Fortuna Filly INCA BELLE wins again at Tauranga making it 3 wins from 3 starts
Keeping alive her unbeaten record, Fortuna Racing’s three year old Filly INCA BELLE (by Per Incanto – Belle Vie, by Darci Brahma) resumed with victory in the Matamata Veterinary Services $30,000 3YO 1200 metres on Saturday 18th March at Tauranga. A debut winner over 1100 metres on 8 November at Pukekohe, Inca Belle rose in class to win the 3YO 1200 metres on 26 November at Wanganui, before having a break and after finding the line in a trial on 7 March at Rotorua, she secured a hat-trick of wins with her Tauranga victory. Having won previously on good and soft footing, Inca Belle had to endure Heavy10 footing but in the end she had the resolve to prevail.
Riding by Te Akau apprentice Joe Kamaruddin, who was aboard for the first two wins, Inca Belle got back in a small field, had to overcome a check when looking to work clear on straightening, but pinned her ears back to win drawing away by one and a half lengths. She ran 1200 metres in 1:15.2 and as race favourite paid $1.90 & $1.40 on the NZ TAB tote.
Click HERE to see the race replay
Trainer, Mark Walker, was on course overseeing his runners on the day “It was another good effort to win and she’s got a nice future,” said trainer Mark Walker. “She was bought quite cheaply by Dave (Ellis) and John (Galvin), knows how to win, and the Cambridge Breeders’ Stakes will be her main aim.” The $85,000 Cambridge Breeders’ Stakes (Gr. 3, 1200m) is contested on Saturday 29 April at Te Rapa.
INCA BELLE – makes it three starts – three wins Tauranga 28th March 2023
Fortuna boss, John Galvin, was also on course at Tauranga along with several Members of her Ownership Group “That was a great watch, she seems to have quite a bit of quality about her. She’s from the famous Belle family and quite a few of the Melody Belle owners have come into her as well,” he said. “She can’t do better than winning her first three starts and very good for a filly that was moderately priced ($50,000). She learned a bit in the race as well, after getting into a scrimmage at the top of the straight, but forced her way through and went to the line a dominant winner. She will probably have one or two races before the (Cambridge) Breeders’ Stakes, which is our main target. We were going to take her to Wellington last Saturday, but she blew a bit after her Saturday gallop the week before and Mark (Walker) said it’s a long way to take her if she’s not quite right, so he said to give her a trial and push her back a week and, as always, he seems to get these things right. She’s looked good coming through the grades, but it’s not until you get up against the big guns that you can really determine their quality.”
2022/23 Champion Apprentice JOE KAMARUDDIN returns to scale on INCA BELLE
Bred by R A Williams, Inca Belle was purchased by David Ellis CNZM and John Galvin for $50,000 at the 2021 NZB Ready To Run Sale, from the draft of Phoenix Park, and is owned by Fortuna Inca Belle Syndicate, an Ownership Group consisting of 49 individuals from New Zealand, Australia and Hong Kong
Inca Belle was strapped by Shaun Magee.