MELODY BELLE – Super Star
The Fortuna Syndications Four Year Old Mare, MELODY BELLE (Commands-Meleka Belle), surpassed expectations at Ellerslie on 9th March. Her emphatic victory in the Group One Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes over 2000 metres, her fifth Group One Victory of the season, not only confirmed her status as the very best horse racing in New Zealand in the 2018/19 season, but elevated her status as a racehorse to within touching distance of some of New Zealand’s best ever gallopers. Fortuna’s John Galvin elaborates, “Five Group One victories in NZ in one season, not to mention a Group Two victory and a Group One third placing is right up there with the best of them in the modern era,” he said, ” from my research over the past few days, I can see that Bonecrusher and Ocean Park won five Group Ones in a season, while Sunline, Seachange, Mufhasa and Dundeel, all won four Group Ones in a season. To be fair many of the Group One victories of those horses were in Australia as well, but for MELODY BELLE to win five is something exceptional.”
There was some nervousness in the Camp pre race as rain tumbled down during the morning and early afternoon, turning a track that was looking like being a Dead 4 or 5 early on Saturday morning into a Heavy 10. MELODY BELLE was stepping up to the 2000 metre trip for the first time and while there was no concern about her ability to handle a heavy track, the track plus the extra distance were playing on the mind of connections. Plus the fact the her main race rival, fellow 4yo Mare, DanzDanzDance, had won over 2000 metres at Group One level at Ellerslie on Boxing Day, under very similar track conditions. Punters, however, remained confident in MELODY BELLE’s chances, sending her out a warm favourite at $2.60, although DANZDANZDANCE was not far behind at $3.20.
Drawn five at the barrier in a 10 horse field, rider Opie Bosson had MELODY BELLE ticking along in the early running with just three runners behind her. Bosson got busy from the 600 metre mark, getting his charge to the outside and making a run as they turned for home – DANZDANZDANCE, in the hands of Craig Grylls, had her in her sights though and also mounted a run down the outside, MELODY BELLE hit the front 300 metres out a length clear of the other mare. DDD was not going to go down without a fight however and the two classy mares engaged in a two horse war, with DDD looking dangerous at about the 150 metre mark, however MELODY BELLE kept finding extra and fought off the challenge of the other mare, going to the post with a neck margin
Click HERE to see the race result and Video replay
MELODY BELLE defeats DANZDANZDANCE – Bonerusher NZ Stakes Ellerslie 9th March 2019
Fortuna Syndicate Manager John Galvin was effusive in his praise of the mare in his post race comments “She is a Super Star, who would have thought that just six weeks ago, she was the favourite for the Group One Telegraph at Trentham over 1200 metres and today she has come out and won at Group One level at 2000 metres – this has been a fantastic training effort by Jamie Richards and a super ride by Opie Bosson.” John also paid tribute to race rival DanzDanzDance saying, “Most of the pre race hype was predicting a two horse war by these two wonderful mares and so it proved – we wish Kylie Bax and her team all the very best for their Sydney endeavours with DanzDanzDance.”
The Ellerslie victory was Melody Belle’s 11th win from 20 starts, her 10th win at Group or Listed level, her 6th Group One Win and her total Stakes winnings were taken to $1,625,000, an amazing result for a Mare who was acquired as a Yearling for just $57,500
Bred by Marie Leicester, Melody Belle was acquired by David Ellis on behalf of Fortuna Syndications at the 2016 NZ Bloodstock Karaka Premier sale for $57,500
She is raced by the Fortuna Melody Belle Syndicate, a grouping of 34 individuals
Fortuna Melody Belle connections celebrating her victory
MELODY BELLE supreme in Group One Haunui Farm Mile
Four Year Old racemare MELODY BELLE (Commands – Meleka Belle) stamped her authority as the very best race horse in New Zealand when taking out the Group One Haunui Farm Classic (1600 metres) at Otaki 23rd February. Drawn wide at Barrier 13 in the field of 15 runners, rider Opie Bosson had the mare jumping away form the barriers well and settling into 6th place in the running, although three wide. On turning for home, MELODY BELLE was the widest runner, but hit the front not long after turning for home, was strong to the line and won in dominant fashion with One and three quarter lengths back to the second horse Wyndspelle
Click HERE to see race result and Video replay
Melody Belle Supreme in Group One Haunui Classic – Picture courtesy of Race Images Palmerston North
Fortuna Syndicate Manager John Galvin expressed the mood of many of the large group of Syndicate Members who were on course, “This has been the most amazing journey for this mare” he said, ” to be a top quality Two year Old and now to win five Group races as a Four Year Old, four of them at Group One level is just a team come true.”
