Fortuna News Round Up 12th December

MELODY BELLE Runs 3rd on resuming

Last Season’s Champion Two Year Old, MELODY BELLE, had the first start of her Three Year Old career at Ellerslie Saturday 9th December. In her first race for almost six months she contested the Open Sprint over 1200 metres, taking on a quality field of Open Class Sprinters. Slightly slow away, she went forward on a competitive early pace to position outside the leader, challenged to lead mid-straight and fought hard for third, behind VOLPE VELOCE and HEROIC VALOUR. Her Training Team of Stephen Autridge and Jamie Richards declared themselves very happy with her performance, saying that she had a god blow after the race and would take a lot of improvement from it ahead of her next assignment, the Group One System Railway Stakes at Ellerslie on New years Day.

Melody Belle wins the Karaka Million 29th January 2017

BEAU GESTE  to make his race Day debut at Hastings Thursday 14th December

Three Year old Gelding BEAU GESTE (Pour Moi – Villa Wanda), a 3/4 brother to the multiple Group One winner, WALL STREET, heads to the races for the first time this week. A rangy staying type, BEAU GESTE  was acquired by David Ellis on behalf of Fortuna at the 2016 Karaka Yearling Sale.

“We have been very patient with this horse,” reports Fortuna Director, John Galvin,” he trialed in the Autumn as a 2yo, but was quite weak, so we put him aside and since resuming training in the early Spring, he has been brought along steadily. He trialed at Matamata two weeks ago, running a nice 3rd and the Training Team have determined that he can make his race day debut.”

BEAU GESTE – Matamata Trials November 2017

FORTUNA OWNERS DAY  a huge success

Fortuna Syndicators held one of their popular Owners Days at Matamata Race course on Sunday 10th December. Attended by approximately 85 Fortuna Syndications Members, the occasion honoured the various jockeys that have ridden successfully for Fortuna over the years, headed up by the now retired Noel Harris. All of the Fortuna horses currently in work at Matamata were paraded, including stable stars, MELODY BELLE  and CHANCE TO DANCE, along with the new acquisitions, the Singapore bound AABIR  and the Ready to Run sale purchase, the Jakkalbery-Red Alert Gelding “Winston”. A great time was had by all participants.