Fortuna Weekly Round Up 5th September
Expectations were high for the Fortuna 5yo Mare, ITS OUR SHOWTIME resuming at Ruakaka last Saturday – her work had been first class and she had won a trial at Te Teko in early August, however victory was not to be with her not getting all favours in the run and finishing 7th.
Last Start winner, the seven year old KING SAVINSKY tried hard at the Perak Turf Club (Malaysia) on a heavy track, but 4th was his lot
Three Year old BEAU GESTE trialed at Te Teko last Thursday under very heavy track conditions – many trainers that were there on the day commented that the track was the heaviest they had ever seen. BEAU GESTE, a staying type was having his first trial as a 3yo over 850 metres, didn’t really handle the track and finished back in the field under no pressure – he will trial over more ground next time.
More sobering news for the Fortuna Team during the week was the fact that our very promising 4yo High Chaparral Mare, DAME MARGO FONTEYN, would need to be retired due to a back issue. Stakes placed and the winner of two races as a 3yo “Cilla” had also run with merit, finishing 7th without luck, in the Group One NZ Oaks. The Team had high hopes for her this season, thinking that as a genuine staying type, she could have had Cups potential. With her pedigree however and her race track performance, she will realise a good price for her Syndicate Members as a broodmare prospect.
On a brighter note, Fortuna 2yo Superstar , MELODY BELLE, has returned to work to prepare for her 3yo season. This news item below from the NZ Racing Desk.
Top filly building toward 3YO season
Melody Belle is back in work with trainers Stephen Autridge and Jamie Richards ahead of another Group One campaign.
Last season’s Gr.1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes and Karaka Million winner enjoyed a good break after her Queensland campaign that netted a victory in the Gr.2 Queensland Sires’ Produce Stakes.
“She had an eight-week spell after returning from Brisbane and has now just finished three weeks pre training on the walker,” Fortuna Syndications director John Galvin said.
“Jamie and Steve will now get her ready for a trial later in the spring and race plans at this stage are to have her resuming over 1200 metres in early December, then into the Sistema Railway at Ellerslie on New Year’s day before tackling the Karaka 3YO Classic at the end of January.”
Talking of MELODY BELLE, Sunday 10th September sees the occasion of the Annual Thoroughbred Awards and the filly is one of three nominees for Two Year Old of The Year Award. Fortuna have booked three tables with 30 attendees, so all are looking forward to having a great evening and hoping that Melody Belle’s name comes out of the envelope.
Trials at Cambridge on Thursday 7th sees the Fortuna 8yo CHANCE TO DANCE have his final trial before his NZ Race day debut. The winner of 7 races in Ireland and Australia, boasting prizemoney earnings of $455,000, a rating of 101 and twice placed over the Two Mile trip, “Ted” as he is known, adds some real depth to the quality of the NZ Staying ranks – the Group One Livamol Classic over 2000 metres on 7th October at Hastings is his first primary target in NZ this season.
Finally, one Fortuna runner this weekend and an exciting one as well- 3yo SHAMROCK makes his 2nd career start in Singapore Sunday 10th in the $75,000 Restricted Maiden event over 1200 metres. Desperately unlucky on debut when squeezed for a run and finishing 2nd, he is sure to give a sight this weekend.