Court Of Appeal – 2nd career victory – Taupo 26th February 2025 – Masa Hashizume aboard

Fortuna has one runner this weekend

Ellerslie – Saturday

MAROKOPA FALLS will contest the Group One Sistema Stakes – Race 4 @2.13pm with  Liam Riordan to ride from Barrier 4 – a  strong debut winner at Trentham December 7, she then ran third three weeks later at the same venue in the Group 2 Wakefield Stakes after overracing, she was the freshened and resumed at Matamata in the Matamata Breeders Stakes February 15 where she ran 4th. On review she was probably a gallop short at Matamata, has taken significant improvement and blinkers go on – meets stern opposition here, but can make her presence felt from her good draw and at good odds. TAB says “Not too bad so far-well drawn yet again – place or first four at best” – Showing $15/$3.80

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Trackwork – Fortuna Runners

Matamata – 4th March

Marokopa Falls (C Grylls)  galloped over 1000 metres in 1.06.4, home in 37.6.

Riccarton – 4th March

Angels Wings (D Montes de Oca) galloped over 1000 metres in 1.07.4, last 600 in 38.2.

Portia Catonis (C Stumbles) galloped over 800 metres in 57.4, last 600 in 39.2.

Cranbourne  – 5th March

Colour Sergeant (C Wilson)  galloped over 1000 metres in 1.06.7, last 600 in 37.1.

Matamata – 5th March

Inca Belle (C Grylls) galloped over 1200 metres in 1.23.8, final 600 in 38.1.

Matamata – 6th March

Marokopa Falls (C Barnes) worked at three quarter pace over 1000 metres in 1.14.6, final 600 in 41.9.

Riccarton – 6th March

Portia Catonis (C Stumbles) galloped over 1000 metres in 1.09.1, last 600 in 40.6.

Cranbourne – 6th March

West Indies (S Duric) galloped over 1200 metres in 1.24.7, final 600 in 36.9.

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Other News

Champions Day is upon us at Ellerslie on Saturday – and Fortuna Racing has a Group One runner

New Zealand Racing has a long and storied history with many ups and downs over the decades and it’s no secret that the first two decades of the 21st century saw a significant decline in New Zealand Racing, however in the past two years, with the adoption of many of the recommendations from the Messara report and the takeover of the TAB’s betting operations by Entain in 2023, have seen a dramatic turnaround with prize money virtually doubling in that time and a host of new races, revamped programs and other incentives. One of those new races is the NZ Kiwi, a “slot” race run over 1500m for 3yos. With this race set to be run at Ellerslie, Auckland Thoroughbred Racing saw the opportunity to have one major raceday in March grouping together historic races like the NZ Derby, the Auckland Cup, the Bonecrusher Stakes, the Sistema Stakes and the NZ Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes, supported by a strong undercard and the new NZ Kiwi as a centrepiece and renamed the day as “Champions Day”.

Unquestionably this approach has paid off with the race day being a “sell out” and significant publicity and attention from non racing media. The day has also caught the attention of racing authorities across the Tasman with the announcement last week from Racing New South Wales that the winner of the NZ Kiwi would have automatic entry into the rich Golden Eagle run at Rosehill on 1st November

So a wonderful day of racing awaits us and Fortuna Racing will be a participant with our 2yo Filly, Marokopa Falls (Hellbent)to contest the Group One Sistema Stakes on the day – a huge thrill for us and of course, the small army of Syndicate Members (57 individuals), many of whom will be on track. Marokopa Falls was purchased at the Magic Millions National Yearling Sale in June of 2024 for just A$57,500 and came to hand very quickly, winning on debut at Trentham in early December. She is “off the radar” to some extent for this event with media and punter focus on other runners, but as we have reminded her connections, Melody Belle was off the radar as well when she won the 2017 Karaka Million on this track at odds of $33!!! – so I am sure readers will join with John and Jessica in wishing the Marokopa Falls Syndicate Members all the very best on this historic raceday

Here below is a story from the NZ Racing Desk about Champions Day

Stallion making opportunity – the half brother to Bellatrix Star
 

As readers will be aware, the Fortuna Racing 3yo Filly, BELLATRIX STAR, had a sensational 2024 calendar year winning the Group 2 Eclipse Stakes at Pukekohe on Jan 1st, then winning three black type races in a row in Melbourne in the spring and running a brave 2nd in the Group One Coolmore Stakes. A freak accident in early January saw her sidelined for an indefinite period, but she is staging a strong recovery to date. At the recent Inglis Premier Sale, her yearling half bother by Nicconi was being offered and after going through the normal inspection process by the Te Akau Team of David Ellis, Mark Walker and Marcus Corban and passing that process with flying colours, we decided to see if we could secure him and (on our last bid) we managed to do so for A$200,000

This Colt is an outstanding physical specimen and with his pedigree page, he is a definite “stallion making” opportunity – stallion making is never easy of course as there is huge competition, but if Group Races in Australia can be won by 2yo Colts in particular, the pay offs can be huge. And while the high priced million dollar plus lots, boasting glamour pedigrees, attract initial attention, the very best 2yo Colts don’t necessarily fit that profile. The current “glamour” Colt in Sydney, Rivellino (Too Darn Hot), who is unbeaten from three starts, including a victory in the Group One Millennium at Randwick, was not a graduate of the Magic Millions or Inglis Easter Sale, but of the lower key Inglis Classic Sale, where he was acquired for just A$180k in 2024. He now has several Studs circling with offers that you can bet your last dollar on will be A$20m plus. So our Nicconi – Alana’s Party Colt is “in the zone” and most importantly, he looks to be an “early runner” which is a vital factor in the Stallion making game, particularly in Australia with their emphasis on “speed” stallions – read all about him below – shares now available on the Fortuna website

