The unbeaten 2yo Filly LARA ANTIPOVA takes out the Group Two Wakefield Challenge Stakes Craig Grylls aboard 20th December 2025 =================================================
Headline News
Trans Tasman Double Target for Fortuna 2yo Fillies on Valentine’s Day
Fortuna has three runners Friday/Saturday – one in NZ, two in Victoria
Kilmore – Friday
WEST INDIES contests the 2000m Highweight event – Race 2 at 3.45pm NZT with “The Professor”Steve Pateman to ride from Barrier 3 – his future is a jumper and this flat highweight race is part of his preparation– – TAB says “struggling for best and others preferred “- Odds not Showing YetMatamata – Saturday
LARA ANTIPOVA contests the prestigious J Swap Matamata Breeders Stakes at Group Two level over 1200m – Race 5 @ 2.42pm – Opie Bosson rides from the outside draw in a field of eight runners – has taken all before her being unbeaten in two races – both with wide margins. Sticky draw here for her to contend with and there is rain forecast which adds further complications – her track gallop on Tuesday was of the highest quality – should be making it three in a row here – TAB says “tough to beat on latest and can measure up again ” – Showing $1.35/$1.02Ballarat – Saturday
TOLAGA BAYmakes her debut in the 2yo Maiden over 1100m – Race 1 @ 3.26pm NZT with Liam Cartwright to ride – was impressive winning her Cranbourne jumpout last week and could be very hard to beat -TAB says “winner of past two jumpouts, the latest in dominant style, so expected to hit the ground running “- Odds not Showing Yet
Lara Antipova (R Hutchings) galloped over 1000 metres in 1.03.2, last 600 in 35.3.
I’m On Safari (D Dannis) galloped at three quarter pace over 800 metres in 58.0, last 600 in 43.0.
Riccarton
Court Of Appeal (H Durrant) galloped over 1400 metres in 1/37/4, last 600 in 40.9.
Marokopa Falls (H Durrant) galloped over 1000 metres at three quarter pace in 1.09.6, last 600 in 38.6.
Cranbourne
Tolaga Bay (L Winks) over 1000 metres in 1.06.4, last 600 in 36.9.
West Indies (F Diard) galloped over 1200 metes in 1.28.4, last 600 in 38.7.
Thursday 12th Feb
Matamata
I’m On Safari (H Leung) galloped at three quarter pace over 800 metres in 59.3, home in 44.0.
Riccarton
Court Of Appeal (T Solomon) galloped over 1400 metres in 1.37.4, last 600 in 37.6.
Marokopa Falls (R Rae-Wood) worked over 1000 metres in 1.13.6, home in 39.4. ============================================================
Other News
Trans Tasman Double Target for Fortuna 2yo Fillies 0n Valentine’s Day
Big day for the Fortuna racing team the Saturday on both sides of the Tasman with the rising star Lara Antipova looking to keep her unbeaten record intact in the J Swap Matamata Breeders Stakes while on the other side of the Tasman, at Ballarat in Victoria, the promising Tolaga Bay (Alabama Express), makes her debut. She has certainly turned a few heads at the Cranbourne stable with her physicality and she showed her opposition a clean set of heels at the Cranbourne jumpouts on Monday, the 2nd of February. Both syndicates have large numbers of Members with a lot of cross ownership and with the two races being only 40 minutes apart, the excitement is sure to build come racetime
TOLAGA BAY – 2yo Filly by Alabama Express out of Camila Lucinda
============================================================ Vale – Ian Upson
Many readers will be familiar with the name “Ian Upson” and for those of you who attend race meetings and trials, you are bound to have run into him from time to time. Ian has been an absolute “Fortuna Stalwart” for around 15 years but, unfortunately, he ran into a health issue a couple of months ago, one which he was unable to overcome and he passed away during the week.
Incredibly Ian had taken shares in 66 individual Fortuna horses over the years, of which 46 were winners and he recorded an amazing 157 individual wins with his Fortuna runners. Ian did not come into every syndicate and that, undoubtedly, cost him a few wins, but gee, he was certainly in the best ones – in 2011, his first horse with us was Eatons Gold, who won 9 races in Singapore, and subsequent runners in Singapore, such as King Savinsky, Major Tom, Trident, Hadeer, Federation, Elliot Ness and Knippenberg, produced a host of winners for him.
