All over from the outset, Court Of Appeal (5 m Eminent – Katy O’Beel, by Zabeel) resumed with a dominant victory in the $18,500 Betavet Rating 75 1600 metres on 11 September at Riccarton. Having remained back after missing the start when trialling on 19 August at Ashburton, any fears were averted immediately as Court Of Appeal flew the gates to lead easily, in what became the winning of the race. Ridden by Bruno Queiroz, who has recorded seven wins from 18 rides and a strike rate of 2.5 with trainers Mark Walker & Sam Bergerson, Court Of Appeal dictated soft early sectionals before striding more freely from the 800m and she quickened away in the straight to win by two lengths.
It was an excellent resumption by a mare with genuine staying bloodlines, and holds a nomination for the $450,000 New Zealand Cup (Gr. 3, 3200m) on the final day of Cup Week (16 Nov.) at Riccarton. Having her first start on the poly-track, Court Of Appeal ran the 1600 metres in a cruisy 1:37.2 and paid $4.00 & $2.20 on the NZ TAB tote.
Click HERE to see the race replay“It was a really good win, today, and a lovely ride of Bruno’s,” said Mark Walker, training partner with Sam Bergerson.“She’s been a bit tardy out of the gates lately, but he’s a great barrier rider and got her away cleanly to lead and it was great to see her win the way she did. Hunter (Durrant) and the team have got the horses looking well in our stables down there at Riccarton, and getting good results for us in the South Island. She’s was always going to take time to mature, on pedigree, and that will hopefully keep coming to the fore this year and next. We’re certainly looking forward to seeing what she can achieve this season.”
Court Of Appeal – 3rd career victory – Riccarton 11th Sept 2025
Bruno Queiroz aboardPurchased for $20,000 by David Ellis CNZM and Fortuna Racing from the Karaka 2022 Book 2 Sale, from the draft of Brighthill Farm, she is owned byFortuna Court Of Appeal Syndicate (Mgr: John Galvin), an ownership group consisting of 53 individuals
“I think she put a stake in the ground today, by winning fresh-up over a mile when she’s a genuine staying type,” John Galvin said. “I know she was favourite, but there seemed a few things against her: fresh-up off a long break, track, mile, that sort of thing. The start of the race looked a bit awkward, but she got the best of it to lead. It was a lovely ride by Bruno (Queiroz) and she just had too many guns. She has been a bit tardy to begin previously and seemed on the back foot when the gates opened, but Bruno took remedial action and urged her on.”
“She has trained and done most of her gallops on the poly-track down there, so she’s not unfamiliar with the synthetic surface. She’s really blossomed down in the South Island, and I think it’s the right place for her at present. She seems to appreciate the more relaxed setting at Riccarton. Her main targets will be the Metropolitan Handicap and New Zealand Cup down there in November. And a great decision made by Mark and Sam to send her South – they are great judges”
Regarding the purchase of Court Of Appeal, Galvin said: “The buying instructions were that we wanted to buy a staying type from Book 2 at Karaka, and we were expecting to pay quite a bit more than the $20,000 she sold for. Eminent, the sire, is yet to make a decent mark with his progeny, but he clearly has staying pedigree credentials, and anything out of a Zabeel mare, you’re always a chance. And a great decison
“We’ve had some pretty good results on the poly-tracks this year. It provides so many opportunities for horses at this time of the year that otherwise may not be racing because they don’t handle wet and heavy tracks. It keeps the betting turnover going, keeps prize money flowing to the owners, and a horse like Court Of Appeal doesn’t really handle heavy tracks.”
Brighthill Farm stallion Eminent, a Group Two winner and dual Group One placed son of peerless racehorse and sire Frankel (Galileo) – currently leading the TRC Global Sires Rankings – was trained by Sir Mark Todd and owned by Sir Peter Vela. From the first crop by Eminent, Court Of Appeal is out of a mare that won three times to 2200 metres, in turn from sensational staying mare Katy Keen (Zorro’s Lad), a Group Two and Group Three winner that won 10 times to 2500 metres.
Court Of Appeal is the second winner from Katy O’Beel, following Enright (Power), a three-time winner to 2100 metres.
Interestingly, and not be taken lightly, the win by Court Of Appeal was recorded almost a year to the day that she won her Maiden over 1400 metres on 13 September last year, reaffirming traits of horses peaking at similar times of the year.
Court Of Appeal was strapped by Ruby Rae-Wood.
Guest Commentator – Des Coppins
Greetings John and Fortuna followers – Plenty to ponder this week.
