Given a dream run by jockey Masa Hashizume, Court Of Appeal (4 m Eminent – Katy O’Beel, by Zabeel) was an easy winner in the $25,000 Joe Yorke Bloodstock Rating 65 1800 metres on 26 February at Taupo for the Fortuna Racing Team
Recording a third win on the card for trainers Mark Walker & Sam Bergerson, following Shockabella (Shocking) and Lady Of Court (Savabeel), both ridden by Craig Grylls, Court Of Appeal had been given time since running home with more to offer in the Rating 65 1600 metres on 27 January at Tauranga, and appeared ideally drawn (1) to prove competitive in a solid field. With the draw ensuring an economical trip, Court Of Appeal was allowed to find her feet back on the inner, ninth of eleven and seven lengths astern at the 600m, but when a grand parting occurred turning for home she quickly asserted authority to race clear with a two and a quarter length winning margin.
Click HERE to see the race replay
“She jumped okay and I had to give her a couple of slaps to keep up, but after that she settled straight away,” Hashizume said. “She was going so good on the corner, luckily everyone came off the fence, and she quickened well through the gap. She kept galloping strongly to the line.”
On Good4 footing, Court Of Appeal ran 1800 metres in 1:51.6, last 600m in 36.0, and paid handsomely ($11.10 & $3.00) on the NZ TAB tote.
“It was a really good win and certainly a lovely ride of Masa’s,” said Mark Walker, who trains with Sam Bergerson. “She’s been promising for a while, went through a growing stage and weakened off, but she’s coming back to it and John Galvin and his team of owners have been really patient with her. She’ll be up into a much tougher grade now, but hopefully that win gives her a lot of confidence. We’re looking forward to watching her progress over the next six to 12 months. The mother was much better as an older horse, as well, and it’s a family that is slower maturing.”
Court Of Appeal – 2nd career victory – Taupo 27th February 2025 – Masa Hashizume aboard
Purchased for $20,000 by David Ellis CNZM and Fortuna Racing from the Karaka 2022 Book 2 Sale, from the draft of Brighthill Farm, she is owned by Fortuna Court Of Appeal Syndicate (Mgr: John Galvin), an ownership group comprising 47 individuals
“We’ve had a lot of winners here at Taupo over the years and it’s a fantastic track and venue to come to,” said John Galvin, who was present on track for the inaugural Cockies Racing Day, which attracted over 250 farmers. “It was hard to get a carpark when I arrived, which is incredible, but it just goes to show how well the Club has promoted the day and how much local support they get.”
John also congratulated Club President Terry Campbell and his committee and track staff for the irrigation system that has been installed.
“I went onto the track with Terry before the race and it has a magnificent sole of grass, so it’s a really good effort from everyone involved,” he said.
“Well done to Mark and Sam for training this horse so well, as she had had her quirks. She’s a lovely Mare that we bought as a staying type from Book 2 at Karaka, we didn’t pay a lot, and out of a Zabeel mare, so she was great buying. We have a couple of our owners here, John Nixon and Julie Carter, both Fortuna stalwarts, and congratulations to all in her ownership group. I thought she might lack a bit of early speed, which she did and got shuffled back, but the (genuine) tempo of the race helped, and as they turned for home it was like the Red Sea opening up in front of her. Well done to her rider, Masa, who’s had a recent comeback after injury – he judged the tempo of the race perfectly, allowing the horse to find her feet and run home strong”
Brighthill Farm stallion Eminent, a Group Two winner and dual Group One placed son of peerless racehorse and sire Frankel (Galileo) – currently leading the TRC Global Sires Rankings – was trained by Sir Mark Todd and owned by Sir Peter Vela. From the first crop by Eminent, Court Of Appeal is out of a mare that won three times to 2200 metres, in turn from sensational staying mare Katy Keen (Zorro’s Lad), a Group Two and Group Three winner that won 10 times to 2500 metres.
Court Of Appeal is the second winner from Katy O’Beel, following Enright (Power), a three-time winner to 2100 metres.
