Other News
Fortuna Owners Day – Sunday 8th February 2026 – Guest Speaker Des Coppins
Our very popular annual Owners Day, which we have been running for many years now, is scheduled for Sunday 8th February. And our special Guest Speaker is none other than the legendary Des Coppins – Des has had a long and storied career in racing – appointed editor of the original Friday Flash when aged just 25, his many and varied roles in racing have been as a journalist, TV broadcaster (racing programme on TVNZ before the advent of Trackside), Radio broadcaster with Radio Pacific and Radio Trackside, racing administration (long standing director of the Wellington Racing Club), tour leader (incredibly when Des hosted his Melbourne Cup tour in 2025, it was his 35th Cup Tour) and tipster. Des has a deep insight to racing in NZ and Australia and is sure to be an engaging speaker at our Owners Day.
This will be the 2nd year we have held this occasion in February – traditionally it has been held in December – but the Feb date worked well in 2025, firstly because December can be a very busy time for most and, secondly, it gives us the opportunity to parade any yearlings we have bought either at the Gold Coast Sale or Karaka Sales in January
Venue “The Gazebo” – Matamata Racecourse
Sunday 8th February
Time 1pm to 4pm
Refreshments Served
Now just a bit over 5 weeks away it is not too early to register your attendance – we do need to know if you are coming for catering purposes – you can register by emailing jessica@fortuna-nz.com with numbers attending – and if you are traveling from outside the Waikato, note that Saturday 7th is “Legends Day” at Te Rapa with the Herbie Dyke Stakes and the BCD Waikato Sprint, both Group One feature races on the day, so you could make a weekend of it
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Not much left in LEGEND OF KINGS
Great opportunity here to be involved in a lovely staying type who will be at the races very soon – a 5yo by Camelot out of a Danehill Mare, he is bred to stay all day
Click HERE to see him parading at Matamata with comments from Sam Bergerson
- Legend Of Kings is a lightly raced 5yo with a genuine stayers pedigree
- physically he lives up to his pedigree 100%
- lightly raced for a 5yo, he has plenty of miles in the legs
- not a lot of money
- in full work at Matamata since 18th Dec, he will trial late January and then be off to the races, so not long to wait
- Has been allocated a Rating of 63 so his first NZ start will be in Rating 65 grade
- Just 13% left
Don’t miss this opportunity
1% – $700
2.5% – $1750
5% – $3750
10% – $7000
and $50 per month per each 1% from 1 February 2026
5yo Gelding Legend of Kings (by Camelot out of Joshua’s Princess)
Click HERE to see LEGEND OF KINGS parading pre sale
Review all the above information and purchase a share in LEGENDS OF KINGS today from the link HERE or make contact with John 021 921 460 if you would like more information
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Fortuna clients Steve Middleton and Louise Savage “tie the knot” at Ellerslie on Boxing Day
Here is a heart warming story featuring a couple of our really good clients
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Guest Commentator – Des Coppins
Happy New Year John and Fortuna followers.
We’re entering into a new year of racing and whether you’re a punter or an owner or both I sincerely hope you get your fair share of winners.
There’s so much to reflect on these past 12 months as we welcome in 2026 and I’ve thought long and hard on some of the highs and lows we’ve had to deal with in 2025. There’s so much to look forward to but we can’t forget there are still some serious issues the industry has to deal with.
I’ll highlight the pleasantries to start with.
To keep things on par I’ve listed 8 HIGHS and 8 LOWS but not necessarily in any rating order.
HIGHS FOR 2025
1 JAMES McDONALD
He just seems to go from strength to strength. His high flying season took him right to the top again on the global stage. He was associated with two super stars in particular , Romantic Warrior and Via Sistena and this pair has seen his group one tally grow to 123; 95 in Australia, 14 in Hong Kong, 11 in NZ and one each in Japan, United Kingdom and UAE.
His return to riding in NZ on Saturday in the TAB Telegraph at Trentham is as big as it could be as his racing calendar is so heavily booked on the world stage I doubt if we will see much of him riding here.
