Friday Flash – 18th July 2025

Published 18 July 2025

MALBOROUGH BAY – 5th Career Win – 5th July 2025 – Hayley Hassman aboard

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Headline News

BELLATRIX STAR making strong recovery

Upcoming Opportunity
 

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Fortuna has no runners this weekend but West Indies will race at Bairnsdale on Monday – fields not finalised yet


And we have two runners potentially going to the Avondale trials Tuesday 22nd July – Emma Twigg and Marokopa Falls

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Trackwork – Fortuna Runners

Matamata –

Riccarton – 

Cranbourne  

No timed trackwork this week

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Other News

BELLATRIX STAR making strong recovery
Readers will be aware of the tragic accident suffered by Bellatrix Star in early January when she flipped over backwards and fractured vertebrae in her neck  – initial prognosis was very gloomy but step by step she has staged a significant recovery – here is a timeline

8th January – incident occurred but she stabilised quickly

Mid January – Vets were happy with her progress but doubt expressed as to whether she could ever race again, but being a broodmare was probably possible – an extended  period of box rest was prescribed with regular x ray updates – Vet opinion was that it would take about 3 months for fractures to fully heal

Late February – fresh x rays indicated strong recovery and an option considered was to send her to a small paddock but decision was made to keep her confined to her box because she was happy and healthy there – her xrays were peer reviewed by outside vets and they confirmed findings and ratified ongoing treatment plan – return to racing still considered doubtful so consideration was given to her being offered as a broodmare prospect at one of the upcoming broodmare sales

Early April – recovery still going right way and syndicate Members approved (in principle) her being offered at the Magic Millions May sale – although the feeling was that that sale may come up a bit quick

Mid April – significant breakthrough here – most recent x rays showed strong improvement and Vet report indicated that a return to controlled exercise was possible  – this report was peer reviewed by several outside Vets and all concurred

Four step plan was developed –
1st Step – twice daily stints on the mechanical walker – six weeks
2nd Step – two months in the paddock
3rd step – 4 weeks at a dressage farm where she would have a rider on her back and undertake a dressage programme
4th step – providing that all of the first three steps had gone to plan without issue, then a return to training

And so this plan meant that any immediate broodmare sale option was “off the table”

Current position – she has come to the end of her two month paddock spell – she did pick up a nasty virus while there and had to be admitted to the clinic for treatment but staged full recovery – while there further x rays of her neck were taken and the consulting Vet at the clinic was amazed at the extent of the healing – on Monday 21st she commences her dressage regime – this will be a significant test for her and a satisfactory outcome would see her return to training mid to late August

So to summarise, whether she will be seen on the racetrack or not depends on (a) coming through her dressage therapy in good order and (b) showing enough on the training track to warrant a raceday return

Dare we dream!!!

See story below from the Te Akau website

BELLATRIX STAR featured in news from Te Akau Racing

The spotlight continues to shine on stellar performances by the Te Akau team in the 2024/25 season almost ended – Bellatrix Star certainly added her brilliance to the line-up with three shining Group wins in Melbourne – we reflect on the first …

One of the most exciting juvenile fillies of her year, Group 2 Eclipse Stakes winner and New Zealand Champion Two-Year-Old finalist Bellatrix Star (3 f Star Witness – Alana’s Party, by Exceed and Excel) made her presence felt in Australia with a sizzling second-up win in the A$175,000 Cap D’Antibes Stakes (Listed, 1100m) at Flemington on 14 September.

Trained from Te Akau’s Cranbourne stable, Bellatrix Star looked sharp and powerful in the mounting yard – her physique telling the story of a filly who had trained on beautifully from two to three years of age. Having resumed with a solid fifth in the Group 3 Quezette Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield on 17 August, she stripped fitter, was focused, and ready to show her explosive turn of foot.

