Fortuna’s Chance To Dance runs 5th in the Sydney Cup

Seven year old gelding, Chance To Dance, ran gallantly in the re run of the Group One A$2m Sydney Cup at Royal Randwick on Saturday 22nd April. Having run “second” in the same event on April 8th, which was declared a “no race” by the Stewards, the challenge for Chance to Dance (Teofilo-Crystal Ballet) was could he back up with a two week gap over 3200 metres on a Testing heavy 8 track? Settled on the rail mid field by rider Christian Reith, off a very steady tempo set by tear away leader Lasqueti Spirit, Chance to Dance started to come into the race from about the 800 metre peg, when Reith got him off the rail and onto the back of eventual race winner Polarisation and as the field turned for home, the horse looked to be coming into the race strongly before tiring the last 100 metres to finish in 5th place. “That was a super effort” declared his rider, “he tried his heart out, but was running on empty the last 120 metres.”

Fortuna Director, John Galvin, who was on track along with Jessica Galvin and seventeen syndicate Members was philosophical about the result. “It was a great effort by the horse,” he said, “it was always going to be a hard ask to run two 3200 metre races two weeks apart, particularly on such testing ground. His best form has been on Good/Dead tracks and we are very proud of the effort he put in today.”

Chance to Dance, who was acquired by John Galvin at the Inglis Chairmans Sale on March 29th for A$260,000 picked up A$50,000 for his fifth placing. The horse will now travel back to New Zealand for a well earned break. “The plan was always to bring him back to NZ once he had completed his Autumn campaign here in Australia,” said John Galvin. “He will parade at our Owners Day at Matamata on April 30th, then have a good four or five weeks in the paddock at Te Akau Stud before resuming work early June and after trialing at Te Teko in August, we will map out some firm plans for his 2017/18 season and all options, be they contesting the Two Mile races in NZ or bringing him back to Australia to race, are on the table for consideration.”

The Chance to Dance Syndicate comprises 66 parties, all of whom are existing Fortuna clients.