SHAMROCK wins in Singapore at just his 3rd race day start

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Fortuna’s MELODY BELLE  to pursue Sydney Campaign

Three Year Old Filly, MELODY BELLE, last season’s Champion Two Year old, fresh from a last start win in the Group Three Mongolian Khan Trophy at Ellerslie on 27th January, will tackle the Sydney Fillies in her next two starts. Saturday 17th February will see her at Randwick contesting the Group Two Light Fingers Stakes (A$200,000) over 1200 metres while on Saturday 3rd March sees her contest the Group One Surround Stakes (A$500,000) over 1400 metres, also at Randwick. Ex pat Kiwi Jockey, Rory Hutchings, has been engaged to ride her in at least her first assignment

Melody Belle dominant in Mongolian Khan Trophy Ellerslie 27th Jan

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Te Akau Stud Tours under way again

Every year during February and March, we conduct weekly visits to Te Akau Stud in the western Waikato to view the Fortuna Yearlings and enjoy the fabulous 4000 plus acre environment that is David Ellis’ Te Akau Stud – we go every Monday with the first tour Monday 12t February. We meet at BP Ngaruawahia from 10.30 am, depart in convoy to the farm at 11am (about a 40 minute drive), spend about an hour at the farm and then return to BP, usually getting back before 2pm. Its is a great day out. Please contact John by email or call/text 021 921 460 if you would like to register for one of these tours.

Second on debut and suffering a bleeding attack at his second start last September, necessitating a mandatory three month stand down, connections were naturally apprehensive when their Three Year Old Gelding SHAMROCK (Helmet-Shamabelle), took the stage for his resuming run over 1200 metres in the Restricted Maiden 1200 metre event at Singapore’s Kranji race course on Sunday 4th February. Drawn at barrier seven, rider Glen Boss soon had SHAMROCK  into stride and in a nice place one out and one back. On turning for home, he looked as if he was right in the race, but exhibited some greenness in the run down the straight, with the race leader, Lohnro Gold, still going strongly a couple of lengths in front. However, Boss eventually got SHAMROCK  to run straight and true and wearing down the leader over the last 100 metres went to the line with a long neck to spare

                                                  Click HERE to see the race replay

SHAMROCK winning Kranji Race course – 4th February 2018

Fortuna Syndications Director John Galvin was over the moon with the result, “This horse right from the outset had shown us a lot of promise – his debut run in Singapore was very good and then we had the setback with his bleeding attack and no matter how positive one may feel, there is always a big question mark around a successful comeback. Today’s win was very strong and it looks as if he may have a bright future in Singapore.”

Shamrock is raced by the Fortuna Shamrock Syndicate, a group of 34 New Zealand based Syndicate Members and is trained in Singapore by Te Akau Racing’s Mark Walker, the current Champion Trainer in Singapore

Shamrock was bred by Terry Archer and Associates and was acquired by David Ellis on behalf of Fortuna at the 2016 Karaka Ready To Run Sale for $80,000.

Melody Belle is off to Sydney after her imoressive return to form at Ellerslie last weekend.

Described by some commentators as “the buy of the Sale” the Darci Brahma – Sweet Dreams Baby Colt was knocked down to Fortuna’s John Galvin for $80,000, well below his budget. A full brother to the high quality Stakes Winning Fillies, DARCI’s DREAM and WINDBORNE, this Colt has an outstanding pedigree and the physical attributes to go with it. Shares available from 1% – $3350 for 2.5% share

Click  to READ MORE

Number One – a cracking Two Year Old type by Champion Sire IFFRAAJ out of the Darci Brahma winning mare, the filly, on type, looks as if she will be a very early runner and therefore is a contender for the 2019 Karaka Million for prizemoney of $1,000,000. Click HERE to read full details

Number  Two – a strong resolute staying type by the hugely successful Australian Stallion, MEDAGLIO D’ORO  out of a mare who is a half sister to three Group winners, including ah Australian Derby winer and an Auckland Cup winner. A staying type of Filly this one Click HERE to read full details

Crack filly back in winning groove

MELODY BELLE has again produced a faultless performance on the Karaka Million stage.

Twelve months ago, the top filly was the headline act when she was victorious in the two-year-old feature and at Ellerslie on Saturday she was back to claim top undercard honours in the Gr.3 Mongolian Khan Trophy (1200m), with a margin of three and a half lengths at the line and a slick winning time of 1.09.48

Melody Belle 1st – Daylight 2nd – Winning Group 3 Mongolian Khan Trophy – Ellerslie Jan 27

In between times the Stephen Autridge and Jamie-Richards trained daughter of Commands has won the Gr.1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) and the Gr.2 BRC Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m).

