Four Fortuna runners this Saturday 7th November in three jurisdictions, New Zealand, Australia and Singapore

5yo Mare BURGUNDY BELLE takes her place in the Legacy Lodge Sprint (Listed Race – 1200m – $50,000) at Te Rapa (Race 6 @3.25). A gallant last start 3^rd in the Matamata Cup (Listed 1400m) four weeks ago, her first start in Open Company, demonstrated that she is up to this Grade. She was strong in an exhibition gallop at Te Aroha Wednesday 28^th October. Chelsea Burdan takes the mount from barrier 2 in an 11 horse field. Back to 1200m which will suit, forecast rain will provide some easing in the track which will also suit, carries the minimum weight of 53kgs, has good gate speed – she ticks a lot of boxes and presents as a very good Top 3 chance – market has her at $7 Fixed Odds

6yo Mare MELODY BELLE has taken all before her here in NZ since her return from Australia in September, winning two Group One races at Hastings, the first narrowly, the second emphatically. She now returns to Australia to contest the LKS Mackinnon Stakes (Group One – 2000m – A$2m – Race 8 @ 7pm NZT) a race in which she finished a fast finishing 2^nd in 2019. Chasing her 13^th Group One victory, she will be ridden by Melbourne Cup winning jockey, Jye McNeil, from Barrier 6 in a 10 horse field. Nicely drawn at a perfect distance for her, her work has been excellent since arriving in Australia and she presents as a very good each way chance in this event. Currently 3^rd favourite at Fixed Odds of $5

Melody Belle – Livamol Classic – Hastings   – 17 October 2020

In Singapore 4yo SHOWBOUND gets his chance to break Maiden status in a 1200m event on the Turf (Race 5 @ 7pm NZT – S$20,000). Running into the placings in his first four Singapore starts, he failed badly at his 5^th start, after being given no favours by his rider. Freshened since, he has trialed well and his trackwork has been strong. Will be ridden by the in form Ruan Maia. Drawn perfectly in barrier 3, top rider aboard, can race handy or even lead, he is a top 3 chance in this race and has good prospects of greeting the judge for the first time.

5yo HADEER, a winner in Australia, has had three Singapore starts and run into the prizemoney on all three occasions. Freshened since his last race in late August, he has been given a quiet trial since by trainer Mark Walker and takes his place in the Class 4 1200m event on the Turf (Race 11 @ 10pm NZT – S$50,000). Will be ridden from Barrier 8 by Benny Woodworth. Top rider, slightly tricky draw to negotiate with running rail out in the E Position, but is more than capable of a bold showing here – presents as a good each way chance.

Te Akau Track work this week – Fortuna Runners –  Matamata

Tuesday 3^rd November

Burgundy Belle (J Kamaruddin) looked good galloping over 1000 metres in 1.03.2, final 600 in 36.5. Burgundy Belle races in the Listed Open Sprint at Te Rapa on Saturday.

Charmaine’s Dream (D Johnson) galloped over an easy 800 metres in 57, home in 41.4.

Navalha (R Khan) worked at three quarter pace over 800 metres in 59.2, last 600 in 43.5.

Thursday 29th October

Taking on the Listed Sprint at Te Rapa on Saturday, Burgundy Belle (T Harris) galloped over an easy 1000 metres in 1.11, final 600 in 41.

Navalha (S Parmar) galloped over an easy 800 metres, last 600 in 40.5.

Soprano Supreme (M Grylls) a worked at three quarter pace over 1000 metres in 1.15, last 600 in 44.7.

Other News

Bosson’s message a Melody for McNeil

Jockey Opie Bosson reckons Melbourne Cup winning rider Jye McNeil will have a sweet sit on Melody Belle in the Group 1 Mackinnon Stakes writes Ben Dorries

Opie Bosson has ridden Melody Belle to victory in five of her 12 Group 1 wins and has some good news for Melbourne Cup winning rider Jye McNeil ahead of a Mackinnon Stakes tilt at Flemington on Saturday.

There is unfinished business for the Jamie Richards-trained freakishly talented mare at headquarters on Saturday after she flew home into second behind Aidan O’Brien’s globetrotting galloper Magic Wand in the same race last year.

Magic Wand won’t be there to defend her Mackinnon Stakes title, recently retired after having a foot abscess which scuppered her Melbourne spring campaign.

TAB has Melody Belle at $5 to go one better than last year and win the Mackinnon in a market which has Caulfield Stakes winner Arcadia Queen as the $3.10 favourite and Cox Plate fourth placegetter Mugatoo at $4.40.

The contest looks no stronger than last year’s Mackinnon and Melody Belle is coming off two consecutive Group 1 wins in her homeland after a Sydney spring campaign didn’t go to plan.

Bosson didn’t ride Melody Belle in either of her recent Group I wins, due to weight issues, but feels as though the Kiwi mare could cap a huge week for McNeil.

“Jye will love riding her – she is push-button and he can ride her where he wants from the barrier (six of ten),” Bosson told Racenet from New Zealand.

“She is totally straightforward to ride and he will be able to put her anywhere and switch her off.

“It will be a totally no fuss ride for him and I think he can finish off a big week on another high.”

John Galvin, who manages the Melody Belle Fortuna Syndicate that owns the multiple New Zealand Horse of the Year, was convinced by trainer Richards the mare should travel to Australia for the Group I at the end of the Flemington carnival.

The deciding factor was when she demolished her rivals in the Group I Livamol Classic in Hastings last start.