Melbourne Cup – 02 November 2021

Entertainer (5yo Zoustar-Laughing) produced an exceptional effort when, racing out of his grade, he got up in the last couple of strides to win the Class 2 1100m event on the Polytrack at Singapore’s Kranji race track 3oth October, capping off what was a remarkable day for the Fortuna runners with three winners, a 2nd and a 5th from five runners in Singapore and New Zealand. Ridden by Singapore’s leading jockey, K Hakim, claiming 2kgs, Entertainer had to overcome a wide draw, but bounced away well and Hakim soon had him in 2nd place and traveling nicely – on turning it was obvious that Entertainer was in contention but there were several challenges, notably from Muraahib, who got up on the inside and actually headed Entertainer, however with Hakim asking the horse for one final effort, Entertainer lunged at the line and got up by the barest of margins. Carrying the stable nickname “Joker” he certainly had the last laugh

Remarkably, that is Entertainer’s 6th win from just nine starts in 2021 and all have been at the 1100m trip on the Polytrack and he has now had more wins than any other runner in Singapore in 2021

Click HERE to see the race replay

Fortuna‘s Singapore trainer, Te Akau Racing’s Mark Walker, who had only emerged on Thursday from a very frustrating 10 day self isolation period, was beaming post race  “That was super – we really rolled the dice deciding to run in this race as it was the only 1100m option left for the season – lovely ride by Hakim who got beat on him last time because he was taken on in front and he went too hard, but this time he got the horse into a good spot, always had him traveling well and the horse delivered. Amazing result for John Galvin and his Fortuna Stable Team – that’s two winners for them today with Brutus winning earlier, that is their 18th win in Singapore for 2021 

ENTERTAINER – 6th Singapore Win 30th October 2021

Fortuna Director John Galvin, watching from his home in New Zealand was ecstatic “this horse is amazing – we had a real throw at the stumps by starting him out of his grade and he met a very strong field, he just doesn’t know when to lay down – great ride by Hakim and a super training effort by Mark Walker”

Entertainer was acquired by Mark Walker on behalf of Fortuna at the Inglis Digital sale in December 2019 for A$20,000 – he has now won six races from thirteen starts in Singapore and accumulated S$192,000 in prizemoney, a great return on investment for his ownership group

Entertainer is raced by the Fortuna Entertainer Syndicate, an ownership group consisting of 51 individuals from NZ and Australia

Fortuna 6yo KHAFEEF (Champs-Elysees – Tawaareekh) gave his rivals a galloping lesson when winning the Rating 65 2200m event at Awapuni 3oth October by four and a half lengths. Settled in the back half of the field by rider Ryan Elliot in a nice spot one off the rail, Khafeef relaxed nicely in the run in a race that was being run at a brisk tempo with a tearaway leader Bear Grylls giving the field something to chase. Ryan set Khafeef alight from about the 700m mark, he came into the race strongly, was widest on turning, and then mounted a powerful winning run down the centre of the straight going to the line under a hold.

Click HERE to see the race replay

Fortuna Director John Galvin, locked up in Hamilton due to Level 3 restrictions, revelled in the moment “It took me a while to climb down off the wall after that effort – he has been knocking on the door of late, his last start 2nd at Hastings after running into traffic problems in the run home was exceptional, so we went in to today’s race with a fair degree of confidence. I could see he was going real well from about the 700m mark as he started to chase the leaders down and I was pretty sure he could do so, but I wasn’t expecting the 4.5 length margin.

“He did really need to win today in order to get enough ratings points to have a chance of making the NZ Cup field. Overall this has been a very satisfying result as we had imported this horse from the UK in  2019 in order to target the big staying races – it has taken him time to find his feet, but his form since March of this year has been very good. Big kudos to Trainer Kevin Myers and his team, they have really worked Khafeef out and got him going well.