John went on to say “and what an amazing training feat for Jamie Richards, this mare came into the stable 1st May, she has raced seven times during the current season at elite level, has beaten all comers – she is just a complete racehorse and Jamie is a trainer to match”
The Te Rapa victory was Melody Belle’s 10th win from 19 starts, her 9th win at Group or Listed level, her 5th Group One Win and her total Stakes winnings were taken to $1,500,000, an amazing result for a Mare who was acquired as a Yearling for just $57,500
Melody Belle was acquired by David Ellis on behalf of Fortuna Syndications at the 2016 NZ Bloodstock Karaka Premier sale for $57,500 and was bred by Marie Leicester.
She is raced by the Fortuna Melody Belle Syndicate, a grouping of 34 individuals
Fortuna’s SECRET SPICE wins again in Malaysia – her 8th Career win
Fortuna’s seven year old race mare SECRET SPICE (Sakhees Secret- Caparison), ridden by S Salee, put in a strong performance to win the Class 5 1400 event at Malaysia’s Selangor Turf Club on Saturday 16th February. Ridden positively from her wide draw by Salee, SECRET SPICE found the rail in 4th place during the run, seemed to be struggling for momentum in the early stages of the run down the home straight, but Salee pulled her out to the middle of the track and she put in a powerful last 200 metres, going to the line a length clear of the 2nd placegetter
Click HERE to view Race Video Replay
Secret Spice 8th career win – Selangor Turf Club 27 Feb 2019
SECRET SPICE was acquired by David Ellis on behalf of Fortuna at the 2013 Karaka Yearling Sale for the sum of $52,500 – she traveled to Singapore where she made her race day debut as a Two Year Old, trained by Mark Walker. She accumulated three race day victories in Singapore before being transferred to Malaysia to the Stable of Sharee Hamilton, based in Penang, where she has now accumulated another five race day victories.
Raced by an Ownership Group of 25 Individuals, Secret Spice has now earned Gross Prizemoney for her Owners of NZ$175,000
Fortuna’s Melody Belle sensational at Te Rapa winning her fourth Group One race
The top quality race mare MELODY BELLE (Commands – Meleka Belle) redeemed herself after her inexplicable last start failure at Trentham, when taking out the Group One BCD Sprint (1400 metres) at Te Rapa 9th February. With a new rider aboard in Troy Harris the 4yo Mare had drawn nicely at Barrier 2, jumped well and was 5th in the running. Under a bit of a ride as they turned for home, she did not look like a winning chance at that point, but Harris nursed her through her flat spot, then went for her with 200 metres to go and, getting up inside race leaders Bostonian and Androssan, she went to the line victorious with a head margin back to Bostonian
Click HERE to see race result and Video replay
Melody Belle with Troy Harris aboard wins the Group One BCD Group Sprint at Te Rapa 9th February
Fortuna Syndicate Manager John Galvin was shaking his head in disbelief post race, “I made a bit of a fool of myself in the final stages of the race,” he said, ” I put my binoculars down with 300 metres to run and said to those around me that it was not our day, but under a strong ride from Troy, she picked herself up and was victorious – what a race mare she is.”
John went on to say “and what an incredible result for Troy Harris – amazingly, this was his first Group One victory in over 10 years, his last being on the Fortuna 3yo gelding, TELL A TALE, in the 2000 Guineas at Riccarton in November 2008. Troy’s battles with weight and injury are well documented and I am just so happy to see him having success at the top level in the Fortuna colours”
The Te Rapa victory was Melody Belle’s 9th win from 18 starts, her 8th win at Group or Listed level, her 4th Group One Win and her total Stakes winnings were taken to $1,380,000, an amazing result for a Mare who was acquired as a Yearling for just $57,500
Melody Belle was acquired by David Ellis on behalf of Fortuna Syndications at the 2016 NZ Bloodstock Karaka Premier sale for $57,500 and was bred by Marie Leicester.
