Fortuna has two runners this weekend – both in Victoria
Pakenham – Friday
OPUNAKE, the 2yo half brother by Nicconi to Bellatrix Star makes his race day debut at Pakenham on Friday evening – he is in Race 2 @ 7.15pm NZT and will be ridden by Thomas Stckdale from barrier 2. A strong trial winner at Caulfield 13th May, he has been well prepared for this debut run and is expected to run boldly –TAB says “looks ready to hit the ground running with the assistance of an inside draw” – Showing Odds of $8.50 /$2.70
Caulfield – Saturday
BELLATRIX STAR resumes after a long lay off in the (Listed) Belle Esprit Stakes over 1100m at Caulfield – Race 8 @ 6pm NZT and will be ridden by Luke Currie from Barrier 3. A genuine Stakes performer, she is on the comeback trail here after recovering from serous injury and then fetlock surgery – Class is permanent as they say and the four tines Stakes winner gets her chance here to prove that adage true, but this is a Handicap event and she will have to carry 60kgs with some talented up and comers to carry a lot less – TAB says “may need this, watch the market ” – Showing Odds of $21 /$5
======================================================================================
Trackwork highlights – Fortuna RunnersTuesday 26th May
Matamata
Riccarton
Cranbourne
Bellatrix Star (L Winks) galloped over 1000 metres in 1.07.4, last 600 in 36.8.
Opunake (L Winks) galloped over 1000 metres in 1.08.4, last 600 in 37.1.
Thursday 28th May
Matamata
Leaderboard (T Melvin) galloped over an easy 1200 metres in 1.23.0, last 600 in 38.0.
============================================================
Other News
Click
HERE to see Bellatrix Star winning Group Two Schillaci Stakes at Caulfield October 2024 – Craig Williams aboard
Racing.Com and NZ Racing Desk
May 26, 2026
Group 1 performer Bellatrix Star will make her long-awaited return to racing at Caulfield on Saturday after overcoming a series of setbacks that at one stage threatened to end her career. The Fortuna Syndications-raced mare has battled a string of issues over the past 18 months, most notably in January last year, when she fractured a vertebra in her neck after rearing and falling over while heading back to her stable.
And just when she had fought her way back to the races, another setback followed after her run in the Listed Doveton Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield last November, when she was found to have chipped a fetlock and required surgery.
“In January last year she had that very unfortunate fall where she flipped over backwards and broke a vertebra in her neck,” Fortuna’s John Galvin said. At the time the vets said she would never race again, but Mark Walker worked his magic and we were able to rehabilitate her. She went through a preparation with long paddock spells and a bit of dressage.
“When she resumed racing at Caulfield in late November, she just ran below par and the next morning we found that she had a chip in a fetlock. That was removed and it took some time after that for rehab and to get her back going again.”
| RACING.COM QUOTES |
|
“At the time the vets said she would never race again.”
|
|
John Galvin
On Bellatrix Star’s neck injury
|
Bellatrix Star has pleased throughout this preparation and Galvin said she was on track to run well first-up in Saturday’s Listed Bel Esprit Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield.
“She has had a steady preparation over the last two-and-a-half months or so, which is going to culminate in this resuming run on Saturday,” Galvin said. She went to Seymour for an exhibition gallop last Thursday, Luke Currie rode her and he was very positive about the way she finished off her work. She is lightly raced for a rising five-year-old and we are expecting a pretty good run on Saturday.”
Provided she returns well, Bellatrix Star is likely to be freshened with a tilt at the G1 Moir Stakes (1000m) at Sandown in September.
“We will probably give her a short break and, if she went well, and it is results dependent, we would probably set her for something like the Moir in early September,” Galvin said.
Bellatrix Star has already put together a lucrative record, winning four stakes races from just 12 starts, as well as finishing runner-up in the G1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m). That same race is also on the radar for stablemate and fellow Fortuna filly Lara Antipova this spring. Unbeaten in four starts, Lara Antipova’s record includes the G1 Sistema Stakes (1200m) at Ellerslie on Champions Day.
She had been due to travel to Australia for an autumn campaign, but those plans were shelved after she spiked a temperature the day before departure. “She was set to fly on the Sunday but on the Saturday morning she came up with a temperature spike,” Galvin said. “While it was disappointing, sometimes these things are blessings in disguise. She went to the paddock instead and she had seven weeks in the paddock.”
Now thriving, Lara Antipova arrived in Melbourne on Sunday to begin her spring build-up.
“She has had 10 days’ work in the stable at Matamata,” Galvin said. “She travelled to Melbourne on Sunday and had her first piece of work at Cranbourne on Monday morning. She is now underway with a campaign aimed at the nice races in the spring. The Coolmore would be her ultimate objective, but there are some nice races along the way for her, as we found out with Bellatrix Star in her three-year-old year.”
