Friday Flash – 28th November 2025

Published 28 November 2025

 TITAHI BAY scores her 1st career win – Luke Cartwright aboard
Traralgon 1st November 2025 

=================================================

Headline News 

Bellatrix Star to resume at Caulfield Saturday 29th November

Shares in our recent Ready To Run Sale purchases the 2yo Colt by Snitzel out of a Zabeel Mare are filling steadily

Two Fortuna runners secondary market opportunities have become available

==================================================

Fortuna has two runners in Stakes races this weekend on both sides of the Tasman

MAROKOPA FALLS races in the Listed O’Learys Fillies Stakes over 1340 metres at Wanganui – Race 6 @ 3.05 pm with Bruno Queiroz to ride from barrier 3 – 3rd up after two solid efforts at Taupo and Tauranga – up in trip which will suit – talented at best – TAB says “Going well – Hard to fault if at her best” – Showing $11/$2.90

BELLATRIX STAR returns from a career threatening injury last January to contest the Listed Doveton Stakes over 1100m at Caulfield with the very much in form Mark Zahra to ride from barrier one – is the highest rated runner in this and has to carry a good horse’s weight of 60kgs. So far, it has been a fairy tale rebound from injury last January – has the class to perform well here  – TAB says “Her class will take her a long way in a field of this quality – off a long break, late betting will be the key, but her best is good” – Showing $10/$3

======================================================================================

Trackwork highlights – Fortuna Runners

Matamata – 25th Nov

Marokopa Falls (H Hassman) galloped over 1000 metres in 1.05.1, last 600 in 36.5.
Cranbourne  – 25th Nov

Bellatrix Star (L Winks) galloped over 1000 metres in 1.04.5, last 600 in 36.8.
Matamata – 27th Nov

Marokopa Falls (H Hassman) worked over an easy 1000 metres in 1.12.3, last 600 in 42.8.

Cranbourne  – 27th Nov

West Indies (S Duric)  galloped over 1000 metres in 1.08.7, last 600 in 37.4.

============================================================

Other News

Bellatrix Star to resume at Caulfield Saturday 29th  November

LOVERACING.NZ News Desk
26 November 2025

Bellatrix Star’s racing career looked like it was over at the start of the year when she fractured her neck, but the Mark Walker-trained mare has made a miraculous recovery and will make her return to the track at Caulfield this weekend.

One of the standout fillies in Victoria last spring, the daughter of Star Witness won the Listed Cap D’Antibes Stakes (1100m), Gr.3 Scarborough Stakes (1200m) and Gr.2 Schillaci Stakes (1100m)before finishing runner-up behind Switzerland in the Gr.1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) at Flemington on Derby Day. She was riding the crest of the wave, but it all came crashing down in January when she was preparing for a tilt at the Gr.1 Lightning Stakes (1000m). She reared when being led back to the stables from the pool and fractured vertebrae in her neck.

It was feared that her racing career was over, however, subsequent x-rays revealed her injury had healed and a plan was hatched to see if they could get the Fortuna Syndicate-raced filly back to the track.

“We were going to retire her when she was out cantering in the paddock and we just thought we’d take a precautionary x-ray and it basically showed it had all healed, much to our surprise,” Te Akau Racing assistant trainer Ben Gleeson told Racing.com. “We’ve been pretty level-headed the whole way through about where we are going to get to so, provided she has a smooth week at home, this weekend is exciting, although we’re just trying to keep a lid on it at the moment. We’ve still got no idea whether she is going to come back the same horse, but she ran through the line last Thursday in her trial and that gave us enough inclination that she’s got plenty of zest for racing.”

Fortuna principal John Galvin is looking forward to being trackside to watch Bellatrix Star resume in the Listed Doveton Stakes (1100m), where she will have to lumber 60kg.

“She’s got to carry 60kg in a handicap, and many are on the minimum (54kg), but she went to Caulfield for a trial last week, where she missed the start, went keenly, but showed a great turn of foot over the last 300m and it would have cleaned her up a bit,” Galvin said. “We’ll have to wait and see what we get, but she’s fit and talented, and it’s a dream come true to see her return to racing. A lot of credit has to go to Mark (Walker). He insisted that she stay in her box after the accident, rather than go to the paddock, and he has overseen her return to training with skill and aplomb.