She is raced by the Fortuna Melody Belle Syndicate, a grouping of 34 individuals
The “Amazing” EATONS GOLD, 10 Years old, scores his 11th Career Win at Penang Turf Club 3rd February
The veteran Gelding, EATONS GOLD, proved that age is no barrier by taking out the Class 4 1100 metre sprint at the Penang Turf Club in Malaysia Sunday 3rd February. Beautifully placed in the race by Apprentice S Rosmizan, just off the speed but on the rail, EATON held his spot, was eased off the rail by his rider as they turned for home, gathered in the leader and held off the challengers to win by a long neck in 1.05.03 seconds
Click HERE to see race Video replay
EATONS GOLD winning the Class 4 1100 metre at Penang 3rd Feb 2019
Eaton’s Gold, a ten year old by Jetspur out of Road Ranger, has had a wonderful career in Singapore and Malaysia – he won nine times in Singapore for Trainer Mark Walker and over S$510,000 in prizemoney before transferring to the care of Penang based trainer Sharee Hamilton early in 2017, where he has now won an additional MYR68,000 (approx NZ$23,000) as he winds down toward a well deserved retirement. He has had 87 career starts winning prize money in 63 of those starts
Syndicate Manager, John Galvin, was proud of his charge – “this is another lovely result for EATONS GOLD and his loyal band of Syndicate members, “ he said, ” amazingly we bought him nine years ago at the 2010 Karaka Sale, thinking he would be an ideal Karaka Million type and while he missed that particular opportunity and went to Singapore to race, he has had an incredible career in Singapore winning nine times there and now two further wins in Malaysia – and the way he ran yesterday, I don’t think he is finished yet”
Acquired by David Ellis on behalf of Fortuna at the 2010 Karaka Premier Sale for NZ$75,000, Eatons Gold is raced by the Fortuna Eatons Gold Syndicate, an ownership group of 24 individuals.
SECRET SPICE Scores Seventh Career Win at Penang Turf Club
Fortuna’s seven year old race mare SECRET SPICE (Sakhees Secret- Caparison), ridden by jockey, S Mundiandy, ran her race rivals ragged when leading all the way from the outside barrier to win the Class 5 1100 event at Malaysia’s Penang Turf Club on Sunday 27th January.
Click HERE to view Race Video Replay
SECRET SPICE was acquired by David Ellis on behalf of Fortuna at the 2013 Karaka Yearling Sale for the sum of $52,500 – she traveled to Singapore where she made her race day debut as a Two Year Old, trained by Mark Walker. She accumulated three race day victories in Singapore before being transferred to Malaysia to the Stable of Sharee Hamilton, based in Penang, were she has now accumulated another four race day victories.
Raced by an Ownership Group of 25 Individuals, Secret Spice has now earned Gross Prizemoney for her Owners of NZ$165,000
Secret Spice dominant at Penang Turf Club Jan 27 2018
Fortuna acquires two Yearlings on Day One of Karaka National Yearling Sales
With hardly time to draw breath after a stirring opening address by Minister of Racing, Winston Peters, Lot 2, an Australian bred speedster type By DEEP FIELD was knocked down to David Ellis/Fortuna Syndications for $100,000– this was our final bid as we had set an upper limit of $100k. Whew!!!
I had really wanted to secure this Colt – he has the confirmation of a real get up and go speedster, he was highly recommended by the “Dream team” of Ellis/Walker/Richards, lovely strong 2yo type, clean X rays, no obvious faults. By a super fast race horse in Deep Field, who won five times in Australia up to 1200 metres up to Group Two level, he is the first foal of the Exceed and Excel mare, Egyptian Melody. This pedigree is all about Australian speed, although notable that the Grand dam, Sherine, won at Group Two level in the USA and is from a strongly performing black type family. I have nicknamed this lovely Colt “Cassius”as I am sure he is going to deliver a few knockout blows!!