” The timing of this win is very relevant as well, because last Thursday, we bought another staying type, the 3yo Without Envy, from the Tattersalls Horses in Training Sale in the UK and he will arrive in NZ in December and so Khafeef’s win yesterday will spark a lot of interest in him from our clients”

 KHAFEEF – Awapuni 30th October 2021

KHAFEEF, who had raced in France as a 3yo for one win and a 2nd from four starts, was acquired by John Galvin, with the assistance of International Bloodstock Agent, Hubie De Burgh, at the 2019 Tattersalls Horses In Training Sale for 28,000 Guineas (NZ$60k approx).

He is raced by the Fortuna Khafeef Syndicate, an ownership group comprising 71 individuals, in the main New Zealanders, but with three of the Group from Hong Kong

5yo Gelding BRUTUS (Rubick – Harvest Queen) underscored the fact that he was extremely unlucky running 2nd at his his last start, getting squeezed at the jump and then running into traffic problems in the run home, when leading all the way in the Class 4 1200m Turf at Singapore’s Kranji racecourse today

Beautifully ridden by Te Akau Racing apprentice Jerlyn Seow, Brutus went to the lead, got the rail, was niggled at in the run by the runner on the outside, looked as if the swoopers might get to him in the run home, but was too strong at the line.

 Click HERE to see the race replay

 BRUTUS – Wins in Singapore 30th October 2021

Trainer, Mark Walker, was a satisfied man post race “Lovely ride by Jerlyn, it was the winning of the race – talented galloper this fellow.”

Fortuna Director, John  Galvin, watching from his home in New Zealand, was over the moon ”Brutus was very unlucky last start, getting no luck in the running. Away well today, he was given a heady ride by Jerlyn and delivered a great result for us. Congrats to Trainer, Mark Walker and his team, Mark is a trainer at the top of his game and Brutus was his 17th winner for the Fortuna  Team in Singapore in 2021 .”

Brutus (Rubick-Harvest Queen) was acquired by John Galvin at the May 2019 Inglis Digital Sale for A$45,000 and he has now won S184,000 for his 46 member strong ownership group, the Fortuna Brutus Syndicate, a syndicate with Members from New Zealand, Australia, Singapore, Hong Kong and the UK

Fortuna has one runner in NZ and four in Singapore Saturday 30^th October while back in NZ, we have one at Wingatui on Melbourne Cup Day

New Zealand – Saturday 30th

Khafeef races in the R65 2200 at Awapuni – Race 9 @ 4.30pm. A strong finishing 2^nd this grade this trip at Hastings 16^th October after struggling to find clear air in the run home augers well for this week – ready to win

Tuesday 2^nd November

Leaderboard contests the Rating 74 2200m at Wingatui –- on a path towards the New Zealand Cup 13^th Nov, he was  disappointing again 2000m Riccarton 23^rd Oct. He had shoeing issues leading into that race and track was very firm – needs to improve, but if he can find improvement can feature

Singapore – Saturday 30th

Hadeer contests  the class 3 1200m Turf event – Race 9 @ 9pm NZT  – won last three in a row with identical tactics – i.e jump, go to the front, kick away at top of straight – up 22 ratings points since the start of this winning streak, it doesn’t get any easier – winning rider last 3 wins, Jerlyn Seow, claiming 3kgs, is aboard again. A repeat of successful tactics last 3 races and he can win again.

Brutus runs in the Class 4 1200 Turf – Race 5 @ 5pm (NZT) – a bold run for 2^nd placing this grade and trip after getting little luck in the run indicates another bold performance here – Stable Apprentice Jerlyn Seow takes the mount – claiming 3kgs – presents as a solid each way chance

Elliot Ness races in the Class 4 1000m Poly – Race 11 @ 10pm – disappointed last time but may have been suffering effects of a virus – has been freshened since – broke the track record when winning in Restricted Maiden Grade earlier this year – leading Singapore rider K Hakim takes the mount claiming 2kgs – can give this a shake if back to his best

Entertainer contests the Class 2 1100 Poly – Race 10 @ 9.30 pm – has won five races in Singapore this year – loves to lead, but was found out in doing so last time off a wide draw and getting taken on Class 3 – up in grade here and meets a strong field, but Hakim aboard claiming 2kgs brings carried weight down to 48kgs – will need to be at his very best to feature here

Fortuna Horse Trackwork Matamata

Tuesday 26^th  Oct

Mohawk Brave (D Johnson) worked at three quarter pace over 800 metres in 1.01, home in 45.6.