David Ellis and Fortuna Racing struck early on day one of the Inglis Premier sale in Melbourne Sunday 2nd March,  securing lot 20,  the half brother to the four time Stakes winner Bellatrix Star (Star Witness)

Consigned by Newhaven Park, the son of Nicconi was knocked down to the Ellis/Fortuna pairing for A$200,000. Ellis and Fortuna had combined to buy Bellatrix Star at the 2023 NZ Bloodstock Karaka Book One sale for NZ$80,000 and she subsequently became a star performer, winning at Group 2 level in New Zealand as a two year-old, then picking up three Stakes races in a row in Melbourne during the spring of 2024 and running a gallant 2nd behind Switzerland in the Group One Coolmore Stakes on Derby day.

Te Akau trainer Mark Walker who had conducted inspections at the sales complex on behalf of Ellis and Fortuna, described the Nicconi – Alana’s Party offering as “a big strong colt,  he is very forward and will run early”

Set to be trained by Mark Walker out of Te Akau Racing’s Cranbourne stable, this Colt is now offered for public syndication

Shares available down to 1% – NZ$2,300 for each 1% share and NZ$50 per month from 1 May 2025 – Click HERE to order a share

Some background here – we had spotted this Colt in the catalogue pre sale, but when Mark Walker went to the sales ground before the sale to conduct his inspections, he called John once he had inspected the horses on his list and had this to say “John, the half brother to Bellatrix Star is a genuinely beautiful Colt, big and strong and will run early” – you should note that we always approach these inspections very methodically and the fact that he was a half brother to Bellatrix Star was of course of interest to us, but at the same time whatever the pedigree is, we leave emotion out of it and focus on our core criteria which is the physical attributes and he certainly ticked all the boxes

Click HERE to see his presale parade.

Yearling Colt by Nicconi out of Alana’s Party

In fact this Colt is so forward that Mark has decided to send him straight to the breakers from the Sales Arena – this will mean that we can get him broken in early, then give him the usual two weeks stable prep and then give him a really decent break before bringing him back for a further preparation ahead of trialing in the spring. He is a Colt of course and it’s always challenging with Colts to keep them intact, but he definitely has a Stallion’s pedigree and if he was able to win Group races for us, particularly as a two-year-old, he would have immense value as a Stallion prospect.

Fortuna’s Trainer, Mark Walker is extremely positive about this Colt – Click HERE to listen to his verbal description

Te Akau Principal David Ellis has this to say about this Colt

“Lovely Two Year old type pedigree page, with the dam out of an Exceed and Excel mare, strong forward looking Colt, lovely walk, deep girth, looks to be an early running type”

Click HERE to see the pedigree page

In a remarkable show of confidence, the Breeders/Vendors of this Colt expressed a desire to retain 25% of him as a racehorse – a request we were happy to accede to

We know with Bellatrix Star of course, that she was able to run early, winning the very first 2yo race of the season in Australasia (1st Saturday in September) and a nice early black type race for this Colt would be the (Listed) Inglis Banner 1100m down the Flemington chute for A$400k on the last day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival – and of course the Group One Blue Diamond run at Caulfield in February is famous as a “stallion making” race

Key Points are:

• Strong, powerful, well developed Colt who will run early
• Potential Stallion at Stud prospect
• By a well proven Stallion in Nicconi, the sire of the Multiple Group One and Everest winner, Nature Strip – Nicconi in his long career at Stud has thrown 70% winners to runners including 29 Stakes winners
• A half brother to the brilliant Bellatrix Star, the winner of 5 races including 4 Stakes races, three of those in succession in Melbourne, – with two wins at Group 2 level, one at Group 3 and one Listed as well as running 2nd to Switzerland in the Group One Coolmore Stakes at Flemington
• Will be prepared for racing by Mark Walker out of the Te Akau Racing Cranbourne facility in Victoria
• His Breeders have retained 25% and so this Colt will race in a Partnership with our Fortuna Syndicate holding 75% of the horse and the Breeders 25%
• Despite the partnership arrangement, he will race in the Fortuna Silks and Fortuna (John Galvin) will be the Racing Manager with full powers over the partnership as per the Syndicate Agreement

He will be nominated for the very lucrative Inglis Race Series (including the Pink Bonus) – Click HERE to read full details of that Series

View and/or Download the Disclosure Statement and the Syndicate Agreement for the NICCONI – ALANA’S PARTY COLT

Read the Declaration.

Terms

• Shares available right down to 1%.
• 10% share $23,000, 5% share $11,500, 2.5% share $5,750, 1% share $2,300 – with ongoing costs from 1 May 2025 @$50 per month per each 1% share
• Initial Capital includes Purchase Price, Australian GST of 10%, Promoters fees, Inglis series fee, Insurance to 31st January 2026 and working capital of over $12,000
• Monthly ongoing costs from 1st April 2025 – from that date ongoing costs are – 10% share $500 per month – 5% share $250 per month – 2.5% share $125 per month – 1% share $50 per month.
• Monthly ongoing costs can alternatively be paid up to 12 months in advance as an option for subscribers by Bank  Payment or Credit Card

Purchase a share in NICCONI – ALANA’S PARTY COLT today from the link HERE or contact us for more information