signalled this horse to John as one that would be ideal as a staying type for NZ/Aus conditions.
“It is very apparent that European bred Stayers have the edge presently on their Southern Hemisphere counterparts,” says John, “so instead of taking “coals to Newcastle” we have gone to Newcastle (well in fact Newmarket) and bought the “coals”, acquiring a lovely staying type of horse who has recent winning form in Ireland over 2400 metres. This horse has a great pedigree being by the late Street Cry, who quite apart from being the Sire of Winx and the mighty Zenyatta, who won 19 times from 20 starts, has cemented himself as one of the world’s leading Stallions in recent times with over 120 Stakes Winners. He wants for nothing either on the Female side of his pedigree, with his dam, Flower Fairy, being a winner and her two foals to the races to date both being winners. Flower Fairy is by Dynaformer, a tough USA bred stallion who himself had over 130 Stakes winners, including the winners of a Kentucky Derby (Barbaro) and a Melbourne Cup (Americain)”
LEADERBOARD, while still a Colt had five starts as a Two and Three Year Old, with modest results, but after being Gelded in June of 2018, hit a purple patch of form, running 2nd fresh up over 2000 metres, 3rd placings in his next two races before winning over 2400 metres on 12th October after maintaining a long run from the back of the field. Click HERE to see that replay.
A strong type with plenty of size and scope, LEADERBOARD stands at 16 hands high and weighs 530 kgs. Click HERE to see Video Clip of him parading and at the trot
“LEADERBOARD” – the Three Year Old Gelding by Street Cry (Sire of Winx)
The plan for this lovely horse is that he will arrive in NZ on 10th December and will then get a good long spell (eight weeks or so) in a big grassy paddock at Te Akau Stud. He will then go to the Te Akau Racing Stables at Matamata where Fortuna’s NZ Trainer, Jamie Richards, will then get to know the horse, bring him up to fitness, trial him in the Autumn of 2019, get him to the races in the late Autumn with an objective of winning a race or two to get him up in the ratings, then freshen ahead of a Spring campaign in the South Island with his principal target being the Group One New Zealand Cup (3200 metres) being run at Riccarton in mid November 2019. Other targets for him will then be the Wellington Cup (3200 metres) run at Trentham in January of 2020 and the Auckland Cup (3200 metres) at Ellerslie in March 2020.
Depending on the quality of his NZ form in those staying races, an Australian campaign for their major staying races would clearly be a target in subsequent seasons.
Fortuna’s NZ Trainer, Jamie Richards, was very effusive in his praise of LEADERBOARD. He says “John, I love the look of this horse – he presents as the classical European staying type – he has size and scope and I loved his walking action. I have also studied his replays and his racing action looks nice and relaxed and his win was full of merit, circling the field before the turn after being back in the running, widest into the straight but strong to the line. I don’t get to train this type of horse very often and I am really looking forward to him being in my barn.”
This sort of opportunity (i.e. to get involved with a staying type of horse with a proven winning record) does not come along very often. This horse is young (foaled in May 2015) so he is only three (but on arrival in NZ he will be regarded as a four year old, because he is bred to Northern Hemisphere time), has had an ideal grounding (i.e trained and prepared in Ireland where they certainly know how to prepare stayers) and has impeccable staying credentials, both on pedigree and race day form to date.
Shares are available in this horse at $2,400 for each 1% with ongoing expenses commencing 1st January 2019 of $34 per month for each 1% share. This includes the purchase price of the horse, all fees, transport to New Zealand, Insurance cover through to 31 Jan 2020 and working capital of over $8,000. Click HERE to obtain application material or call/text John Galvin directly 021 921 460
Applications can only be made after Investors have perused and signed the NZ Thoroughbred Racing approved Disclosure Statement. This can be obtained from the Syndicate Promoter, Fortuna Ltd (Director John Galvin), HERE or by calling John 021 921 460.
Fortuna Ltd is an Authorised Syndicator in accordance with the Code of Practice administered by New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing (Inc) established under The Financial Markets Conduct (Equine Bloodstock) Exemption Notice 2016. Details of this Offer are contained in the Disclosure Statement relating to the Offer