Fortuna has four runners this week, one in NZ and three in Singapore

New Zealand
Navalha races at New Plymouth on Friday 18^th February – he is in the R74 1200, Race 4 at 2.12pm. This lovely 4yo son of Sebring took all before him when winning his first two starts in NZ late 2020 and early 2021, however a series of setbacks has not seen him race since April 2021. Over all of his issues, he has trialed well recently, jumps from barrier 2 in this 6 horse field and the in form Joe Kamaruddin takes 2kgs off his back – is a strong each way chance here

Singapore

Cosmic Sands races in the Class 4 1400m Turf  with CC Wong in the saddle – three Singapore starts to date have been disappointing and will need to lift here to get some of the prizemoney. Work cannot be faulted, blinkers go on and a change of tactics will see him go to then lead from the Ace draw – hard to have on form, but will be at huge odds if tactics pay off.

Deception races in the Novice 1400 Polytrack event – CC Wong takes the mount. Three starts in Singapore have yielded two thirds and a 2^nd for this handsome 3yo son of I Am Invincible – steps up to Novice Grade here, meets some nice types and has to jump from the outside barrier (12) – is very talented and carries just 51.5kgs. Will have to be right on his game here to win this but can feature with luck in the run

Olympia contests the Class 5 1100 Polytrack event on Saturday 19^th  – Race 8 @ 8.30pm and will be ridden by Stable Apprentice Jerlyn Seow claiming 3kgs. A nice 3^rd on resuming will have improved him. Meets some other form runners here, so it won’t be easy – Top 3 chance

Fortuna Track work – Matamata

Tuesday 15th Feb
Navalha (S Pillay) galloped over 1000 metres in 1.05.2, home in 36.7

Thursday 17th Feb
Leaderboard (R Khan) worked at three quarter pace over 1200 metres in 1.30, last 600 metres in 45.
Mohawk Brave (N Parmar) galloped over and easy 1000 metres in 1.09, home in 40.5.

Fortuna Track work – Singapore

Saturday 12th Feb
Brutus (CC Wong) – 800/600 36.5; Olympia (Aslam) – C, 1000/600 38; Deception (CC Wong) – C, 1000/600 41

Tuesday 15th Feb
Deception (CC Wong) – 800/600 39; Cosmic Sands (CC Wong) – 800/600 38.5

Other News

The Highs and Lows of Racing

High – Wednesday 9^th of February we bought two horses in Australia – a Yearling Filly by Super Sire More Than Readyand a tried “Cups” type by Mastercraftsman

Low – early Saturday morning our very promising “DB”, a 2yo son of Darci Brahma, fractured a shoulder during trackwork and had to be put down – tragic to lose any horse this way, but DB was really showing to be something special – very disappointing for all of his connections

High – Sunday in Singapore, we produced a win, a 2^nd and a 3^rd from 2 runners

New Zealand Horse of the Year Probabeel Retired

Yes, its true, a suspensory ligament issue has bought this wonderful Mare’s career to an end – Read the full story HERE

Fortuna Racing/David Ellis acquire a lovely More Than Ready Filly at the Inglis Classic Sale in Sydney – the now retired More Than Ready is the greatest Stallion of all time and this Filly is from his last racing crop – Shares available HERE

About The Yearling Filly by More Than Ready out of Liten Prinsessa (“MTR”)

This Filly by More Than  Ready (now given the stable name “MTR”) was selected by the Fortuna and Te Akau Trainer, Mark Walker, from the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale held in Sydney.

Mark had been working on a brief provided to him by Fortuna Racing’s John Galvin to select a strongly pedigreed, physically correct Yearling filly, who could potentially make a 2yo, but had the scope to develop into a quality 3yo and older horse. As always, Fortuna had set a budget – this time of A$70k. Mark had identified three Fillies to target, but the Sale was very strong and these went for over budget. On sale completion, Mark went through the passed in lots and observed that Lot 25, the More Than Ready Filly had been passed in – she had not been on Mark’s original list as, being by More Than Ready out of a very good family, he thought she would make a lot more than the Fortuna budget. Seeing that she had been passed in at A$60,000 we checked Scope and X Ray reports  – she was a Grade 1 on the scope and had clean X Rays – we then requested a physical exam by the Hunter Valley based Vet, Dr Paddy Todhunter, and she passed without issue. Mark then negotiated with her Vendors, Vinery Stud and we secured her for her passed in price of A$60,000 – great value given the quality of her pedigree page and a Sales Average A$123,000 (30% up on 2021)

