There is quite a bit of excitement in the Fortuna camp with our new acquisition, the Nicconi – Alanana’s Party Colt, the half brother to Bellatrix Star  – excitement because he is a Colt, is going to be an early runner and because he is so forward, he went straight from the Sales grounds to our breaker, Matt Lacey and has just completed his first week there – HERE is some footage of him at the breakers

Excitement also because he has a 4yo full brother in Hong Kong, Country Dancer, who has won two races up there – Click HERE to see footage of him winning his 1st race there. This is a 1000 meter race and he is the horse in the red and black colours out the back in the early running – as you will see he has an amazing turn of foot closing stages – very reminiscent of the way that Bellatrix Star has been able to finish her races off – and Click HERE to see win #2

Here are some key points about this opportunity below – should not be missed – shares filling steadily but still available

• Strong, powerful, well developed Colt who will run early
• Potential Stallion at Stud prospect
• By a well proven Stallion in Nicconi, the sire of the Multiple Group One and Everest winner, Nature Strip – Nicconi in his long career at Stud has thrown 70% winners to runners including 29 Stakes winners
• A half brother to the brilliant Bellatrix Star, the winner of 5 races including 4 Stakes races, three of those in succession in Melbourne, – with two wins at Group 2 level, one at Group 3 and one Listed as well as running 2nd to Switzerland in the Group One Coolmore Stakes at Flemington
• Will be prepared for racing by Mark Walker out of the Te Akau Racing Cranbourne facility in Victoria
• His Breeders have retained 25% and so this Colt will race in a Partnership with our Fortuna Syndicate holding 75% of the horse and the Breeders 25%
• Despite the partnership arrangement, he will race in the Fortuna Silks and Fortuna (John Galvin) will be the Racing Manager with full powers over the partnership as per the Syndicate Agreement

He will be nominated for the very lucrative Inglis Race Series (including the Pink Bonus) – Click HERE to read full details of that Series

Click HERE to see his presale parade.

 

Yearling Colt by Nicconi out of Alana’s Party

 

• Shares available right down to 1%.
• 10% share $23,000, 5% share $11,500, 2.5% share $5,750, 1% share $2,300 – with ongoing costs from 1 May 2025 @$50 per month per each 1% share

Two two year olds, Emma Twigg (El Roca) and Silky As (Written Tycoon) will have trials outing at Taupo and will be joined by Mitre Peak having her 2nd trial this prep and Malborough Bay, having his first and at Riccarton Queen Consort trials after resuming from a spell

Across the Tasman the veteran 10yo and former Wellington Cup winner, Leaderboard, resumes over the big fences contesting the Open Steeples at Warrnambool over 3850 metres – twice a winner at this venue in 2024, he was a strong seven length winner at the Cranbourne Jumps trials last week – he has a big season on jumps racing planned and his connections keenly await his return to the jumping discipline

Greetings John and Fortuna fans.

The hot racing continues at Trentham on Saturday with a great spread from horses from both islands and I roughly counted 57 from stables north of Taupo that’ll be represented. It’s hardly surprising bearing in mind there’s almost $2m in stakes on offer and the first million dollar Oaks as a real drawcard.

The St Leger has attracted the best field for years as well. To have this seasons three big Cup winners, Mehzebeen ( NZ Cup); Wolfgang ( Wellington Cup) and Trav ( Auckland Cup) engaged tells the story and it also begs the question why, oh why, doesn’t such a time honoured retain  black type status?

Track conditions will be interesting. The on and off rain on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday did the track the world of good and a 22 degree sunny day on Friday will assist in absorbing the moisture and while it was a soft 7 on Thursday afternoon chances are it’ll be hovering around the 5 penetrometer read I’m picking come start time on Saturday.

Here are three horses worthy of due consideration.

This Time Girl, the NZ Oaks.

It will come as a complete surprise if glamour filly Leica Lucy is beaten but something has to run second and quinella hunters could do a lot worse than banking on This Time Girl to fill that position.
She was big at New Plymouth and even bigger at Ellerslie last time in the Sunline when running second after changing ground in the straight to gain clear air and rattling home.

December, Lightning Handicap.

He’s won 4 races in 10 starts but with an ounce of luck it could’ve been 6 or 7 wins.
He was huge last time at Matamata and the finishing burst he has will be a big plus in a swift 1200m over the wide open spaces at Trentham. The cut in the ground is also a plus for him. He’s up in class but he’s equal to the task. The fact that he’s drawn wide might play into his hands as the last race on the programme. He will get back but I’m expecting to see a strong finish again.

My Lips Are Sealed , Cuddle Stakes.

She was terrific winning the inaugural Phar Lap Trophy ( ex Anniversary) on the track over the Cup meeting and her performance behind Legarto and company at Matamata the other week was huge and in fact she finished the race the quickest and almost a half second quicker than Legarto over the last 200m. She adores cut in the ground. I like her a lot.
Good punting!

Des Coppins
021 448 052