Here is what Fortuna’s NZ Trainer Jamie Richards has to say:
“John, you told us you wanted to buy a Colt that had the attributes on an early 2yo type that could be aimed at the Karaka Million. This boy ticks a lot of boxes, he is strong, very well put together, has a great walk and I can see that he is just the type of Colt that could be broken in early, trial at Te Teko in August, then spell, get him back to another trial in October and then commence his racing career on a path toward the Karaka Million.”
David Ellis chimed in with these words; “John, you have done well here – I was doubtful that you could get this Colt for your budget of $100k, I gave him a high rating and thought he would make a lot more – to my eye, he looks ideal for the 2020 Karaka Million 2yo race.”
Yearling Colt by Deep Field out of Egyptian Melody
Full details including Disclosure Statement will be available soon on the Fortuna website, but all Syndicated up, he is a total of $156,000 or $1560 for each 1% share and $38 per month from 1 April. This includes purchase price, GST, Promoter Fees, Karaka Million Fee, 12 months insurance and working capital of over $9k. If you wish to express interest, Click HERE
We hardly had time to congratulate each other, draw breath and we were up to Lot 26. A different type of horse, a real 3yo Guineas/Oaks type, she is by Contributer out of a Zabeel Mare. Contributer (by High Chaparral) won 8 times in Australia up to 2000 metres, twice at Group One and was named Australian Champion Miler in 2014/15. The Dam, Falsetto (by Zabeel), won 3 times up to 2100 metres, including a win at Moonee Valley and was 3rd in the NZ Oaks. This is a great pedigree, anything out of a Zabeel mare is like “gold” when it comes to resale and she has the physical attributes to boot. Here is what Fortuna Trainer Mark Walker had to say, “John, this filly really impressed me – I have trained a lot of successful staying fillies and this one has lovely staying attributes – you will need to be patient with her, but given time to develop during her 2yo year, she will be ideal for the 1000 Guineas at Riccarton and the $1m Karaka 3yo Clasic at Ellerslie as a 3yo”.
Prepared to go to $100k for this filly, she was knocked down to us for $62.5k – sometimes you get lucky!!!
Yearling Filly by Contributor out of Falsetto
Full details including Disclosure Statement will be available soon on the Fortuna website, but all Syndicated up, she is a total of $112,000 or $1120 for each 1% share and $38 per month from 1 April. This includes purchase price, GST, Promoter Fees, Karaka Million Fee, 12 months insurance and working capital of over $9k. If you wish to express interest, Click HERE
VENUS DE MILO wins in Singapore – at her 24th start
The diminutive Mare, VENUS DE MILO (Burgundy – Breezed) showed the courage of a lion when breaking through for her first ever win at Kranji 11th January in the Class 5 1600 metre event on the Polytrack. Ridden positively out of the barriers by Mauritian hoop, Nooresh Juglall, she lobbed along in 2nd place in the running, looked strong as they turned, but still had to get to the leader and meanwhile the swoopers were coming. In the last 150 metres it looked the little Mare (430 kgs) was going to run, yet again, a minor placing, but she never gave up and under a vigorous ride from Juglall, she put her hear out on the line to win by a neck
Click HERE to see the race Video Replay
Venus De Milo – Victorious in Singapore – 11th January 2019
“That was so tough, she just never gives up” commented Fortuna NZ Stable boss, John Galvin, ” but she deserves this victory so much – she has earned prize money in 17 of her previous 23 starts and I just want to salute her Ownership Group for being so incredibly patient. A big salute also to Nooresh for riding her so well and never giving up on her in the final stages. And trainer Mark Walker deserves so much credit for handling and placing her so well.”
VENUS DE MILO was acquired by Fortuna Syndications in a private sale from her breeder, Julia Walker and is raced by the Fortuna Venus De Milo Syndicate, an ownership group comprising 34 Individuals
FEDERATION breaks through for his First Singapore win
Fortuna Syndication’s Three Year Old Gelding, FEDERATION (Written Tycoon-Bloomingdale Miss) dominated his rivals in the S$75,000 Restricted Maiden event at Singapore’s Kranji race course on New Years Day
FEDERATION was sent out a very warm favourite by punters, this on the back of a very promising Singapore debut run by the horse in early December and a strong winning trial 24th December. Drawn beautifully in Barrier 3 and ridden by Singapore Champion jockey, Vlad Duric, FEDERATION jumped from the barriers nicely and Duric soon had him cruising along in 3rd place on the rails. Urged up before the turn to secure a rails run inside the leader, FEDERATION maintained a strong gallop to the line, winning the event by a 2.5 length margin in a time of 1.12.74 on the Poly Track.