Thursday 28^th Oct

No Fortuna horse timed trackwork today

Other News

Tattersalls (Newmarket UK) Horses In Training Purchase

The New Zealand based syndicator, Fortuna Ltd, was active on the 3^rd day of the Horses In Training Sale at Newmarket going to 85,000 Guineas to secure Lot 923, WITHOUT ENVY, a 3yo Gelded son of Lope De Vega out of the winning Danehill Dancer Mare Purple Pearl,from the draft of Park House Stables. Represented on the ground at Newmarket by International Bloodstock agent, Hubie De Burgh, Fortuna Director, John Galvin, watched the sale online from his NZ home. “We had had a couple of others slip through our fingers earlier in the sale, nice horses that went for more than our budget, however we had zeroed in on this horse as he is a lightly raced 3yo (1 start for a strong  2^nd at Ascot in a Novice Stakes race 1^st October). Clearly a slow maturing type, he is a big strong individual who should be ideally suited for distance racing in New Zealand/Australia. Big thanks to the Fortuna Trainers, Jamie Richards (NZ) and Mark Walker (Singapore) who assisted me in researching suitable lots.”

Prepared in the UK by Andrew Balding, WITHOUT ENVY will be trained in New Zealand by NZ Champion Trainer, Jamie Richards of Te Aaku Racing where he will be initially prepared for Staying Events in NZ such as the NZ Cup, Wellington and Auckland Cups and, if good enough at that level, could then tackle some of the staying features in Australia.

WITHOUT ENVY – 3yo Gelding by Lope de Vega out of Purple Pearl
Click HERE to see WITHOUT ENVY parade at the walk and trot
Click HERE to see WITHOUT ENVY’S debut (and only) race over 2400m at Ascot 1 October – rider has white cap and red jacket

This was the 3^rd time that Fortuna had acquired a horse at the Tattersalls Horses in Training Sale, having bought LEADERBOARD (Street Cry) for 70,000 Guineas in 2018 and KHAFEEF (Champs Elysees) for 28,000 Guineas in 2019. Both these horses hold nominations for the 3200m New Zealand Cup to be run at Riccarton on 13^th November.

“A significant percentage of the shares in WITHOUT ENVY have already been pre-ordered by existing Fortuna clients,” says John Galvin, “but shares will be available to the general public in parcels right down to 1% with each 1% share @ NZ$3,000 with ongoing costs at $40 per month per 1% from 1st April 2022 – This initial outlay is all inclusive and includes cost of horse, freight and quarantine costs to NZ, promoter fees, insurance to 31 Jan 2023 and working capital. We are finalising compliance paperwork shortly and once done, interested parties can order shares off our website – this is a great opportunity for people in NZ/Australia  and other parts of the world to take a share in a Irish/UK bred staying type – as we know these types are dominating middle distance and staying races, including the big “Cups” races in Australasia”

Comment from John – “ I would love as many of our existing Fortuna clients as possible to take a share in WITHOUT ENVY – as we know Irish/UK bred horses are completely dominating the big staying races in Australia and many of their middle distance ones as well – I don’t know anybody that would not love to have a runner in a big “Cups Race” be they the “elite” races like the Caulfield, Melbourne or Sydney Cups, or more modest events such as our own NZ, Wellington or Auckland Cups – but as we have learned, you need to have the right horse, in terms of pedigree and early education to do so. That’s why we have adopted a policy of buying these sorts of horses – it is no co-incidence that both of our previous Tattersall acquisitions, LEADERBOARD and KHAFEEF, hold nominations for the 2021 NZ Cup, run on 13^th November – here is your chance to get involved in a “Cups type”

Shares in WITHOUT ENVY are available right down to 1% @ $3,000 per each 1% and $40 per month from the 1^st April 2022. Expressions of interest in WITHOUT ENVY can be made john@fortuna-nz.com  or call/text John Galvin 021 921 460