Domestically, he covered himself with glory, being in the Stakes winners, Zabene, Darci’s Dream, Windborne, the mighty Melody Belle with her record breaking 14 Group One wins, two Horse Of The Year awards and induction into the Racing Hall Of Fame, Bellatrix Star, the Wellington Cup and Australian Grand National Steeplechase winner, Leaderboard and Lara Antipova
He loved collecting trophies and Memorabilia – see below – this is the Group One Thorndon Mile Trophy won by Melody Belle in 2021
Ian loved to travel to the races, he came up to Singapore on two or three occasions with us, he would often accompany me to Riccarton when we had runners there and he was at Flemington on Derby Day 2019 when Melody Belle demolished a very good field of racemares in the Group One Empire Rose Stakes. He also traveled to the Magic Millions Broodmare Sale in 2021 when Melody Belle sold for A$2.6m – see picture below
Ian, Taranaki born and bred, had farmed in Taranaki before continuing his farming career in the Waikato. He and his lovely wife, Sandra, sold that farm in recent years and moved into a residence in Morrinsville. A real “peoples person” Ian always showed a keen interest in his fellow syndicate Members and was always jotting down names and numbers of fellow syndicate Members that he met on racedays.
I am sure readers will join with me in passing on our sincere condolences to Sandra and their extended family.
Ian’s funeral is scheduled for Tuesday 17th Feb, 1pm at the Morrinsville RSA ============================================================ Fortuna Owners Day a big success
The Fortuna Annual Owners Day once again proved to be a big success – we have been running these now for about 14 years and a good crowd in excess of 80 people crammed into the Gazebo at Matamata racecourse to enjoy some tasty nibbles, a few refreshments, hear John give a summary of the years highlights and watch our Matamata based horses parade with great assistance from Sam Bergerson, Reece Trumper and staff.
Click HERE to see a video montage of the closing stages of each of our 17 wins in 2025 – some great memories here
And click HEREto see some footage of the Owners Day
Last, but certainly not least, attendees listened to an entertaining address from our special Guest Speaker, Des Coppins. Des has worked professionally in racing for over 55 years, 13 0f those as the Editor of the original Friday Flash and then subsequently on Mainstream TV with racing shows, Trackside TV and many years as a much listened to host on Trackside Radio. He has also hosted Melbourne Cup tours for 35 years. Des’ address and his comments and recollections on racing history in NZ and the path forward into the future were very well received
Des Coppins and John Galvin – Fortuna Owners Day – February 2026
LEGEND OF KINGS is a 5yo son of the Epsom Derby winning Camelot whom we acquired as a one win “tried horse” from the Inglis Digital platform last December. Arriving in NZ from Australia mid December, he has absolutely thrived, putting on 25 kgs and loving his new environment. He won his jumpout at Matamata two weeks ago and he will now head to the Avondale trials 17th Feb and safely through that, he will make his NZ debt over 1600m in R65 Grade – Still a few shares left in this lovely Staying type that we are aiming toward the NZ Cup in November – Click HERE to read all of his details and shares can be purchased off this link
LEGEND OF KINGS
10% Share is NZ$7.5k
5% Share is NZ$3.75k
2.5% share is NZ$1.875k
1% share is NZ$750
Monthly ongoing costs from 1 March 2026 are NZ$50 per month per each 1% share ============================================================
The Circus Maximus Yearling Colt acquired from Karaka Book One
A lovely strong staying type this one, acquired for not a lot of money – “Max” is now spelling at Te Akau Stud – he will head off to be broken in late February
Read all of his details and place orders at the link HERE or contact us for more information.
The Yearling Colt by CIRCUS MAXIMUS out of ASAMA BLUE
10% Share is NZ$11k
5% Share is NZ$5.5k
2.5% share is NZ$2.75k
1% share is NZ$1.1k
Monthly ongoing costs from 1 April 2026 are NZ$50 per month per each 1% share============================================================
Magic Millions Purchase – the Pierro Yearling Filly proving very popular
Now spelling at Te Akau Stud – she will head off to be broken in late February
The Yearling Filly by PIERRO out of ANGEL HELENA
10% Share is NZ$18k
5% Share is NZ$9k
2.5% share is NZ$4.5k
1% share is NZ$1.8k
Monthly ongoing costs from 1 April 2026 are NZ$50 per month per each 1% share
All information including the Disclosure Statement and Syndicate Agreement can be viewed on the Fortuna website HERE and orders can be made directly from this link – call/text John 021 921 460 if you seek additional information
What an enjoyable weekend as guest of your good self and your delightful family last weekend.