COMEBACK STORY
Bellatrix Star’s comeback trail
| January 2025: fractured vertebra in neck after stable fall |
| Rehabilitated through paddock time and dressage |
| November return followed by fetlock chip discovery |
| Saturday: resumes in the Bel Esprit Stakes |
Fortuna has also enjoyed a productive run with its juveniles this season, and Galvin is hopeful that continues when Bellatrix Star’s half-brother Opunake debuts at Pakenham on Friday night.
“We have had a fantastic run with our two-year-olds this year,” Galvin said. “We have got five horses that could potentially have run as two-year-olds this year, three of them have been to the races, and they all won on debut — Lara Antipova and Zafar in New Zealand and Tolaga Bay at Ballarat.
“Zafar, who won the Listed Champagne Stakes (1200m) at Riccarton on debut, is a Snitzel colt that we didn’t pay a lot of money for. He is still a colt and we are pretty excited about him. He is spelling now and will come back into work on June 1, with the G1 2000 Guineas (1600m) being his aim.
“We have Bellatrix Star’s two-year-old half-brother called Opunake. He won a trial at Caulfield a couple of Thursdays ago and he makes his debut at Pakenham on Friday night.”
STABLE WATCH
Fortuna’s spring hand
| Bellatrix Star resumes at Caulfield on Saturday |
| Lara Antipova begins Melbourne spring campaign |
| Coolmore Stud Stakes is Lara Antipova’s ultimate target |
| Opunake debuts at Pakenham on Friday night |
============================================================
Leaderboard to tackle West Coast in Waikato Steepechase 13th June
Leaderboard on way to victory Australian Grand National Steeplechase – Ballarat August 2025 – Will Gordon aboard
Million-dollar jumper returning home for career swansong
Quality jumper Leaderboard is set to return to New Zealand where he will have his career swansong in the Signature Homes Waikato Steeplechase (3900m) at Te Rapa on June 13. The rising 12-year-old has been a standout over fences in Australia over the last couple of seasons for trainer Mark Walker, winning last year’s A$400,000 Grand National Steeplechase (4500m), having finished runner-up in the 2024 edition, and also placed in two editions of the Australian Steeplechase (3900m) and Thackeray Steeplechase (3450m).
The Fortuna Syndicate-raced gelding ran fifth in the Brierly and Grand Annual at Warrnambool earlier this month, and the decision has been made to retire him following one final race on home soil.
“He won the Grand National Steeples over there last year, which is their richest jumping race,” Fortuna’s John Galvin said. “This year he was just a bit off the pace with his runs over there, he ran creditably, but not to the same level of last year. We are going to retire him, and we have got a home for him here, but we thought it would be nice to give him a swansong run at Te Rapa in the Waikato Steeples, it is the perfect race for him.”
Leaderboard will be met for the first time by New Zealand Champion Jumper West Coast, who returned to his brilliant best at Te Rapa on Sunday when storming home to capture the Waikato Hunt Cup (3900m).
“We decided West Coast needed a bit of opposition,” Galvin quipped. “He (West Coast) is an out-and-out champion. I know he had a bit of an off-season last year, but they can all do that. He has obviously come back better than ever.”
Galvin’s decision to give Leaderboard one final run in New Zealand was cemented following discussions with New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing senior handicapper Bruce Sherwin. “I queried the handicapper about what weight Leaderboard would get, and he said he would get 68kg and West Coast will carry 72kg,” Galvin said.
Following the Waikato Steeplechase Galvin said Leaderboard will enjoy an active retirement in the care of well-known equestrian Jody Hartstone. “Jody is one of New Zealand’s best-known equestrians, she has been around for a long time and had a Horse of the Year,” Galvin said. “She is taking Leaderboard and she will hunt with him and also do dressage.”
The American-bred Leaderboard commenced his racing career in Ireland, where he had nine starts for one win, before he was purchased by Fortuna out of the 2018 Tattersalls Horses-in-Training Sale for 70,000 guineas. He went on to win six races in New Zealand for Te Akau Racing trainers Jamie Richards and Mark Walker, including the Gr.3 Wellington Cup (3200m) and Listed New Zealand St Leger (2600m), and placed in the Gr.3 New Zealand Cup (3200m) and Listed Hawke’s Bay Cup (2200m).
All told, Leaderboard has won 12 and placed in 20 of his 72 career starts and has earned more than $1 million in prizemoney.