MOHAWK wins on debut for Fortuna at Te Aroha

A super win today for the boom Sire Extreme Choice 3yo, MOHAWK BRAVE, who franked his recent impressive trial form with an equally impressive debut win at Te Aroha today – Click HERE to read the story. Mohawk Brave is another graduate of the Inglis Digital – remarkably he is the 9^th individual winner from 10 purchases by Fortuna over the past three and a half years from that sale to win – and 25 wins between them – 22 in Singapore – 3 in NZ

MOHAWK BRAVE, a three year old Gelding by Extreme Choice, made an excellent start to his racing career when winning the 1000m Maiden event at Te Aroha today. Ridden by Te Akau apprentice Parmar Singh, he had drawn wide but was slow away from the barriers.  Parmar, who had ridden his first New Zealand race day winner at his previous ride at Te Rapa on Saturday, stayed patient, positioned the horse into a nice spot close to the rail, spied a gap between runners on turning, took the gap and allowed Mohawk Brave to run home strongly, getting up to one on the line by a head.

Click HERE to see race Video Replay

Fortuna director John Galvin, watching the race from his Hamilton home, as did all of his large ownership group due to the Te Aroha meeting being a “Crowds free” occasion, had this to say after the race  “that was a really strong  performance by Mohawk and also an intelligent ride by Parmar who rode him very well – the horse has been very good in his two recent trials performances, he has a powerful turn of foot and he seems to be a horse with a nice future. Kudos to our Singapore Trainer, Mark Walker, who picked this horse out for me from an Inglis Digital Sale”

MOHAWK BRAVE – wins on debut – Te Aroha 28th October 2021

Mohawk Brave’s win was the first training win for the season of a Fortune horse by trainer Jamie Richards and he was also very pleased with the outcome “lovely effort, really nice horse and a super ride by Parmar who only on Saturday at Te Rapa had his first New Zealand win – I am pleased for John Galvin and his Fortuna Team, they are great supporters of our stable – well done to John  for securing this horse at an Inglis Digital Sale – I think he has a nice future – he does have a couple of issues which require careful management, but if we can be on top of those then he can certainly win a lot more

MOHAWK BRAVE, a son of current “boom” Australian Stallion, Extreme Choice out of the US bred mare, Ben’s Duchess was purchased by John Galvin from the Inglis Digital sale in January 2021 for A$65,000 .  He had previously been trained by the Snowden‘s in Sydney and had two trials for his high-profile ownership group but they decided to move him on because he did not fit their profile of a Stallion prospect – he had originally been picked out of the sale by Fortuna’s Singapore trainer, Mark Walker, and destined to go to Singapore, however issues around transport and groom’s quarantine at that particular time, meant no Singapore flights could be guaranteed and so the decision was made to bring him to New Zealand instead

MOHAWK BRAVE  is raced by the Fortuna Mohawk Brave Syndicate, an ownership group of  42 individuals was a geographical spread of New Zealand, Australia and Malaysia

The New Zealand based syndicator, Fortuna Ltd, was active on the 3^rd day of the Horses In Training Sale at Newmarket going to 85,000 Guineas to secure Lot 923, WITHOUT ENVY, a 3yo Gelded son of Lope De Vega out of the winning Danehill Dancer Mare Purple Pearl, from the draft of Park House Stables. Represented on the ground at Newmarket by International Bloodstock agent, Hubie De Burgh, Fortuna Director, John Galvin, watched the sale online from his NZ home. “We had had a couple of others slip through our fingers earlier in the sale, nice horses that went for more than our budget, however we had zeroed in on this horse as he is a lightly raced 3yo (1 start for a strong  2^nd at Ascot in a Novice Stakes race 1^st October). Clearly a slow maturing type, he is a big strong individual who should be ideally suited for distance racing in New Zealand/Australia. Big thanks to the Fortuna Trainers, Jamie Richards (NZ) and Mark Walker (Singapore) who assisted me in researching suitable lots.”