Court Of Appeal was strapped by Michael Gray.
Vale Mike Moroney
Racing world mourns the passing of Hall of Fame trainer Mike Moroney
The racing world is in mourning following the news that New Zealand Racing Hall of Fame trainer Mike Moroney passed away in Melbourne this morning at the age of 66. Moroney, a protégé of legendary trainer Dave O’Sullivan, founded Ballymore Stables in his hometown Matamata in the early 1980s and his almost immediate success led to the establishment of a complementary stable in Australia in 1997.
Initially based in Adelaide, his win with Second Coming in that year’s Victoria Derby led to Moroney being allocated stabling at the historic Chiquita Lodge at Flemington. From there he became a Melbourne Cup-winning trainer in 2000 with Brew, and for good measure Second Coming finished third.
Moroney was inducted to the New Zealand Racing Hall of Fame in May 2023, less than a year after his father Denny, who could fairly be described as his greatest influence, had passed away at age 93. Moroney senior introduced him and his younger brother Paul to racing, not forgetting that their mother Mary was the daughter of Charlie and Ellie Casey, the breeders 1960 Centenary Melbourne Cup winner Hi-Jinx.
While Paul was to find his niche as a bloodstock agent, Mike’s beginnings were as a stablehand at Wexford Stables alongside Paul O’Sullivan, and after doing the hard yards together, they were granted their trainer’s licences on the same day and joined Dave O’Sullivan in a three-way partnership at the start of the 1981-82 season. Moroney took little time to establish his own bona fides when making the decision to go it alone at Ballymore Stables, winning with his very first starter and claiming the first of 55 Group One victories with Imperial Angel in the 1985 New Zealand 1000 Guineas.
Besides Brew and Second Coming, star performers during Moroney’s more than four decades as a trainer included New Zealand Horse of the Year Xcellent, Happyanuniot, a Group One winner in New Zealand and later a winner three times at that level in the United States, VATC 1000 Guineas winner Shizu, and classy sprinting mares Tofane and Roch’N’Horse. They were both graduates of Ballymore Matamata and found their peak form in Australia, Roch’N’Horse winning the Gr. 1 Newmarket and Champions Sprint at Flemington, and Tofane scoring four times at Group One level across Australia’s three major eastern states.
Pam Gerard was the last of Moroney’s training partners to manage the Matamata operation, and she took sole ownership of Ballymore Matamata last July.
Moroney had become seriously ill in April and took his foreman Glen Thompson into partnership at the start of the current season. One of his rare raceday attendances was to the 2024 Melbourne Cup and the final one was just last Saturday, where he was at Caulfield to be part of Coeur Volante’s return to form in the Gr.3 Mannerism Stakes.
“Mike rang me just yesterday for a chat and he was looking forward to being a guest of the VRC at Flemington on Saturday,” his brother Paul said. “While he had his health challenges, none of us were expecting this, but he passed away peacefully in his sleep. It’s comforting to know that his daughter Aleisha and her husband Chad arrived in Melbourne yesterday and were able to spend some enjoyable time with Mike and his partner Karen last night. As brothers growing up on the family dairy farm, Mike and I had a fantastic relationship, we were always competitive and shared a passion and fascination for racing fostered by our parents and other family members. The greatest quality that led to his success as a trainer was his affinity for animals and his work ethic. He was never flustered, he always made plans, setting goals and working backwards, but all the time having that ability to change things if necessary. I’m proud to say that he and I worked well together, combining our skills and always throwing ideas around, all the time challenging each other. So many of Ballymore’s big wins were shared by both of us.
“Since the news broke this morning, I’ve had countless messages and calls, and the one thing that’s come through is how respected and liked Mike was by everyone. As one person said, not only was he was a champion trainer, but a champion bloke as well.
