Fortuna Weekly Round Up 12th September
Fortuna’s MELODY BELLE crowned Champion Two Year Old of the Year
Sunday evening 10th September saw an expectant crowd of 500 people plus at Auckland’s Langham Hotel for the 2017 NZ Thoroughbred Horse of The Year Awards. Included amongst those present were 30 guests of Fortuna Ltd, there to support the Fortuna Filly, MELODY BELLE who was one of three nominees (Gold Fever and Summer Passage were the other two) for the prestigious Two Year Old of The Year Award. Melody Belle and Summer Passage had finished their stellar 2yo seasons on equal ratings points, so while Fortuna Director, John Galvin, was reasonably confident that his charge would get the nod, it certainly wasn’t a done deal in his mind. Voting for these awards is done by a panel of 57 individuals associated with racing, comprising Racing writers and other media, Industry Office holders and other relevant parties. In the end, John need not have worried with 46 votes going to MELODY BELLE and 11 to SUMMER PASSAGE. Observing their Filly’s name pulled from the envelope brought a few tears of joy to the eyes of her Members present. John Galvin accepted the Award on behalf of the Fortuna Melody Belle Syndicate, an ownership Group of 34 people. For the record, Melody Belle, who was a $57,500 purchase at the 2016 Karaka Premier Sale, started seven times, for four wins and a third during her 2yo season and amassed prizempney of $865,000. Her wins included the Karaka Million (Listed), the Manawatu Sires Produce Stakes (Group One) and the Queensland Sires Produce Stakes (Group Two)
Of significant note also from the evening was the award to Te Akau Principal, David Ellis, of the very prestigious “Outstanding Contribution to Racing” Award. John Galvin comments “this award to David is long overdue – he is literally a giant of our industry and has made a huge contribution to Thoroughbred racing in New Zealand – I am very proud to have David as a very good friend and a wonderful business associate.”
CHANCE TO DANCE Taupo Track Gallop
Canceled trials at Cambridge last Thursday and again Tuesday 12th (due to rain sodden track) led the Te Akau Training Team to float a few of their horses with upcoming assignments to Taupo Tuesday 12th to gallop under reasonable track conditions. Fortuna 8yo CHANCE TO DANCE was one of those and in the hands of Opie Bosson and galloping with stable mate HUSHED, he ran 1200 metres in 1.18, the last 600 in 38.4, solid work on a track rated as a Slow 7. CHANCE TO DANCE, who ran 5th for the Fortuna team in the 2017 Sydney Cup, has his main NZ Spring target as the 2000 Metre Livamol Classic (Group One) at Hastings on 7th October and a strong performance there could see him contest the Caulfield Cup on 21st October.
Fortuna Singapore runners this week.
Friday night in Singapore sees last start winner, the 5yo gelding, HIDDEN PROMISE, race in a Class 4 event over 1600 metres. Now the winner of three races in Singapore, “Bart” as he is nicknamed, has proven to be a very progressive type and his performance in Friday’s race, his first time in Class 4 company, should provide a good guide as to his future prospects in Singapore. Sunday evening in Singapore sees 4yo Gelding, MAJOR TOM, race in the Class 3 event over 1200 metres. The impressive winner of three races in Singapore in the 2017 season, he disappointed in his last two starts, striking very firm tracks not to his liking. Freshened and back to 1200 metres with blinkers on for the first time, he is being given his chance to atone.