Prepared in the UK by Andrew Balding, WITHOUT ENVY will be trained in New Zealand by NZ Champion Trainer, Jamie Richards of Te Aaku Racing where he will be initially prepared for Staying Events in NZ such as the NZ Cup, Wellington and Auckland Cups and, if good enough at that level, could then tackle some of the staying features in Australia.

WITHOUT ENVY – 3yo Gelding by Lope de Vega out of Purple Pearl

Click HERE to see WITHOUT ENVY parade at the walk and trot

Click HERE to see WITHOUT ENVY’S debut (and only) race over 2400m at Ascot 1 October – rider has white cap and red jacket

This was the 3^rd time that Fortuna had acquired a horse at the Tattersalls Horses in Training Sale, having bought LEADERBOARD (Street Cry) for 70,000 Guineas in 2018 and KHAFEEF (Champs Elysees) for 28,000 Guineas in 2019. Both these horses hold nominations for the 3200m New Zealand Cup to be run at Riccarton on 13^th November.

“A significant percentage of the shares in WITHOUT ENVY have already been pre-ordered by existing Fortuna clients,” says John Galvin, “but shares will be available to the general public in parcels right down to 1% with each 1% share @ NZ$3,000 with ongoing costs at $40 per month per 1% from 1st April 2022 – This initial outlay is all inclusive and includes cost of horse, freight and quarantine costs to NZ, promoter fees, insurance to 31 Jan 2023 and working capital. We are finalising compliance paperwork shortly and once done, interested parties can order shares off our website – this is a great opportunity for people in NZ/Australia  and other parts of the world to take a share in a Irish/UK bred staying type – as we know these types are dominating middle distance and staying races, including the big “Cups” races in Australasia

Expressions of interest in WITHOUT ENVY can be made HERE

or call/text John Galvin 021 921 460

Fortuna has two runners in NZ and one in Singapore Saturday 26^th October

New Zealand

Polaris races at Matamata in the Maiden 1200m – Race 4 @2.23pm  – made a nice debut for a close-up 4th at Taupo 6^th Oct – has taken a big improvement from the run – gets a lovely draw, track conditions to suit and Danielle Johnson aboard  – represents as a strong each way chance here.

Leaderboard contests the Spring Classic over 2000m at Riccarton – Race 10 @ 4.58pm – on a path towards the New Zealand Cup 13^th Nov, he was slightly disappointing at this trip, this track on 2 October, however his work has been good and we are expecting improvement – a genuine staying type – if back to his best, will be running on strongly at the finish.

Singapore – Saturday

King Arthur contests  the class 4 1200m polytrack event – Race 8 @8.30pm NZT  – a smart last start winner in Maiden grade he steps up to class 4 grade here – he has a slightly tricky barrier draw to deal with but has a very experienced rider in CC Wong aboard – quite capable of handling the rise in class and provided he gets luck in the running is a top four chance

KING ARTHUR winning in Singapore – Shafiq Rusof aboard

Fortuna Horse Trackwork Matamata

 Tuesday 19^th  Oct

Navalha (R Khan) galloped over an easy 800 metres in 54, home in 38.5

Thursday 21st  Sept

Mohawk Brave (D Johnson)  and Ragamuffin (N Parmar) galloped over 800 metres in 53.4, home in 38.6.

Other News

New Zealand jumpers will be running for significantly better stakes next year – this is great news indeed and significant to note the contribution from Auckland Thoroughbred Racing (ATR) toward this

Maiden jumps races, most of which were run for $10,000 this year, will be worth $20,000 in 2022, with restricted open stakes rising from $20,000 to $30,000 and prestige jumping races run for a minimum of $60,000.The stakes for the Great Northern Hurdle and Steeplechase have been lifted from $125,000 to $150,000 and there will be no nomination or acceptance fees for feature jumping races.

Total stakes for jumpers will rise from $2.25m this year to $2.83m.The stake increases have been partly funded by a generous contribution from Auckland Thoroughbred Racing (ATR), which has committed to providing $3 million over the next five years.

ATR will provide $300,000 a year, for five years, towards the jumping stakes and $1.5m towards the reconstruction of the Te Aroha racetrack, which will replace Ellerslie as New Zealand’s premier jumping venue.