“I don’t think she’s ever been better,” Autridge said in the wake of Melody Belle’s latest success.

She was given a cosy run in the trail by stable jockey Opie Bosson and once they were into the clear soon after straightening the race was all over.

“She was full of running turning in and I didn’t have to go for the stick,” he said. “She did it all under her own steam, I was just the pilot.”

Click HERE to see race video replay

Melody Belle was sent out a less than even money favourite and she won like it, gliding clear in the closing 150m to have a wide margin on runner-up Astor and Gift Of Power.

“That was a really good effort, things haven’t gone her way in her last couple of starts and back to her own age group today it was an exciting win,” Richards said.

The Gr.1 BCD Group Sprint (1400m) at Te Rapa on February 10 is a possible next step for the filly and another trip across the Tasman is up for discussion.

Fortuna Syndications Racing Manager John Galvin was on hand to watch his charge’s dominant display along with 30 plus Members of the MELODY BELLE Syndicate – ” She’s back” he said “things didn’t quite go in her favour in the Railway, but her effort today, although in weaker company, was awesome, running a very slick time over the 1200 metre trip. 

Now the winner of five races from ten starts with four of those wins at the elite level, MELODY BELLE has won over $913,000 in prizemoney for her Ownership Group of 34 individual Members.

MELODY BELLE was bred by Marie Leicester and was selected and acquired by David Ellis on behalf of Fortuna Syndicators at the 2016 Karaka Premier Sale for $57,500.

 WILDFIRE –

Gelding by Darci Brahma out of Seven Time Winning Race Mare Beautiful Girl

Click HERE to read More

Click HERE to view his trial at Matamata – finishes a fast finishing 2nd – rider wearing purple and white silks

Call John Galvin 021 921 460 or email John HERE

The Veteran 7yo OUR RIVER DANCER (Danehill Dancer-Distinctly) showed that he still has some zip in his legs when winning over the 1100 metre sprint trip at the Perak Turf Club in Malaysia Sunday 14th January. Fresh up after not having raced since late November, “Hunter” as he is nicknamed appeared to be only battling most of the race, running in behind the leaders for most of the race, but under a vigorous ride from 2017 Champion Jockey K C WONG, mounted a strong finishing run to have a long neck to spare at the finishing line.

Click HERE to see  Race Video Replay 

Fortuna Director John Galvin comments, “This was a very satisfying win. Our River Dancer has had a tricky twelve months with wide barrier draws, race cancelations due to bad weather and injury. He is a big favourite with his Trainer, Sharee Hamilton and her team and has served his ownership team well over the years. He is no Champion, but is honest as the day as long and has fashioned a nice winning record with two wins in Singapore and four in Malaysia.”

OUR RIVER DANCER, who boasts a stout European pedigree (Danehill Dancer – Distinctly – by Sadlers Wells) has now had six career wins, two in Singapore (trained by Mark Walker) and four in Malaysia. He was acquired by David Ellis on behalf of Fortuna Ltd at the 2012 Karaka Premier Sale for the sum of NZ$105,000 and is raced by a NZ based Syndicate of nineteen individuals.

HIDDEN PROMISE  makes it 4 Singapore career wins with a strong victory New Years Day

Five Year Old Gelding HIDDEN PROMISE (Postponed-Promissory) had his band of NZ based Syndicate Members leaping up and down in front of their television sets when winning the Class 3 1600 metre event at Singapore’s Kranji Race course on New Year’s Day, bringing up the Gelding’s 4th Singapore win from 15 starts. Resuming at the 1600 metre trip after not racing since 19th November and having his first start in Class 3 company, HIDDEN PROMISE was ignored by Punters and sent out at odds of 20 to 1. Ridden for the first time by expat Kiwi jockey Craig Grylls, HIDDEN PROMISE was away well from the barriers and settled into 4th place on the rails in the running.  Approaching the turn, it was apparent that Grylls had a lapful of horse under him and all that was required was an ounce of luck to find a gap between the two leaders. The gap was a while coming, but Grylls bided his time and eventually steered his mount between the two leaders with a compelling finishing run that gave him a three quarter length margin at the line