John comments “In the 1980’s I was a 50/50 sharemilker on a dairy farm at Hinuera near Matamata – I had befriended Neville Bradford who was the Stud Manager on a nearby Thoroughbred Stud Farm owned at the time by the late Arthur Hughes. Neville was the son of the acclaimed Racing journalist, the late Dave Bradford and was also a (very youthful) committee man on the Matamata Racing Club so was well connected to the racing industry. Nev was a great socialiser and maintained a very well appointed bar in his home on Hopkins Road, which along with a magnificent Perreaux Hifi sound system and a collection of Rock LP’s to die for made for a great social occasion. Drinks after a hard day’s work was relatively common at Nev’s place and it was there that I first met the Moroney brothers, Mike and Paul and struck up a good friendship with them. The late Dr Jim Marks, one of the most respected equine vets in New Zealand’s history was a regular attendee at our “sessions” and the iconic racecaller, Keith Haub, was also a regular, where after a cay’s calling at the Matamata races, he would regale us with stories of his race calling and horse ownership exploits. Mike Moroney, had at the time just recently branched out as a young trainer on his own after being associated with the O’Sullivan Stable for several years and so I was following his career with much interest. Eventually he embarked on a training career in Australia, while still maintaining his NZ operation and so was certainly a trail blazer in that respect and the rest “is history” as they say.
Over the years, Mike and I would run into each other at sales or race meetings on either sides of the Tasman and as other parties have mentioned, he was always the perfect gentleman, friendly, caring and always showing interest in what his former friends and associates were up to in their lives.
In 2023, Melody Belle was inducted into the NZ Hall Of Fame and it was just great for me personally to be able to share that occasion with Mike and other Members of the Moroney family, as he was inducted as a “Hall of Famer” at the same time. Rest in Peace Mike.
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Shares available in three different Fortuna horses
In Victoria
Colour Sergeant (14.5% left – will have his first start for us Friday 7th March at Ballarat)
- European Bred 4 time winning 7yo by Kingman
- Acquired by us for a song in late November from his former NSW Stable
- Been revitalised with an innovative training programme at Cranbourne in the hands of Mark Walker
- Has had two solid jumpouts to prepare for his Fortuna debut this coming Friday 7th March at Ballarat
- Bred to get a trip, he has got down to just 63 points in the ratings and has jumping potential
- Still shares left at $570 per each 1% and NZ$60 pm from 1 March
- Click HERE to read full details on the Fortuna website and orders can be placed directly from the website – place your order ahead of Friday’s race and you will have a winning chance that day
Alabama Express – Camila Lucinda Yearling Filly (just 8% left)
This exciting prospect was acquired by us at the recent Inglis Classic Sale in Sydney 9th February
- Early Foal and early running type, she should be making her 2yo race debut in the Spring of 2025
- By the Young Stallion, ALABAMA EXPRESS who is really making his mark with just two crops racing
- This Filly to be trained by Multiple time Champion Trainer Mark Walker at Cranbourne in Victoria
- She is to be registered for the Inglis Race Series, carrying Bonuses of several Million Dollars
- Click HERE to see her parading at the Inglis Sale with comments from Mark just after we had bought her
- Shares available at NZ$1700 per each 1% and NZ$60 pm from 1 April
- Click HERE to read full details on the Fortuna website and orders can be placed directly from the website
ALABAMA EXPRESS – CAMILA LUCINDA Yearling Filly
In New Zealand
Savabeel – Lady Tatia Yearling Filly (just 7.5% left)
- Acquired by us at The Karaka Book One Sale late January, she is Karaka Millions Series registered and is also eligible to run in the NZ Kiwi for 3yos in 2027
- By the multi time Champion Stallion Savabeel who has sired 8 Stakes winners in NZ/Aus in the current season, with a career total of 146 Stakes Winners including 35 Group One winners
- An early foal, she presents as an early running 2yo type – is very forward and is already in her 2nd week of being broken in and is clear prospect for the Karaka Million 2yo event in January 2026
- To be trained at Matamata by Mark Walker/Sam Bergerson
- Click HERE to see her parading at the Karaka Sale
- Shares available at NZ$2200 per each 1% and NZ$50 pm from 1 April
- Click HERE to read full details on the Fortuna website and orders can be placed directly from the website
The SAVABEEL – LADY TATIA Filly
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Guest Selector – Des Coppins
Here is what Des has for our readers this week
Greetings John and your readers
Congratulations on the impressive winning run by your mare Court of Appeal at Taupo. You’d have to think the way she did the job she won’t take too long to win again. For the record, the NZ St Leger winner (2800m) of 2008 Katy Keen is the grand dam of Court of Appeal which clearly suggests distances further than the 1800m that she comfortably coped with on Wednesday should not be an issue.