MTR possesses an outstanding pedigree. Her Sire is MORE THAN READY is the BEST sire of winners the world has ever seen. He has sired 2051 winners. The only other stallion in history to tally over 1600 winners is the late Danehill, who sits on 1623 winners. He has sired Golden Slipper winners (Sebring and Phelan Ready), Blue Diamond, Sires’ Produce Stakes, Champagne Stakes, Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, Victoria Derby and Magic Millions Classic winners and is the sire of 70 individual 2yo Stakes winners. This incredible, world record holding sire has a worldwide winners-runners strike rate of 72.4% across his 36 crops of racing age. MORE THAN READY was retired from Stud duties in 2019 and MTR is from his last crop.

MTR’s Dam, Liten Prinsessa (by Bernadini) was bred and raced by Eric Watson. She was the winner of 4 races at 1200-1400m, 2 in NZ and 2 in Victoria and is a full sister to the Karaka Million winner, Ruud Awakening. She is the dam of two foals to race with one winner, Prince Invincible, having won 3 times in NSW

Click HERE to view MTR’s pedigree

Physical type
A strong, attractive Bay Filly  of medium size, “MTR” is physically correct, has a good temperament, walks very well and passed her Vet exam with flying colours with a Grade 1 scope and very clean X Rays – Click HERE to see her parading at Pre Sale

Selector’s view (Mark Walker)
“This Filly has a very appealing pedigree page – More Than Ready is an outstanding Stallion, indeed the greatest the world has ever seen, her dam was a four time winner and a sister to a Karaka Million winner. She is a November foal who still has a bit of growing to do, which probably explains why she was passed in, however 6 months on good New Zealand grass will see her turn into a strong Autumn 2yo in 2023 and be ready to tackle the Classic 3yo Fillies races in NZ. She is exceptional value at the money we paid for her.

I am now back in New Zealand and in the next few weeks will take over from Jamie Richards as Head Trainer for Te Akau Racing in NZ and I am really looking forward to preparing this Filly for John Galvin and his Fortuna Ownership Team for her racing career.” 

Click HERE to listen to Mark Walker talk about this Filly

Syndicator’s view (John Galvin)

“Once again, we have managed to secure a quality yearling Filly for “unders”. She boasts an amazing pedigree, is physically correct with no issues from her vetting. As Mark says, a good period of time on good New Zealand grass will see her thrive and develop. She represents a great opportunity to be involved in a quality filly, whom if can perform on the track, would have exceptional value as a Broodmare prospect on retirement. Fortuna is having a great run in 2022 with 3 New Zealand winners to date, all Fillies or Mares and all acquired as Yearlings using the same “value seeking” techniques that we have applied to the purchase of this Filly

Disclosure Statement & Agreement

Click HERE to read Disclosure Statement – Click HERE to read Syndicate Agreement and Click HERE to view Declaration
Terms

• Shares available right down to 1%.
• 10% share $12,000– 5% share $6,000– 5% share $3,000 – 1% share $1,200
• Share price includes all Initial Costs (Purchase price, NZ GST on entry to NZ, Promoters Fees, Inglis Series Entry Fee, Transport to New Zealand, Insurance through to 31st January 2023, and Working Capital of over $7,000
• Monthly ongoing costs from 1^st April 2022 – from that date ongoing costs are – 10% share $400 per month – 5% share $200 per month – 2.5% share $100 per month – 1% share $40 per month.
• Monthly ongoing costs can alternatively be paid up to 12 months in advance as an option for subscribers by Bank Payment or Credit Card

Applications can only be made after Investors have perused and signed the NZ Thoroughbred Racing approved Disclosure Statement. This can be obtained from the Syndicate Promoter, Fortuna Ltd (Director John Galvin) by calling John 021 921 460.

Fortuna Ltd is an Authorised Syndicator in accordance with the Code of Practice administered by New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing (Inc) established under The Financial Markets Conduct (Equine Bloodstock) Exemption Notice 2016. Details of this Offer are contained in the Disclosure Statement relating to the Offer

Purchase a share in MTR today from the Fortuna website page HERE  or make contact HERE for more information.