You really know spring is in the air when quality thoroughbreds tick along at the trials before venturing into the big time on race day. Improved track conditions must also be on the horizon and good old Phar Lap raceway preempted this with amazingly a good track rating on Sunday. To think Phar Lap’s popular Timaru venue was heading for closure not that long ago following the Messara Report. Had that happened it would’ve been an absolute catastrophe and its existence again proves the resilience of the South Canterbury community , especially those with an interest in racing .
Well done and long may this venue continue. South Island needs this track as does the industry.
THE GIRLS LIGHT UP!
How good was the racing at Ellerslie on Saturday?
The return of Quintessa was quite superb in the first group one of the season the Proisir Plate but honours were shared I thought with Lollapalooza in the Gold Trail. Her almost last to first performance was astonishing and no horse on the day reeled off the last 400 and 200 quicker! In fact only 2 horses all day broke 23 for the last 400; you guessed it, Lollapalooza and Quintessa!
IS THE NZ OAKS HEADING TO ELLERSLIE?
The shift of former prominent races in the CD to the north takes another giant step with the pending move of the NZ Oaks to Ellerslie. Whether it’s a temporary move or permanent remains to be seen.
Of course the CD has lost the Otaki Group One to Ellerslie to arguably give it more pizzazz and two of the three former Hastings spring elites to Ellerslie as well because of Hawkes Bay’s track dilemma.
What possibly could be the reasons why the likely move of the Oaks from Trentham to Ellerslie was even contemplated by those in charge?
There are at least four contributing factors I feel.
1. The Oaks has suffered with top tier quality in recent years; maybe the massive rise in stake for the NZ Derby in March at Ellerslie with the big Waikato stables heading to Ellerslie and not Trentham is a genuine reason; Derby winner Orchestral, two years ago, a case in point! Clearly doing both 2400m races March is never going to happen for any quality three year old filly.
2. Supposedly the industry is keen to see the Oaks as a lead in to the Derby instead of being held in the same month within two weeks of each other. I’m led to believe that the Oaks may now be run on the last Saturday in February and Trentham doesn’t have such a date like January 31 ( Wellington Cup Day) as it is surrounded by Lowland Stakes; Desert Gold and David and Karyn Fenton Ellis fillies programmes.
3. The fact that not all the best fillies head to Trentham meant the Asian Racing Pattern Committee has flexed its muscle with a strong hint, unless something changed markedly, the Oaks was under severe warning of a downgrade from its group one appeal. For the record the NZ Derby itself is not punching above its weight either when it comes to high quality three year old ratings and those in charge of making these programme and venue changes believe there’s hope for both Blue Riband events if they compliment rather than challenge each other.
4. It’s no secret that Trentham has had grandstand issues. As we all know the public stand is no longer and some earthquake and wear and tear damage exists in the Members stand as well. Heavy internal discussion is on going whether the stand stays and accordingly repaired or demolished to make way for a more accommodating multi purpose structure to comply with the times we are in.
Naturally the end result comes down to costs and practicalities. Demolition work was originally earmarked less than one week after the Cup meeting but nothing is yet inked in. And there’s so much at stake whatever steps are taken.
An ultimate decision will be made sooner than later it’s hoped!
MY TAKE ON THE GROUP ONE MOVEMENTS
The industry has to be careful not to isolate too many by being top heavy with race days at one end of the country. Balance is important.
If those in power strip down the principle and popular, traditional racing carnivals by repositioning their best races to the north, whether it’s from the CD or the south, the bite will be more painful in the long run to the industry overall.
Ps : the NZ oaks shifted from Riccarton to Trentham in 1974. For the previous 87 years it was held at Riccarton.
ELLERSLIE IMPROVERS
TOMODACHI : she has a ton of ability and her date with group one honours is about to happen in her strong run into third in the Proisir last Saturday could be used as a guide.
WAITAK: a stablemate of Tomodachi was also massive in the group one. The gaps didn’t appear at the right time and I liked the way he finished it off. He’s in for another big season.
HE WHO DARES: outside the two leading lights of the day, Quintessa and Lollapalooza, his attack to the line was the next quickest. He was blocked once or twice in the straight, too. Mark him down as a future big race three year old winner.
PUNTING FOR PROFIT
Both the Best Bet and the Value Bet won at Otaki on Saturday and both also ran in the money at Ellerslie to go with a good spread of winners in the last couple of weeks on my exclusive email service .
As we are almost 2 weeks into the month I’m happy to reduce the current 3 month subscription fee which includes the rest of September, October and November from $240 to $200 ( gst inclusive) for Fortuna followers .
If you are keen to come on board simply drop me an email asap at dcoppins@xtra.co.nz and you’ll begin to see the analysis with two tips per race starting tomorrow well before 8.30 am along with the best bet and value bet for each meeting.
Between now and December 1 there are 66 meetings. The service equates to just $3 per meeting.
Good punting folks!
Des Coppins
021 448 052
==========================================================