Before unveiling horses to watch this weekend we weren’t far away last week with 14 to one chance Tardelli, who did well from a wide draw to be narrowly beaten into third and the luckless Who Rox the House, who also ran third after being tightened for room over the concluding stages. Sadly the third hope, Trav, never got to the starting gates at Otaki after the meeting was aborted after one race. I still believe in Trav, the unluckiest of all in the Wellington Cup. He’s still heading to try and make amends at Ellerslie next Saturday for the two mile Auckland Cup. He’s had a trial and a jump out since Trentham and fear not, astute trainer Raymond Connors will have him pretty much spot on for Ellerslie. His odds as I write this are $21 and $6. You could do a lot worse 8 days out because realistically our stayers this year aren’t overly strong.
Prior to releasing my three to follow can I use this medium to pass on deepest condolences to the Moroney family after the very sad loss of one of the great guys of racing for the last 40 years or so, Michael Moroney. He deservedly made it to the last induction of the NZ Racing Hall of Fame. He had battled ill health for a time but was back on his feet and doing what he loves, casting and eagle eye over his racing team in Melbourne and plotting further wins with his large and successful team.
RIP Michael, a legend of NZ and Australian racing.
Navigator: race 7 Matamata
Forget his last run from an awkward draw at Te Rapa at group one level. He began awkwardly and raced three wide without cover throughout. The start before he demonstrated his class with a bold third in the group one Telegraph. Here’s an interesting statistic, outside his last start with that very genuine excuse, he’s never further been further than 4 lengths from the winners in the 10 starts he hasn’t won. He’s won on all surfaces but I reckon he’s better on good to soft; in other words the old “easy” classification. He’s drawn handy enough to get the right run just behind the pace. I’d have a good each way bet on him but have a close look at the odd surge which might be close to $10.
December, race 5 Matamata
That was a horrible watch when 4th after scraggy old start through no fault of the horse last time at Te Rapa. The horse reared as the start was effected and the jockey was of the belief that the barrier malfunctioned. Because it featured in a dividend bearing position the horse could not be declared a late scratching. Therefore those of us who backed him at Te Rapa will be looking for amends any which way we can. At the odds I’ll be anchoring him on my quaddie ticket as one bet. Mind you at around $4.50 on the odds surge the price is right also for a solo win bet. Maybe some insurance with the roving banker trifecta bet isn’t silly either.
He’s A Doozy, race 9 Wingatui
The form may not read well but put aside his seemingly lack lustre staying effort in the Herbie Dyke and read into the form beforehand.
In running 9th in the Thorndon Mile he didn’t get the best of runs and was squeezed once or twice in the straight. He ran 4th at Otaki three starts back after getting well back in the initial part but hit the line into 4th with real purpose and he was also in the judicial report in the group one TAB Classic at Trentham after again getting the shuffle up at the wrong time of the race.
He’s a group one Thorndon, Coupland’s Mile and Thompson Mile at Trentham winner. He’s therefore running over his favourite distance. Although he’s capable of running a 1.40 1600m on a wet track I reckon he’d prefer a 1.36-37 1600m type surface.
Thankfully for the big day at Wingatui – apart from the odd sprinkling- track conditions and overall weather should be okay if the weather forecasters can be relied on.
Good punting!
Des Coppins
021 448 052
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