Click HERE to see the race replay

HIDDEN PROMISE winning – Kranji racecourse – 01 January 2018

Syndicate Racing Manager John Galvin was ecstatic, ” This was an outstanding result for the Team,” he said, ” Hidden Promise had trialed very well on Boxing Day but it was a resuming run off a six week break and he was up in Grade at Class 3 level, so we weren’t quite sure what we were going to get on the day, but what we did get was pretty good. We have been very patient with this horse, he didn’t have his first start until he was a November 4yo and now from 15 starts he has had 4 wins, only been out of the prizemoney in two of those starts and has now won S$125,000 in prizemoney for his Ownership Group. Trainer Mark Walker has done a great job with him and a big thanks to Craig Grylls, who was having his first race day ride for the Fortuna NZ Team.”

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HANDSOME REBEL impresses on debut

Two Year old Gelding HANDSOME REBEL (Denman – London Rebel) impressed when running a close up 3rd to stable mate filly, The Real Beel, when debuting over 1000 metres at New Plymouth on 27th December. Ridden by Dylan Turner, he worked hard to the line and will take big improvement from the run and trip away. He is set to race next Jan 12th at Matamata 1200 metres.

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BEAU GESTE continues to make nice progress

Another who traveled to Taranaki to race at Stratford (New Years Eve) was 3yo BEAU GESTE (Pour Moi- Villa Wanda). A really slow maturing staying type, he struck an unsuitable wet track on debut however Stratford produced a good surface and racing close to the speed, he finished a close up 4th in the hands of Alysha Collett, who opined post race that “the further he goes, the better he will be.”

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MELODY BELLE finishes 6th in Railway Stakes

Further Group One glory was denied 3yo filly MELODY BELLE in the Group One Sistema Railway Stakes at Ellerslie on New Year’s Day. Steady rain pre race had softened the track into a Slow 8. effectively negating the very god barrier draw (2) that she had drawn. She raced quite keenly in or near the lead and the effort told the last 100 metres. Her cause wasn’t helped by suffering a bad check in the last stages of the race, but the best she would have finished anyway would have been fourth.

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CHANCE TO DANCE Trentham bound 

After failing in the Group One Zabeel Classic at Ellerslie on Boxing Day, CHANCE TO DANCE’S racing programme has been reviewed and he will now race next in the Trentham Stakes (2100 metres) Saturday 13th January – this a lead up race for the City of Auckland Cup (2400 metres) at Ellerslie on 27th January

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Five Year Old Gelding HIDDEN PROMISE (Postponed-Promissory) had his band of NZ based Syndicate Members leaping up and down in front of their television sets when winning the Class 3 1600 metre event at Singapore’s Kranji Race course on New Year’s Day, bringing up the Gelding’s 4th Singapore win from 15 starts. Resuming at the 1600 metre trip after not racing since 19th November and having his first start in Class 3 company, HIDDEN PROMISE was ignored by Punters and sent out at odds of 20 to 1. Ridden for the first time by expat Kiwi jockey Craig Grylls, HIDDEN PROMISE was away well from the barriers and settled into 4th place on the rails in the running.  Approaching the turn, it was apparent that Grylls had a lapful of horse under him and all that was required was an ounce of luck to find a gap between the two leaders. The gap was a while coming, but Grylls bided his time and eventually steered his mount between the two leaders with a compelling finishing run that gave him a three quarter length margin at the line

Click HERE to see the race replay

HIDDEN PROMISE winning – Kranji racecourse – 01 January 2018

Syndicate Racing Manager John Galvin was ecstatic, ” This was an outstanding result for the Team,” he said, ” Hidden Promise had trialed very well on Boxing Day but it was a resuming run off a six week break and he was up in Grade at Class 3 level, so we weren’t quite sure what we were going to get on the day, but what we did get was pretty good. We have been very patient with this horse, he didn’t have his first start until he was a November 4yo and now from 15 starts he has had 4 wins, only been out of the prizemoney in two of those starts and has now won S$125,000 in prizemoney for his Ownership Group. Trainer Mark Walker has done a great job with him and a big thanks to Craig Grylls, who was having his first race day ride for the Fortuna NZ Team.”

Trained by 2017  Singapore Champion Trainer, Mark Walker, HIDDEN PROMISE is raced by the Fortuna Hidden Promise Syndicate, an ownership group comprising 29 individuals and was purchased on behalf of Fortuna Syndications by Te Akau Racing’s David Ellis at the 2014 Ready To Run Sale for $65,000 from the draft of Westbury Stud.