Click HERE to see the Race Video Replay
“Federation” Victorious at Kranji – 01 January 2019
FEDERATION was secured by Fortuna Director, John Galvin, at the Inglis Digital on line sale (May 2018) for A$90,000 from Vendors, The China Horse Club, following a recommendation by Fortuna Singapore Trainer, Mark Walker. “Mark had identified this horse, who had had four placings from four starts in New South Wales as a Two Year Old, as an ideal type for Singapore racing, He had a lovely pedigree, was big and strong and had performed well as a 2yo,” reports John Galvin. “We think he is a quality horse in the making and so the Singapore Three Year Old Series, run between March and May 2019 would be an obvious target for him.”
Fortuna’s Singapore Trainer, Te Akau Racing’s Mark Walker, secured his first win for the 2019 season with FEDERATION. Walker, a five time Premiership winning Trainer in NZ and a two time winning Trainer in Singapore, was ecstatic with the victory. “He has always shown plenty of promise, this boy, he seems to be very talented and we are looking forward to see how he progresses from here. Congratulations to the Fortuna Team – John Galvin and I go back a long way, I trained his first Te Akau winner for him back in 2003 and we have enjoyed much success together over the years, both in NZ an Singapore.”
FEDERATION is raced by the Fortuna Federation Syndicate, an ownership group of 38 Individuals – the syndicate Membership has an International flavour to it, with members from NZ, Australia, Hong Kong, Singapore and the Philippines. 14 of those individuals experienced their first ever win with a Fortuna Syndicate
Burgundy Belle – Two starts – Two wins
Fortuna’s Three Year Old Filly, BURGUNDY BELLE (Burgundy – Spin N Grin) franked her impressive debut win at New Plymouth (6th December) when taking out the Rating 65 1200 metre event at Matamata Saturday 29th December. Drawing the Ace barrier, rider Shafiq Rusof was content to hold the rail one back from the leader. Traveling nicely in the run, BURGUNDY BELLE was poised to challenge on the point of the turn, but did need a gap to open on the rails. Held up for a few strides, Shafiq did not panic, the gap came and he drove the filly through to take out the race with a long neck margin back to the 2nd horse, Tightlign, in a time of 1.10.67 on a Dead 5 track.
Click HERE to view the result and Video Replay
BURGUNDY BELLE at full stretch makes it Two from Two – Matamata 29th December
Trainer, Jamie Richards was fulsome in his praise of the filly post race, “Look, it is a very pleasing result, she won a Maiden Race on debut on a Heavy 10 track and now she has backed up in a Rating 65 Saturday company race on a Dead 5, not many can do that, it is clear that she has lots of ability and a nice future in front of her. It is always great to win any race for any of our Owners, but we just love winning for the Fortuna team, we have had a lot of success together.”
Fortuna Director John Galvin was on hand along with a big group of his Fortuna Syndicate Members to watch Burgundy Belle make it two wins from two starts.“That was a very satisfying result, it is never easy for a 3yo to win on debut and then come out in Rating 65 company against older, seasoned horses and score a back to back win. She seems to be very capable and we are looking forward to how she can progress over the rest of the season. Jamie has done a superb job with her and a big thanks to Shafiq for a 10 out of 10 ride.”
Acquired in a Private Sale from her Breeders David Ellis and Karyn Fenton-Ellis, Burgundy Belle is a half sister to JACKS SECRET (two wins in Singapore) and a three quarter sister to MAJOR TOM (three wins in Singapore), both of these horses have also been owned by Fortuna Syndicates and trained by Mark Walker in Singapore.
Burgundy Belle was strapped by Meg Lambert.
Burgundy Belle is raced by the Fortuna Burgundy Belle Syndicate, an ownership Group comprising 53 individuals