More Fortuna Racing success

Yes, the winners keep coming – see story below on a fabulous result for us in Singapore last Sunday – 8 wins now for Fortuna Racing so far in 2022 – 5 in Singapore, 3 in NZ

Sensational Singapore result for Fortuna with KING ARTHUR winning 4 races in a row and Stablemate HADEER running 2nd in the same race

The two Fortuna Racing Stablemates, KING ARTHUR and HADEER,  produced a remarkable result when running 1st and 2nd in the Class 3 1200m Polytrack event at Singapore’s Kranji racecourse 13th February. For KING ARTHUR (I am Invincible-Pentasia) it was a case of producing another “royal” perfomance as it was his 4th win in succession and his 5th win from his last seven starts. Stepping up to Class 3 for this event was always going to pose a query, although punters seemed to have few doubts, sending him out a warm favourite. Drawn worse than mid field and with a new rider in CC (Jimmy) Wong aboard (regular rider Shafiq Rusof being suspended), KING ARTHUR was away from the barriers well and Wong kept him moving forward to take up a position outside the leader SACRED GIFT. Turning for home KING ARTHUR went to the lead with what looked to be a winning run, however his Fortuna Stablemate, HADEER (Savabeel – A Real Princess), who had endured a torrid four wide trip from his wide barrier draw, was not going to go down without a fight and mounted a stern challenge in the closing stages, however KING ARTHUR was not to be denied and went to the line a length clear of the gallant HADEER.

Click HERE to see race replay

Trainer Donna Logan, recording her 7th Training success in her role as newly appointed Head Trainer for the powerful Te Akau Racing enterprise, was ecstatic after the race  “That was another gutsy performance by King Arthur today, up in grade and drawn wide, but CC Wong’s decision to push forward on him was probably the winning of the race – Hadeer just had no luck from his wide draw and was forced to race three and four wide the whole trip – a super effort from him also – congrats to John Galvin and his Fortuna ownership group on recording a great quinella result in this race”

 “King Arthur” – Singapore Win #5 – 13 February 2022

Fortuna Racing’s, John Galvin, watching from his Hamilton home in New Zealand was incredulous “I didn’t know where to look during the race, King Arthur was clearly getting the softer run and looked to be traveling like the winner on the turn, but Hadeer just wouldn’t give up – an amazing outcome for us – well done to Donna for presenting both horses in such great order and congrats to Jimmy Wong and Jeryln Seow for their riding efforts”

KING ARTHUR was originally raced in Sydney, Australia as Tintagel by clients of the Bjorn Baker Stable, but after not meeting their expectations, they decided to put him on the market and he was purchased by John Galvin on the advice of former Singapore Trainer, Mark Walker, out of the October 2020 Inglis Digital Sale for A$25,000. He is raced by the Fortuna King Arthur Syndicate, an ownership group of 31 individuals from New Zealand, Australia and Malaysia. He has now accumulated S$167,000 with five wins, four 2nds and one 3rd from 13 starts in Singapore.

Covid News and Racing

Thoroughbred Racing continues under the Red Light protocols but with some restrictions.

• Public gatherings on race days on track are limited to 100 people per “pod” and attendees are required to register with the race day Club prior to race days.
• Each Club has its own protocols around attendance numbers
• Some Clubs (eg Whangarei at its recent meeting) are “crowds free” because their facilities d not allow them to meet the protocols required by NZTR
• Those Clubs which are providing Public attendance have strict rules around movement of people on race day – e.g you must stay in your own pod, no mixing with jockeys and trainers etc and of course, you will need to show a vaccine pass to gain entry
• All Owners with runners on a race day get an emailed letter from the Club on acceptance day, however if you have a runner coming up and thinking of attending and need to make plans ahead of attendance day, then the best course of action is to make contact with the Club (phone nos and email addresses are available on the NZTR website) and check their settings for the day

As Covid cases escalate, one can never be sure how the rules may change, however it appears that the current Red Light settings are as restrictive as it will get, given that the current Government thinking is that Covid cannot be contained and their efforts revolve around getting the bulk of the population boosted and protecting the most vulnerable.

In closing, be cheerful, be careful, but don’t be fearful!!!