Friday Flash – 11th October 2024

BELLATRIX STAR –  4th Raceday win – Moonee Valley – 27th September 2024 – Mick Dee aboard

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Headline News

Fortuna Filly, BELLATRIX STAR, chases Group Two glory at Caulfield this Saturday and takes on the older horses for the first time

IMPERATRIZ wins Australian “Sprinter Of The Year Award at the Australian Racing Horse Of The Year Awards

NZTR and Avondale Jockey Club Endorse Memorandum of Understanding 

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Fortuna has five runners over the weekend, two in Victoria, three in NZ

Cranbourne – Friday

OUR PARAMOUR contests the Maiden 2025m event – race one at 5.45pm Aus time (7.45pm NZT) with Blake Shinn to ride from  barrier 1 – two starts in Aus for two good 3rds have been encouraging for this 3yo daughter of Contributor – last seen at Flemington 22nd Sept 1800m in a Set Weights and Penalties event, she is back to Maiden class here with just 55kgs on her back  – is ready to salute the judge this time  TAB says “brings the class form into this, go close” – showing $2 to win

Caulfield – Saturday

BELLATRIX STAR features in the time honoured Group Two Schillaci Stakes over 1100m – Race 9 @ 5.10pm Aus time (7.10 NZT) with Craig Williams to ride from Barrier 4 – could not have been more impressive in winning her last two starts at Listed and Group 3 level (Flemington and Moonee Valley) – she jumps into the deep end here in taking on the older horses under Weight For Age conditions. Has taken good improvement since her last run, has the right draw, the right rider and carries just 51kgs as the only 3yo in the field. Bound to be competitive here but meet stern opposition against the older horses – TAB says “some query on the strength of the fillies form, but she keeps raising the bar” – showing odds of $7.50/$2.30

Te Rapa – Saturday

COURT OF APPEAL races in the R65 1600m event – Race 6 @ 3.07pm with Opie Bosson to ride from an outside barrier – impressive winner last time in Maiden grade at Matamata when she speared to contest the lead from a wide barrier with Opie up, this is a significant step up in grade – bred to run a trip, distance will suit, has the gun rider aboard and can feature here with some luck in the running – TAB says “wide drawer, but can type as she has more wins in store” – showing odds of $13/$4

Ashburton – Saturday

VIVACIOUS contests the R65 1400m event – Race 7@ 3.32pm with the pinch hitting Aussie rider Liam Riordan to ride from Barrier 10 – stuck on for 3rd 1200m Riccarton on track conditions which were too soft for her liking, she gets to 1400m here, a trip she has won at in the past and strikes a better surface – is right in this and represents a very good top 3 chance – showing odds of $5/$2.05

Rotorua – Sunday

MALBOROUGH BAY races in the R75 1400m event – Race 2 @ 1.32pm with Opie Bosson to ride from Barrier 9 – consistent galloper who rarely runs a bad race, has the right rider aboard here, but track conditions may be testing – can feature in the finish if he copes with the Heavy track – TAB says “capable of a better showing” – No odds showing

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Trackwork – Fortuna runners

Matamata – Tuesday 8th Oct

Malborough Bay (D Danis) worked over 1000 metres in 1.07.41, home in 39.2.

Court Of Appeal (J Allen)  worked over 1000 metres in 1.10.5, home in 40.14.

Riccarton  – Tuesday 8th Oct

Vivacious (D Montes de Oca) worked over 1000 metres in 1.03.5, home in 36.86.

Cranbourne – Tuesday 8th OctBellatrix Star (L Winks) worked over 1000 metres in 1.03.4, home in 36.8.