If you’re not at Trentham there’s a good chance you’ll set the alarm and put down whatever you are doing and see what J-Mac achieves via the telly as he pilots his one and only ride for the day, Tomodachi.
2 WAIPUKURAU CLUB
To see the massive crowd return to the track for the first time in 6 years in November was a credit to everyone involved with the club. It just goes to show what passion and drive exists in the regions who have not always been given a fair go in the decision making arena of the business. They have been allocated two more race days this season; the Wairoa meeting on February 15 and the Hawkes Bay Cup meeting on April 26.
3 KA YING RISING
This daughter of Missy Moo, who incidentally ran last in Gorbachev’s 2017 Wellington Cup, is unquestionably the best NZ bred sprinter we’ve seen. What he did to the world class Everest field was a demolition job and the pride of Hong Kong is not just the pride of NZ and Australia, too, but of the Universe. He’s a magnet who draws in the non racegoers in as well as the purists. He is simply the best.
4 LEVIN, FOXTON and AVONDALE
Whether these tracks are granted official race days sparingly or never, let’s give credit where credits due. They have stood up admirably as trials and jump out venues all year and much to the delight of trainers and it must be said, the industry as well.
5 BARRIER ATTENDANTS
In safely loading horses before the start of each race and steering clear of an unruly act from a 450kg-550kg thoroughbred these hard workers deserve more than a pat on the back each race day. Some have experienced close calls and the critical role each and everyone them play should never be under estimated.
6 RACEDAY SPONSORS
It goes without how much the racing industry relies on sponsors and a special shout out to those who have been associated with their respective clubs for 10 years or more. People and companies like the Dyke family in Wanganui, the Andertons and White Robe, Harcourts at Trentham, Jeff and Noeline Berkett, Grant Plumbing; some 15 years with the Wellington Steeples, the Sarten family at Te Rapa and there are many others around the country who have stuck around through thick and thin. Their financial input is thoroughly appreciated, particularly by those lucky enough to reap the rewards.
7 CROWDS AT THE HOLIDAY HOT SPOTS
I touched this in the column last week and again we are seeing how important it is for those compiling our race dates ensure the right venues are allocated in this day light saving period. Racing may not be as popular at the big city tracks at this time of the year – because the holidays draw the inhabitants away – but the call of Kumara, Tauherenikau and Cromwell etc is just as strong as ever.
They are the grass roots of racing and as long as their race dates aren’t challenged we won’t stop enjoying a day out or two with them at this time of the year.
8 KIWIS IN OZ
Whether it’s NZ bred gallopers or ex pats we continue to punch above our weight. In the jockeys or trainers ranks spearheaded by JMac and Chris Waller, the likes of Bjorn Baker, Mick Dee, Daniel Stackhouse, Sheila Laxon, Logan Bates, Mark Walker, John Sargent etc are doing what Brent Thomson, Greg Childs, Shane Dye, Jimmy and Larry Cassidy, Gary Willetts, Brian Andrews, Bruce Compton, Brian Smith, Nigel Tiley, Maree Lyndon, Bob Skelton, Damian Browne and Michael Walker, and maybe a couple more, did before them.
LOWS FOR 2025
1 SOCIAL MEDIA
It should be a respected tool. Many people use it to get in touch with friends, to join on line communities, to keep up with the news. All this is good. What isn’t good in racing is the misinformation, on line harassment and the insults some decent people have to put up from the minority who have probably never patted a horse in their lives.
2 ANIMAL WELFARE
With racehorses it’s a complex issue involving industry led care initiatives and significant concerns raised by animal welfare organisations regarding various practises and systematic problems. We have to remain mindful especially surrounding the controversial whip issues.
3 MIKE MORONEY
He was a towering figure in presence, personality and profile in the industry. His passing in February rocked us on both sides of the Tasman. He had justifiably in the last 12 months before his passing been inducted to the NZ Racing Hall of Fame.