With Kiwi star and former Te Akau apprentice Michael Dee in the saddle again, Bellatrix Star dropped out near the rear of a compact and high-quality field. Relaxed in the run, she tracked the heavily backed favourite Drifting (Zousain) into the race, before peeling out and surging with purpose through the final 200 metres. Her late charge was emphatic – she burst clear to win going away in a visually dominant performance down the famed Flemington straight.

Despite being largely overlooked in betting markets – drifting out to $26 fixed odds – she proved the punters wrong, returning a juicy $14.10 & $3.70 on the NZ TAB tote. The time for the 1100m was 1:05.9 on a rain-affected Soft7 surface, underscoring her adaptability and class.

This was a memorable win not just for the stable, but also for her delighted owners, the Fortuna Bellatrix Star Syndicate (Mgr: John Galvin), who have been on an unforgettable ride since she won the first two-year-old race of the season at Wanganui last year – an 800m dash that launched her into the spotlight.

Purchased for just $80,000 by David Ellis CNZM and John Galvin at the 2023 Karaka Book 1 Sale, from the draft of Phoenix Park, Bellatrix Star has already returned exceptional value – not just financially but in the joy and prestige of black-type success on both sides of the Tasman.

Her pedigree reads like a blueprint for speed and quality. Sire Star Witness (Starcraft), one of Australia’s most reliable sprint sires, was a dominant winner of the Group One Coolmore Stud Stakes – also down the Flemington straight – and he has passed on his trademark toughness and acceleration to this precocious daughter. Starcraft himself is a household name in New Zealand: the winner of two legs of the Group One Triple Crown at Hawke’s Bay, and a truly international performer, with elite wins in Australia, France, and England. His influence on turf milers globally has been profound.

Bellatrix Star’s dam, Alana’s Party, is by one of the world’s greatest sires – Exceed and Excel (Danehill). His statistics are staggering: over 5500 winners globally, more than 200 stakes’ winners, 18 individual Group One winners, and he is now firmly established as a leading broodmare sire. And the depth continues – her grand-dam The Party Stand (Thorn Park) was herself a Group One winner, taking out the prestigious NZ Stakes over 2000m and winning impressively from 1200m through to classic middle distances.

Sadly, after such a promising start to her three-year-old season, Bellatrix Star sustained an injury in training earlier this year. She is now enjoying a well-deserved spell in Victoria. The good news is that her injury was manageable, her recovery is progressing well, and her connections remain optimistic about her long-term future on the track – and one day, as a highly desirable broodmare.

To date, Bellatrix Star has already earned over NZ$1 million in prize money and left an indelible impression in both New Zealand and Australian racing circles. Her Cap D’Antibes triumph was another example of the firepower in the Te Akau stable – and a win that cemented her place among our stars of the season.

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Upcoming Opportunity

We are getting closer and closer to being able to make an announcement on an exciting yearling filly acquisition, one who has already had a preparation – we should have news to announce by the end of the month – “watch this space”

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Guest Selector – Des Coppins

Greetings John and Friday Flash readers

My thoughts will all who have been badly effected by the heavy rain falls at certain parts of the country over the last week or so.

Here are three further horses I watched on Saturday or in the past week that didn’t get the rub of the green.

Miss Seth:
I made her the value bet at Ruakaka  and she should’ve finished closer than 4th. She was blocked half way up the straight and darted late. Keep her in mind if she lines up next at Ruakaka on August 2.

Beat of the Sun:
On debut, this two year old came from well off the pace to register a respectable 4th in the two year old race at Ruakaka.

Delorean:
It was tightened for room and had marginal access in the home straight on the all weather at Cambridge last week. There are a couple more meetings on this track before the season ends so keep this one in mind if it reappears.

Good punting!

10 QUESTIONS TO PONDER

1 While analysing the roll of honour for the Hawkes Bay Steeples and Hurdles on Sunday it’s hard to go past two past heroes of their respective races; Teak (1974), who won the Steeples as a rising 16-y-o and Van Der Hum ( 1982) from the Hurdles.  Who can forget the latter’s Melbourne Cup win in the mud and slush in 1976?