=======================================================
Shares available in Fortuna’s NZ Cup aspirant, Court Of Appeal
A change of circumstances has led to a client in the Court Of Appeal Syndicate offering their 3.5% share in this talented racemare for sale @ $1400 for the 3.5% share and $175 per month ongoing from 1 June – this values Court Of Appeal at $40k, which I believe is a very fair value for a Staying Mare who has recorded 5 career wins from 23 career starts
By Eminent out of a winning Zabeel Mare, “Celeb” as she is known around the stable boasts a genuine Stayers pedigree – she was set for and competed in the 2025 NZ Cup, but horrendous conditions on the day, with a hailstorm resulting in a Heavy 10 track, destroyed her chances – spelled afterward, she bounced back to form with an impressive win on the Riccarton Turf in February over 2000m in Rating 75 company – click HERE to see the replay of this race
She has recently completed a paddock spell and is back in training at the Te Akau Riccarton base and is being prepared for a Spring campaign with the $450,000 NZ Cup on the 14th November as a central target
Shares available in 1% parcels @ $400 per each 1% and $50 per month from 1 June – if you are keen to get involved for either the full 3.5% or any parcel of, just reply to this email or call/text John 021 921 460
Court Of Appeal – 5th career victory – Riccarton 18th February 2026
Bruno Queiroz aboard
================================================================================Guest Commentator – Des Coppins
Greetings John, Fortuna followers and Friday Flash readers.
So much is going on this racing world of ours. Some of it’s good, some of its bad and some of it is down right ugly.
I’m not here to preview one of our favourite movies of yesteryear starring Clint Eastwood but instead I’ll label 10 headline acts which you may read into as THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY
We are in no particular order and it’s very much a mixed bag of highlights, sad moments, controversy, champions, unmatched records and general discussion pieces and most of it’s been happening over the last week or so.
CHRIS WALLER – NZ AND AUSTRALIA’S VERY BEST
ON Saturday NZ’s greatest racing export, alongside J-Mac, notched up his 200th Group One at Doomben with Birdman with his champion side kick in the saddle. Incredibly it’s taken Chris just 18 years to reach the milestone and he must now have his sights firmly set on the record 246 group ones shared by two other icons, Tommy Smith and Bart Cummings. Chris won his 100th group one with the champion Winx in April, 2019.
It’s a massive effort to get another 100 in just over 7 years! For the record TJ Smith took 35 years to get his 200th group one while Bart Cummings achieved it a year longer.
THE HASTINGS TRACK WITH ITS UPS AND DOWNS
THERE has been so much heated debate over how the track was presented last week following an 18 month spell. It was wetter than expected because the track crew applied precautionary irrigation.
We’ve all had further time to digest the conflicting reports over how much rain fell and how much irrigation was applied. While welcoming the return of Hastings the racing wasn’t a good look from a punters point of view. When experienced trainers late scratch as well clearly things weren’t right with the surface. There are some important dates looming for Hastings especially in the spring and it needs to look way better next time.
WHAT A GREAT WAY TO WELCOME JUMPS RACING
WEST COAST’S win on Sunday at Te Rapa ignited the jumping scene. He’s an absolute marvel.
To win his 13th jumps race under an imposing 72kgs and giving the second horse 10kgs proved yet again that class is permanent for a jumper that had his first run over fences almost 5 years ago. He was not quite on his game last winter and Sunday was his first since winning the Great Northern at Te Rapa in August 2024.
West Coast has done the miles. In fact 25 jumps races tells us that he’s travelled more than 115,000 metres, or roughly the distance between Trentham and Awapuni but judged on how well he galloped and ran to the line at Te Rapa those legs still have plenty of miles in them.
And it is great news that Fortuna’s star steeplechaser, Leaderboard, the winner of Australia’s richest jumping race, the Grand National Steeplechase in 2025, is going to be taking on West Coast in the Waikato Steeplechase 13th June – what a mouth watering clash that will be!!
GEO BLOCK WINDFALL YES OR NO ?
Laws passed in 2025 made the TAB the sole provider for sports and racing in NZ and barred overseas bookmakers from taking bets from NZ. We heard numbers like $180m to $200m was being bet overseas by NZ’ers and the ban will protect the industry’s long term viability with these massive savings injected back into the industry.
Have you heard how well things are tracking? Are their estimate savings correct? Who knows? It’d be nice to know, however, wouldn’t it?
While it’s not illegal for you to place a bet with an overseas bookie it is unlawful for the site operator to accept it.
BOB AUTRIDGE – A RECORD BREAKER X 2 AT TRENTHAM
The passing of yet another icon in Bob Autridge, following on from Buzz Leggett last week, has given the Matamata centre a double dose of sadness. Bob Autridge put his heart and soul into racing as a general all rounder; a blacksmith, a trainer, a rider and an owner. Of course he was the father of the late Toby and Stephen, who both made a big impact as jockeys and trainers as well. Stephen remains a popular trainer.