The racing at Te Rapa was superb topped off with Opie Bosson’s magical 100 group ones. That achievement is right up there with any other headline act by a jockey and imagine what heights Opie would’ve climbed to had he been a regular 54kgs jockey which hasn’t been in Opie’s wheel house for decades. His personal life may have had its ups and downs but we all know that his talent as jockey is never questioned and as we’ve come to learn over recent years as the punters shout from from the roof tops at most premier tracks , “there is only one Opie Bosson!”
The Open Day at Matamata for your many owners at Fortuna was very appealing and it felt quite refreshing chatting with several individually and then being as open as I wished in the interview with you, John, over my 55 years plus in a professional capacity in racing.
Several of the Fortuna owners in attendance are subscribers to my email tipping service while a few others are past attendees on the 35 Melbourne Cup Tours and it was good to catch up with them all.
Speaking of the Lexus Melbourne Cup the itinerary and costs have just been finalised and if any of the Fortuna readers would like to learn more simply drop me an email dcoppins@xtra.co.nz and I’ll arrange for someone at Sporting Tours to get in touch immediately.
My Co tour leader Lisa Allpress and I would love to have you on board.
TOP TEN TRAINERS
Not that long ago in this column I released my top 10 jockeys and top 10 horses in my time in NZ that were competing from the mid 60’s up until today.
Naturally you’d have your own favourites in both categories as you would do for my next release, the top 10 trainers.
These are people who are true blue kiwis who have dominated NZ premier racing and/ or created massive marks on Australian soil as well.
You may not necessarily agree but they were giants in their profession in my eyes; their attention to detail in setting horses for certain races; the strike rate and the respect they had from punters goes without saying as well.
In ranking order. 10 MIKE MORONEY:
He trained 55 group one winners in NZ and Australia. He learned from the best to become one of the best.
Best horse: XCELLENT
9 NOEL EALES:
The master of the patient game. Trained 6 Thorndon Group One Mile winners. Terrific demeanour with a very casual but balanced approach .
Best horse: COMMISSIONAIRE
8 BILL FORD:
Whether it was the jumpers or on the flat he was considered by many of his peers as a true horseman who set targets with his team and got it right most of the time .
Best horse : ALTITUDE
7 MURRAY BAKER:
No trainer had a better smash and grab raid to Australia than Murray.
He also had a laid back approach but very skillful in targeting the money races.
Best horse : DUNDEEL
6 JIM GIBBS:
A great, methodical trainer who had a real knack with some of NZ’s great stayers.
Best horse: TIDAL LIGHT
5 MARK WALKER :
A modern day champ with multiple premiership wins in NZ and Singapore. His record in black types races is enormous.
Best horse: maybe a deadheat with IMPERATRIZ and MELODY BELLE
4 JOHN WHEELER :
The globe trotting star with big wins in Australia, Nz and Japan. The 1980’s to 1990’s king.
Best horse: ROUGH HABIT or POETIC PRINCE with VEANDERCROSS right up there, too.
3 COLIN JILLINGS :
He trained a Derby winner in 6 separate decades. He had super stars galore, Uncle Remus, The Phantom Chance etc.
Best horse: McGINTY
2 DAVE and PAUL O’SULLIVAN :
Either individually or a team and in effect the “royal” racing family. So many outstanding achievements culminating as Hall of Fame inductees.
Best horse MR TIZ narrowly over HORLICKS.
1 CHRIS WALLER:
There’s no one better. He continues to raise the bar and this former Foxton kid is not only a champion trainer and Australia but globally!
Best horse: WINX
So many other great trainers could be in the top 10. The likes of Syd Brown for example. People like Wally McEwen, Eric Temperton, Brian Deacon, etc were all class acts in their day, too.
Each to their own as they say and that’s my compilation for what it’s worth.
THREE TO FOLLOW FROM TE RAPA
SARTI: the royally bred four year old did well to run second to the always winning Mrs Jones but he was quickest to the line. He will progress through the grades.
PROBOY: his two subsequent runs since winning at Te Rapa have been better than okay. On Saturday he finished 8th out of 12 but ran the last 600 and 400 the quickest. He will win again in a hurry.
SWEET ICE: he’s my roughie for the Derby. I thought his run in the Waikato Guineas was good enough to maybe tempt me in having a wee flutter this far out at the odds of 12 to one but on second thoughts I’m sure he will pay at least that on the day!
Good punting!