2 Never Look Back’s win on Sunday in the Hawkes Bay Hurdles for Gail Temperton marked the 50th anniversary of her famous uncle Eric Temperton’s win in the race with Thun.
How uniquely special? Thun went on to win the Grand National Hurdles a year later. Could that be the next big goal for Gail?

3. I know it’s Interdominion time and it used to be a season’s highlight no matter which code you supported,  didn’t it? I’m not  sure why it’s lost its lustre; the new points system, maybe ; two heats in a week and not three or could it be  the random draws as opposed to seeding?  In saying this, let’s not take  anything away from the champion pacer that is Leap to Fame who’ll be all the rage in the Grand Final.

4. The recent open letter compiled by the RIB, HRNZ and NZTR to industry sectors last week to ensure respect and integrity is maintained and to ensure we all hold a collective stance against public harassment ; social media abuse and negative narrative is realistically a thumbs up by us all in the context.
However, those governing bodies must also be prepared for us to continue to challenge the status quo, ask the hard questions and for anyone in charge in racing to  be prepared for constructive criticism -always in good taste –   whenever is warranted don’t you think?

5. Grand Prospects win for trainer Sue Walsh on Sunday was timely. As a jockey Sue (nee Day) was the first female jockey to ride winner in NZ and it happened with Jaws in July 1978 at Timaru. That’s 47 years ago!! Sue and her female colleagues really drew a line in the sand at the time didn’t they!
We now have around 190 jockeys licensed and dare I say it, would more than half be females?

6. And speaking of women jockeys history will be made in Queensland this season as the battle for the jockey championship continues to heat up. It’s a battle between Angela Jones and Emily Lang and did you know that both work for Tony Gollan?It’ll be the first time a lady jockey has won the premiership in Queensland.

7. While following strike rates of jockeys should we ever look past Shaun Fannin? When Fourty Eight won at Woodville it was Shaun’s 11th win for the season from just 16 mounts. That equates to a 1.6 strike rate which is  unheard of in the riding ranks.

8: As most of you may be aware I’ve hosted 35 tours to the Melbourne Cup with some great people and the Japan Cup 7 times. My thirst for tours began in 1977 when I led a trip to Hollywood Park to cheer on Balmerino in the Hollywood Gold Cup with 60 kiwi guests. Being there was everything and news came through this week that Balmerino’s trainer BJ (Brian Smith), at aged 84, has retired from training. How good the Brisbane Turf Club put on a lunch for him the other day. Richly deserved wouldn’t you say?

9. We often chat about great horses of the past don’t we, either with our punting mates or over a beer?
In the 50 plus years I’ve been involved in racing in a professional capacity I’m happy to pass on to Fortuna readers my top 5 NZ gallopers I’ve had the pleasure to see and talk about in my ranking order with Balmerino, naturally , figuring prominently.
I’m sure some of the people who’ve been around as long, if not longer than me, may even have Balmerino ahead of Sunline.

5. Imperatriz
4. Bonecrusher
3. Horlicks
2. Balmerino
1. Sunline

Comparing horses of different eras is never easy and I’m sure not all of you will agree with my top 5 – or the ranking – and that’s all cool.

10. Of all the winners on Saturday two were stand outs for compelling reasons and they were my favourites and maybe yours, too? Smug, on Sunday in the Hawkes Bay Steeples after his misfortune at Trentham in the start prior, and Reward Smile in the feature race of the day at Ruakaka.
As Reward Smile hit the line jockey Ace Lawson Carroll saluted the heavens in respect of his fallen colleague Ngakau Halley whose funeral was in Morrinsville on Monday. The boys, I’ve been told, were the very best of mates.
RIP Ngakau – and Ace, you lived up to your name in more ways than one.

Des Coppins
021 448 052

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