Among his many triumphs Bob holds two special records at Trentham.
He prepared Destino to win the very first Wellington Steeples on the figure of 8 at Trentham in 1973 and in 1969 he owned, trained and rode Foxonewa to win the Wellington Hurdles. RIP Bob Autridge.
YOU’VE GOT TO LOVE THIS OLD SOLDIER -ROMANTIC WARRIOR is one in a million.
I don’t know about you but he’s one horse I always set my phone alarm on for whenever he competes. Naturally it was eyes on as the 8 year old wore down the pacemakers in a gritty Champions and Chater Cup win on Sunday in Hong Kong. He’s won more than any other thoroughbred world wide. The 24th win on Sunday took his stake earnings to almost $NZ60million.
As James McDonald has been on board for all the big wins the 10 percent riding fee reads pretty well doesn’t it?
TV RATINGS – HOW DO WE RATE AGAINST OTHERS
Big racing dates in NZ don’t draw in audiences as well as overseas markets.In the last 12 months the largest viewing audience here for any sports or racing “biggie” was the Karaka Millions.
It snuck in to the top 10 but only just at number 10 when it featured on Sky as well as the normal Trackside channel 62.
In comparison, in Australia the Melbourne Cup sat 4th with its mainstream televised audience; in France the Prix de L’Arc, 4th also; the Kentucky Derby, 5th in the USA, the English Grand National, 5th and even in Italy their biggest horse race, Palio di Siena is the 8th most viewed sporting or racing event over the last 12 months.
As well as being shown on their racing networks all those highlighted were also shown on mainstream services as well. Wouldn’t it be great if we could sneak a few more big racing events on mainstream here? I’m convinced that’s what is missing for extra growth. Wishful thinking I guess.
ROGER AND ROBERT THE BIG MOVERS THIS TERM
There are some interesting figures surrounding our top trainers this season. With just 2 months remaining the percentage stakes increases from last year for those sitting in the top 10 are Stephen Marsh, Lisa Latta and the Roger James – Robert Wellwood.
Marsh is up 2.5 percent and Latta up 17.5 percent. The big mover, however, is the James- Wellwood combo. Last season their stakes tally at the end of the season was $1.77 million. This season the pair are at just over $4m in stakes won.
We still have a fair bit of racing to go and there’s still a chance fresh figures are likely for a couple of others in the top 10 like Andrew Forsman, Kevin Myers (with his flair for jumpers) and Kelvin Tyler.
The premiership leaders Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson are $1.1m off their NZ record tally from last year of $9.27m. A staggering sum! Interestingly, however, their strike rate had them just 5th on the top 10 wins to starters last term. This year they hold a narrow lead with a 5.68 strike rate over James-Wellwood who are just behind on 5.73.
SOUTH ISLAND RACING ABANDONMENTS
WINGATUI’s abandonment last week is making things difficult for license holders. We’ve seen Riverton and Gore miss out recently and you’ve just got to feel for owners, trainers and jockeys alike. I especially feel for those who made the 5 hour drive from Riccarton last week of which there were several. I believe NZTR will be looking to add extra races to the upcoming grass track meetings at Timaru on June 7 and Oamaru on June 14.
HOW DO WE ARREST THE FOAL CROP DECLINE?
Much has been said and written about the foal crop decline. It’s a global issue. We see the flow on effect in race meetings like Ellerslie last Saturday when the first two races each just had 6 runners.
It’s not always the stallion service fees, but clearly the absolute fall out comes with casual and small time breeders who are finding the growing incidental costs too much to absorb. They are dropping like flies if general feedback is anything to go on.
Apart from maybe introducing a race series centred on a “Breed to Win” scheme that could keep pace alongside so many “Sell to win” races like the “Kiwl” the “Karaka Millions” I certainly don’t have the answers to arrest the decline but maybe it’s an issue NZTR should be focusing on more strenuously than track categorising or potentially closing much needed tracks down.
THREE JUMPERS FROM TE RAPA TO FOLLOW
INDIAN HOP: he’d competed well at recent point to points and clearly the master Kevin Myers had him ready for his first run over the sticks at Te Rapa. He came up one short but it’ll be a win sooner than later in his new role.
JAKAMA CRYSTAL: maybe one class off the very best but she tries hard each winter. She battled bravely to run 3rd to West Coast and company and given the track was too firm for her liking she was far from disgraced. Win number 5 in the chasing ranks isn’t far away.
LORD SPENCER: he battled bravely to finish 4th in the open hurdles and this class jumper is also waiting for the heavens to open.
Good punting!
Des Coppins
021 448 052
=============================================