==============================================================

Shares in our recent Ready To Run Sale purchase –  the 2yo Colt by Snitzel out of a Zabeel Mare are filling steadily

Allocated the  stable name “Clint” – this lovely 2yo Colt with a great pedigree ticks a lot of boxes, is coming to the end of his post sale paddock spell at Te Akau Stud and  on Monday 1st Dec he will commence his first Te Akau Stable prep under the watchful eye of Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson at Matamata

Shares are moving steadily with just 12% left as we write this

Click HERE to see his parade Video

  • By the multi time Aus Champion Sire, Snitzel
  • Out of a Zabeel Mare
  • Was passed in at Inglis Easter Sale for A$390k – so clearly some good judges were on him
  • Is a Colt with a genuine Stallion’s pedigree
  • Passed in at the RTR sale for NZ$180k, we negotiated hard and secured him for just $165k
  • Three weeks in paddock at Te Akau Stud now, then a stable prep with a couple of trials late Summer/Autumn and possibly a 2yo race or two late Autumn
  • A genuine 3yo type, he will be targeted toward the 2026 2000 Guineas at Riccarton, a race if which he could win as a Colt, would render him a multi million dollar value
Don’t miss this one  – $2400 for each 1% share and $50 per month per each 1% from 1 January  – Read all details HERE and you can place an order online from this link – or give John a call 021 921 460 if you would like more information

The Snitzel – Zasorceress 2yo Colt – “Clint”
==============================================================

Two secondary market opportunities have become available

2.5% has become available in  the 6yo MALBOROUGH BAY (Darci Brahma – Spin ‘N Grin)  for the sum of $350 and $125 per month ongoing from I December. MALBOROUGH BAY has shown good ability on the flat with 6 career wins to date and attaining a rating of 87 – however he has also shown a good affinity for the jumping game, having been schooled over the hurdles for the past two seasons and during this past winter, he had two hurdles trials for a 2nd and a 1st and in his only raceday start at Te Aroha in August, he was very competitive, looked like he was going to win as they came to the last fence, but took it awkwardly and finished 3rd. Blessed with natural speed, we think he would make an ideal type for jumps racing in Victoria, so he will head over the Tasman in February where he will join Mark Walker’s team at Cranbourne. Incidentally, Mark Walker was recently named Victoria’s jumps trainer of the year for 2025 – Mark loves his jumpers and we are looking forward to having MALBOROUGH BAY joining up with Fortuna’s star Steeplechaser LEADERBOARD at the Cranbourne base. Prize money for jumpers in Victoria is really good and so this presents as a great opportunity to get involved in a talented young jumping type. We are able to offer this 2.5% share in minimums of 1% ($150) and $50 per month ongoing – just respond to this update or call/text John 021 921 460 if you would like to get involved

MALBOROUGH BAY – 6th career win – Te Rapa – August 2025
=========

A 5% share has become available in our three year-old Filly EMMA TWIGG (El Roca – Megara) – a graduate of the 2024 Karaka yearling sale (book 1) “MEG” is a slow maturing type who has had five trials, two as an autumn two year-old, and three in the spring of this season, the most recent at Ellerslie on 14th November – still growing and maturing the Te Akau training team have elected to give her a four week paddock spell after that trial and on returning to training in mid December, she will be prepared for a further trial and a race debut in the autumn of 2026. Bred to get a trip time will be her friend. This 5% share is available for the initial sum of $500 and then $250 per month ongoing from the 1st of December and we will break this share down into parcels of 1% at $100 and $50 per month from the 1st of December  – if you have interest in this opportunity just respond to this update or give John a call/text 021 921460

EMMA TWIGG 

==============================================================
Guest Commentator – Des Coppins

Greetings John and the Fortuna Team

I have to start this weeks column by wishing your owners all the best with the eagerly anticipated return of the classy Bellatrix Star in Saturday’s Doverton Stakes at Caulfield over 1100m.
It’s probably a pinch yourself moment for all her owners after the freakish swimming pool accident almost a year ago seemingly put paid to any future racing dreams for those involved.
I’m sure the desire to see her naturally do the best she can after such a lengthy layoff is key but pulling up sound is the number one priority.
It’ll be a fingers and toes crossed nail biting minute or two and we are all hoping it’ll be thumbs up all round.

 WHY THE SMALLER CLUBS ARE IMPORTANT

Last Sunday Waipukurau proved why country race days are important, particularly at this time of the year. There hasn’t been racing on Waipukurau for 5 or 6 years but the local troops rallied when the green light was given, partly due to the unavailability of the Hastings track, and the venue was literally packed to the rafters.

