Fortuna Racemare COURT OF APPEAL delivers a powerful verdict with a 4 length victory Ashburton 11th October 2025
Travelling like the winner turning for home, Court Of Appeal (5 m Eminent – Katy O’Beel, by Zabeel) impressively won the $50,000 Open Handicap 2200 metres on Saturday at Ashburton. After resuming with a dominant victory in the Rating 75 1600 metres on 11 September Riccarton (poly-track), Court Of Appeal thwarted her chances with a slow beginning in the Rating 75 1580 metres on 27 September at Riccarton, but was back on song to deliver an undeniable message as to her staying prowess.
Ridden by Bruno Queiroz, who was aboard when she won fresh-up in September, Court Of Appeal was a stride slow before recovering to settle three back on the inner, improved on the bridle between runners at the 600m, and after receiving a lovely split on straightening she raced away to win by four lengths.
“She was travelling very, very well at the 600m and over the last 400m she was flying home,” Queiroz said. “I got the position I wanted to get.”
On course, assistant trainer Hunter Durrant said: “She’s been crying out for that distance and we couldn’t be happier. Going down the back, we thought we might be in a bit of trouble, but she just needed some luck and it was a great steer by Bruno. She has got her quirks, she can be slow out of the gates and was again today, but she recovered well and Bruno’s building a nice relationship with her.”
In the race sponsored by Vernon Vazey 0800 & Truck Parts, Court Of Appeal ran 2200 metres in 2:17.0, last 600m in 34.3 (approx.) on Good4 footing, and paid $4.70 & $1.90 on the NZ TAB tote. Although out of her rightful grade, being rated 72, Court Of Appeal carried minimum weight (54kg), and in beating a decent Open Handicap field she vindicated both her staying pedigree and ability.
Click HERE to see Race replay
“She’s been a slow maturing type, but getting there now and it was a terrific win today,” said Mark Walker, training partner with Sam Bergerson. “When Dave (Ellis) bought her very cheaply for $20,000, she was always going to take time, but John (Galvin) wanted a really nice staying prospect and his ownership team have been very patient. I think this year we’re starting to see the best of her and Hunter (Durrant) and our staff in our stables at Riccarton have got her going really well. She’s settled into the surroundings down there extremely well. She’s a happy mare, and Bruno (Queiroz) has really clicked with her. She can be a bit touchy in the barriers, but he seems to have the key to getting her away on terms and she’ll go on to black type company during Cup Week down there.”
Court Of Appeal – 4th career victory – Ashburton 11th October 2025
Bruno Queiroz aboard
Following the win, Walker suggested Court Of Appeal would now target the $100,000 Nautical Insurance Metropolitan Handicap (Listed, 2600m) on the first day of Cup Week (8 Nov.) at Riccarton, and follow up a week later (15 Nov.) in the $450,000 Martin Collins 162nd New Zealand Cup (Gr. 3, 3200m).
“She’s shaping up to be a high-quality staying mare, especially given the way she won today, but it has taken awhile for her to mature, being by Eminent and out of a Zabeel mare,” Walker added. “She’s looks to have a nice future in races around 2400 metres and further.”
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 ownnership group comprising 47 individuals and has now won four races.
“I thought she was a strong winning chance today, but I wasn’t expecting her win by so far and it certainly was a pretty impressive performance,” John Galvin said after the race. “To see her power away like that was mind-blowing, really. Time was always going to be her friend and physically, since she’s gone south, she’s taken a huge step forward in the Riccarton environment. You could see in her preliminary, she was shining in the coat and looked like a big, strong, powerful, mare. She’s going the right way, that’s for sure. When you buy these sorts of horses you know they’re not going to be Karaka Million types, and that you have to be patient with them. We’ve had some good staying horses in the past, such as Zabene, who won the Metropolitan Handicap, and Leaderboard who won the Wellington Cup and finished third in a New Zealand Cup before going on to become a great jumper”
“So, we’re very happy with the way she has developed and I remember Opie (Bosson) saying to me after he rode her for third, early in her career, at Te Aroha, that she just needs time and she’ll deliver over ground. It was a good decision by Mark & Sam, after she raced in April at Ellerslie, to send her south to their stables at Riccarton, and prepare her for the New Zealand Cup. And she’s been perfectly handled ever since.”
Galvin said that Court Of Appeal would now spend a few days at the water walker and then prepare to race in the Metropolitan Handicap on Saturday 8 November, and the NZ Cup a week later.
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 Amelia Southworth.