Our Paramour (C Wilson) worked over 1200 metres in 1.24.5, home in 36.92

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 OTHER NEWS

Fortuna Filly, BELLATRIX STAR, chases Group Two glory at Caulfield this Saturday and takes on the older horses for the first time

Dominant in her last two Melbourne outings at Listed and Group 3 level against 3yo Fillies, “Ali” as we call her, faces a much sterner test here at Group 2 level under Weight For Age conditions and is the only 3yo in the field – John will be attending this meeting along with a small group of Owners – see story below from the Love Racing News Desk

Group One target in the offing for Bellatrix Star

Joshua Smith, LOVERACING.NZ News Desk
10 October 2024

New Zealand syndicator Fortuna’s silks have been to the fore during Melbourne Cup Week through the deeds of Melody Belle, and they are hoping they can feature prominently once more through their rising star, Bellatrix Star.

Melody Belle won the Gr.1 Empire Rose Stakes (1600m) on Derby Day five years ago for then Te Akau trainer Jamie Richards, and if Bellatrix Star performs up to expectations in the Gr.2 Schillaci Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield on Saturday, she too could be heading towards the feature meeting.

The daughter of Star Witness has been in scintillating form for trainer Mark Walker in Australia this preparation, winning the Listed Cap D’Antibes Stakes (1100m) at Flemington last month before repeating the result in the Gr.3 Scarborough Stakes (1200m) at The Valley.

“She has grown a leg,” Walker said. “It is terrific for New Zealand racing as a whole because we need our horses to perform. There are quite a few Group Ones on warnings, so any New Zealand-trained horses that can go to Australia and perform is good for the whole industry. It has been satisfying.”

Bellatrix Star has drawn barrier four in Saturday’s nine-horse field and will be ridden by Craig Williams.

“It is not easy taking on the older horses over there. She is in brilliant form, so we will see how we go,” Walker said.

The trans-Tasman trainer is eyeing his mare’s options post Saturday, but is leaning towards a tilt at an elite-level target at Flemington next month.

“Perhaps the Coolmore Stakes, the Group One three-year-old race on Derby Day,” he said.

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IMPERATRIZ wins Australian “Sprinter Of The Year” Award at the Australian Racing Horse Of The Year Awards

Our good friends at Te Akau received a great thrill this week when their now retired champion racemare, Imperatriz, won this award
Trainer Mark Walker was over the moon “It was a great honour to win Australian Sprinter of the Year and it was thoroughly deserved,” he said. “It was an unbelievable season of racing that she had in 2023/24 and everyone involved was so proud of her, which included those that worked with her at Te Akau Stud, the stables at Matamata and Cranbourne, and every part of the Te Akau training operation played its part in her success. The ownership group were fantastic to deal with and she was a dream horse ever since Dave (Ellis, Te Akau Racing principal) bought her as a yearling at Magic Millions.”

Click HERE to read the full story

Of further interest for our readers is that long-standing Fortuna clients Mick and Wendy Willock, had a share in Imperatriz – Mick and Wendy have been in many of our horses over the years including the Stakes winners, Darci’s Dream and Windborne and Group One placed Burgundy Belle

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NZTR and Avondale Jockey Club Endorse Memorandum of Understanding 

This is a very interesting development – see story below from NZTR

New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing (NZTR) would like to provide an update on recent developments concerning the Avondale Jockey Club (AJC) and the future of the Avondale racetrack. In recent months, NZTR and AJC have been working together to discuss the future of the Avondale racecourse once racing concludes at the venue after the 2025/26 season.  On 16 September 2024 NZTR and AJC signed a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that outlines shared intentions and the collaborative process both parties will follow in the coming months to attempt to finalise an agreement on the future of the racecourse.

“NZTR and AJC have worked together in good faith to reach an agreement on the future of the Club’s racecourse.” – Bruce Sharrock, CEO NZTR. “We are pleased with the progress throughout our conversations as we work to mutually agree on the pathway forward.”

Avondale Jockey Club will host a members-only forum 21 October to discuss the MOU with their membership, alongside NZTR representatives, and will answer any questions concerning the process at that time. NZTR would like to thank AJC as we work toward the best outcome for the Club, West Auckland and broader racing communities.