There will be a lot of outstanding black type racing at the metropolitan tracks this summer but we cannot hide from the enormity the country type race tracks play in the summer.
Waipukurau has set the bar but you can rest assured that race dates like Cromwell this weekend, Tauherenikau on January 2 and  Kumara on January 10 will do their very best to follow suit. Country holiday horse racing became big because, historically it was the primary form of entertainment available in rural areas serving as a major social and community gathering point.

Racedays, especially those held on public holidays like Tauherenikau on January 2, essentially became a community event where businesses closed and most of the population that live in the vicinity or less than hour away attended. Picnics galore, entertainment for the kids, the waft of the bbq’s, pony rides, music, food stalls, diverse entertainment for everyone and not forgetting the racing, that’s country racing at its best and if one is coming to a track near you, do yourself a big favour and go along.

MY SEVEN DAY HEADLINES

So much is happening both on and off the track this week. Here’s my take on a few topics that I’d like to share.

HALL OF FAME CERTAINTY?

Everyone  loves a champion and fresh from the Everest triumph the NZ bred Ka Ying Rising brained them yet again in Hong Kong on Sunday. Guess who will be top of mind when the NZ Racing Hall of Fame Commitee meet shortly for the next round of probable inductees?

LISA’S FURTHER BAD NEWS 

I caught up with Lisa Allpress in Wellington last week and the Bowen Hospital team advised her that yet another operation may have to be undertaken with that slow mending leg break she sadly suffered at Trentham last Cup Day. She’s not giving up hope of returning to what she does but naturally is terribly frustrated by the slow recovery.

JOHNO KNOWS HIS STUFF

Not many trainers with very small teams could match Johno Benner’s record and it looks as though he has another rising star in the form of Counties Challenge Stakes winner, De Armas, who now stands tall over favouritism for the Karaka Million. De Armas is part owned by Simon Barber who this week was sworn in as the new president of the Wellington Racing Club.

HAVE HORSE WILL TRAVEL

On Saturday apprentice Elen Nicholas rode her biggest winner, Final Return, in the Counties Cup. Less than 24 hours later she was at Ascot Park in Invercargill where she rode another two winners. She’s now second behind Amber Riddell on the apprentice jockeys preniership.

AWAPUNI ANXIETY

Awapuni is out of action longer than first anticipated. It may be a case of 2 months of testing and appraisals; 7 months of reconstruction and then several months to bed in. This season is well and truly gone and we may not see racing at Awapuni until early 2027!
Part of the track is okay to work horses on but not to race!

JANELLE’S GRANDAD WOULD BE PROUD

Janelle Millar had two winners at New Plymouth on Friday; two placings at Wanganui on Saturday and the Counties Cup winner with Final Return. She has less than a dozen horses in work. Undoubtedly the best two days of her 22-year training career. For the record Janelle is the grand daughter of real  character and trainer Jack Taylor, who prepared such great gallopers like Kingdom Bay, Greek Meet, Spring Moss and Lord Majestic to name a few.

TIPPING FOR ANOTHER PROFITABLE MONTH

My email tipping service has had another decent month not only with the Best Bets but the general race by race tips. Doing the hard yards is something you may not have time for but it’s what I really enjoy as I appreciate the positive feedback from clients, too.

For the next three months of potentially high class racing at some of the big venues and of Feel free to drop me an email if you’d like to explore the possibility of coming on board. My email is dcoppins@xtra.co.nz
Cost for 3 months $240 ( gst inclusive – Dec,Jan and Feb)
Or, $100 for December only.

John comments – I have been keeping a record of Des’ Best Bets (he provides on per meeting) in recent times and they are proving to be very profitable to follow – here are the stats for Oct/Nov

Total Selections  – 45

Winners – 24

Average Dividend – $3.30

Return on Outlay at level bets – 75.40%

Certainly a very consistent Strike Rate and very profitable for those who are subscribers – just make contact with Des if you would like to give his ervice a whirl

COUNTIES FOLLOW UPS:

LUCAN: the second up run for the season was an eye catcher as it stepped up from
1300 to 1600. He’s more of a middle distance runner and is spot on for a rewarding summer.

HARVEY WALLBANGER : got too far out of its ground and there’s little doubt he will a talking point come the black type two year old events. His slashing final sectionals was a feature in the Counties Challenge Stakes.

POUR THE WINE: is just a bit off the best sprinters but she is capable of winning a stakes sprint; away from Railway type class. I liked her run last Saturday and the final sectionals were superb.

Good punting!

Des Coppins – 021 448 052

=============================================