Of course we have lost a few racing people from all cross sections and our thoughts remain with families and friends affected.
4 NZ OAKS TRANSFER TO ELLERSLIE
Why?
I still can’t get my head around this. When I quizzed those in charge of making the decision it was relayed that both the Oaks and the Derby are under a threat to be down graded unless their respective ratings increase. Having them both at Ellerslie will give the top fillies a chance to compete in both according to a few in authority.
The Oaks is now on February 21 and the Derby two weeks later!!
I wonder, would an “Orchestral” type of filly chance her arm in both the Oaks and Derby with each at a trip of 2400m just two weeks apart this year at Ellerslie or have a crack at just one and then head to Sydney?
Personally I think the Oaks may have had more chance of retaining its group one status by reducing the distance to say 2000m and maybe run on January 3, TAB Telegraph Day.
In accepting whats fait accompli for at least this year, I really hope, for the sake of its future and its protection at the elite level, those in charge have done the right thing by way of the Oaks moving to Ellerslie.
5. THORNDON MILE DOWNGRADE TO GROUP 2
We are in a cross roads with our group status races and sadly the chopping block fell on this historically treasured great mile and it will be at group 2 – yet still worth $500k – on January 17.
Thinking back to last Saturday with the Cambridge Stud Zabeel Classic those wonderful gallopers like Waitak, El Vencedor, Legarto and La Crique, maybe on the way down from their epic highs, so where’s the next batch of potential group one milers and middle distance horses coming from?
6 JOCKEYS SUSPENSIONS AND INJURIES
We’ve had too many.
It’s either because of over zealous whip use or ill judgement in transit. On top of suspensions and worse still, injuries, are weakening the riding ranks. There are currently 21 jockeys off this weekend through either suspension or injuries. Some big names, too.
7 LACK OF PACEMAKERS
It’s a worry to see a horse go the front and then seemingly jam on the anchors.
I loathe it. To see horses climb over each other isn’t a good look. It’s neither tactical nor should it be acceptable because it’s too risky. I suppose that brings us back to what would’ve happened had Rory Hutchings not shown initiative in the big one last Saturday?
His report card read 10 out of 10. I’m not sure what mark I’d give his fellow riders!
8. WHY NO THREE YEAR OLDS IN W-F-A 2000M GROUP ONES?
The absence of quality potential staying three year olds missing from regular group one staying trips these days is a head scratcher for many.
I guess the reason why no classy three year olds compete in races like the Zabeel, Bonecrusher, Livamol and Herbie Dyke falls back to the rich “pop up” races like the Kiwi and Karaka three Year Old.
But don’t you miss those events where three year olds played a big hand in the outcome?
Classy three year olds like Prowess, Xcellent, Roysyn, Surfers Paradise, The Gentry, Tidal Light, Bonecrusher, McGinty, Captain Moonlight, Sharp N Smart, Valley Girl, Mission Critic, Great Command, The Phantom Chance , Far Time and Just Call Me Sir all won one of the group one 2000m races listed as three year olds.
THREE TO FOLLOW FROM BOXING DAY ELLERSLIE
SHE’S NO SAINT: it was a huge run in a very competitive two year old race. To finish third after being flushed three wide for much of the way is a positive and it won’t be out of it in the Karaka Million on January 24.
FAIRY DREAM: The Ellerslie track these day are won by more horses that race close to the pace rather than back past midfield from the top of the straight. To be in the last few on the turn and rattle into 4th in the Eight Carat confirms her status as a leading light for the Oaks at Ellerslie at the end of February.
FIRST DANCE : since winning first up at Ellerslie in September she’s been thereabouts in all her racing. The other day she ran 5th and arguably had the toughest run in the straight after being held up for clear running. Clearly she was unlucky not to run in the money. A r75 over 1600m is the type of race you’d be watching closely for another win.
Good punting folks!
Hopefully 2026 is a year of celebration and prosperity for you all in the Fortuna family and whether your horse wins or loses the enjoyment will always remain.
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Galvin Family Christmas Day Photo