John says “I am not privy to any of the detail here, but what I do know is that over many years the Avondale Jockey Club (AJC) has proven to be a very difficult entity to deal with and so this agreement (although non-binding) is definitely an indication that the may be a “thawing” between the parties – the AJC of course owns an extremely valuable piece of real estate with estimates of its value ranging between $400m and even up to $600m – Capital (or income from that capital)_that could certainly be well utiliised if available to the wider racing industry.  Quite a few years ago, as readers with long memories may recall, it appeared that the AJC and Auckland Racing Club had reached an accommodation to merge, but at the last minute the AJC reneged on the deal and the rest is history as they say. With the Avondale racecourse marked for closure at the end of the 2025/26 season, discussions around what would happen to the racecourse land and any proceeds from sale is a discussion that does need to be had of course, and this Memo of Understanding is the first step in that process

I believe there had been an assumption by many in the racing industry that a merger between AJC and what is now known as Auckland Thoroughbred Racing (ATR) would be a logical conclusion, but I don’t believe that is on the cards. Firstly there is long standing enmity between these two racing entities and secondly ATR already have enough capital of their own. Other sectors of the racing industry and by that I mean other racing venues, are desperately short of capital and income for course and facility improvement and so I’m picking that we may see a deal whereby the AJC sell the racecourse land with the capital proceeds being invested into growth assets on behalf of the wider racing industry, with the income and dividends from that capital being used to develop and strengthen the infrastructure at other racing venues.

I imagine that the AJC would also be keen to provide grants to organisations within the Avondale community such as sports clubs, charitable trusts, community groups etc, given the historical links of the AJC to the local community and so they may be seeking a portion of any investment income going in that direction

I am also picking that the AJC would want to maintain their identity as a racing club and hold race meetings with that identity but at other venues

This is all just conjecture on my part but would seem to be a logical outcome if agreement can be reached between the parties – clearly ATR with its redevelopment of Ellerslie is the “jewel in the crown” of New Zealand racing but they can’t do it all on their own – other venues are extremely important – most racing venues are desperately short of capital for maintenance and development of the racing facilities and so income from the AJC investment capital could be well utilised heading in that direction for the greater good of the whole racing industry

 

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Guest Selector – Des Coppins

Here is what Des has to say this week

Greetings John

Again, best wishes with Bellatrix Star at Caulfield on  Saturday. We will all be watching!!

Before releasing selections this weekends it’s nice to hear from a few of your readers John about how it pays to follow the selections handed out as a few tend to eventually measure up within their next start or two. For example, Mustang Valley, Four Bells, Frank the Tank, Wewillrock and Donnybrook are just a few horses that have won shortly after being touted in this column.

On Mustang Valley; so sad to see her in retirement after a bleeding episode following the big win in the weekend and our pick from last week, No Rain Ever, who ran last, was also a victim of a bleeding attack and will have a mandatory stand down for 3 months. So sad, in fact, on both counts.

Let’s move on to three that may I suggest are worth following on Saturday and beyond.

Mayor of Norwood, race 5,
Ashburton:

He ran a beauty first up at Ashburton and is set for a profitable season.
He ran the quickest last 200 in that race the other day and he is ready to pick up where he left off last season when registering two wins and 5 placings from as many starts beyond 1600m.
The stable will be looking at a bold run on Saturday to confirm he’s on the right path to make it to the NZ Cup on November 16.

Tanganyika, r8, Te Rapa

The recent trial should have him close to his best .
He’s only had 5 starts and has impressed each time.
Placings behind talented types like Pericles and Snazzytavi are a true indication to his talent and when running 5th at black type level to Pericles in the Uncle Remus he ran the quickest final 800, 400 and 200.
He’s worth following all summer.

Poukawa, r4 Te Rapa

He was huge first up at Taupo and the season looks very bright for this son of Per Incanto.
He created a big impression when winning his only race start at Wanganui in May and he’s clearly come back bigger and bolder.

Good punting folks!