CHANCE TO DANCE takes out the Listed Karaka Classic at Pukekohe on his NZ Debut
Now 2nd Favourite for the Livamol Classic at Hastings 7th October
An amazing syndication story – all shares in this horse sold in 8 days – 78 individual Members in the Syndicate
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 be 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.
CHANCE TO DANCE, formerly owned by Lloyd Williams, was acquired by 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.
KING SAVINSKY makes it six career wins when leading all the way to win at the Penang Turf Club 24th 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
YES, it is a Family Business, Joshua Galvin, aged Two and a bit, accepting the Karaka Classic Trophy at Pukekohe on Saturday
Fortuna runners this week
ITS OUR SHOWTIME at Avondale Wednesday 27th, JACKS SECRET resuming from a break in Singapore on Friday night and EATONS GOLD seeks his 10th career win at the Penang Turf Club on Sunday on Saturday, along with OUR RIVER DANCER, READY FORTUNE and last start winner KING SAVINSKY.