“We appreciate the significant support from Auckland Thoroughbred Racing for these initiatives,” New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing (NZTR) Chief Executive Bernard Saundry said.

ATR Chairman Doug Alderslade said that while Ellerslie would no longer host jumps racing, the club believed it was important that the jumpers continued to have a place on the New Zealand racing calendar.“The jumpers have been a valued part of Ellerslie’s history and we want jumps racing to thrive in the future,” he said.

NZTR expects to hold up to 90 jumping races next year, mostly in the North Island, with jumps racing in the South Island confined to the Grand National meeting at Riccarton Park.NZTR will also engage with the jumps community, as the industry emerges from the Covid pandemic, to progress the following opportunities:

• The creation of a Jumps Carnival – including a jumps-only day.
• A recruitment programme for jumps jockeys
• Commence discussion on the feasibility of a Trans-Tasman Jumping Championship

Leading jumps trainer Kevin Myers described the stake increases as very good news.“It’s not an easy game and all incentives help,” Myers said. “This means that another $580,000 will be spread amongst the owners, trainers and riders. And I’m pleased the Grand National meeting will continue.”

Te Aroha will become the key jumping venue in the northern area, once the track renovation has been completed, and the KS Browne Hurdle, McGregor Grant Steeplechase, Pakuranga Hunt Cup and the Great Northern Hurdle and Steeplechase will be staged there.NZTR will consolidate the venues required for jumps racing to Te Aroha, Rotorua, Te Rapa, Whanganui, Awapuni, Hastings, Trentham, Hawera and Riccarton.

“On behalf of NZTR thank you to all participants for their ongoing commitment to jumps racing,” Saundry said.“Our collective challenge must focus on increasing the number of owners, horses, and jockeys to sustain this feature of our winter racing, which has a long history that has provided entertainment and employment for thousands of New Zealanders.”

Cup Week in Canterbury to have Limited Attendees due to Covid Restrictions

The Canterbury Jockey Club has announced that due to the ongoing uncertainty around COVID-19 restrictions and the rules for operating under COVID-19 Alert Level 2, the difficult decision to restrict attendance to 2000 people a day for the New Zealand Cup Meetings has been made.

Alert Level 2 restrictions currently apply to the Canterbury region and are likely to remain in place at the time the New Zealand Cup Meeting is held at Riccarton in early November, encompassing Saturday 6^th, Wednesday 10^th and Saturday 13^th.

The Club will have areas available in compliance with the COVID-19 Alert Level 2 measures for owners of horses competing at the meeting, members of the Canterbury Jockey Club, and event sponsors.

Should demand for attendance not be exhausted by these key stakeholders, limited seated tickets may be available for sale via the Riccarton Park website.

“We know this news is disappointing and will result in a very different New Zealand Cup Meeting to what we normally enjoy, however we are committed to complying by the current restrictions imposed to ensure the health and safety of all our valued stakeholders while allowing us to continue to hold this important calendar of events, albeit in a limited capacity,” a statement from the Club read.

“Our planning will enable attendance of 2000 people on each of the three days and is a significant reduction from the sell-out crowd of 15,000 people at last year’s New Zealand Cup Day.”

Priority attendance provisions will be in place for owners with horses in the feature races, with the Club to make direct contact with owners regarding their options when the fields are drawn.

Members will be contacted directly via email and will be required to pre-register their interest in attending The Canterbury Jockey Club New Zealand Cup Meetings by Friday 22 October 2021.

New Singapore Opportunity

Last week, we told you about our new Singapore opportunity, the 3yo Gelding “ROCKY” by El Roca – Then on Sunday in Hong Kong, Lucky Patch (by El Roca) won the feature race of the day the Group 2 Sprint and is now one of then favourites to win the Hong Kong Sprint (a HK$24m race) in December. El Roca (who stands at Westbury Stud) has really made his mark in HK with 4 runners to race there, all 4 have won and collected 10 race wins between them. Click HERE  to see the win by Lucky Patch

And here below is the info on “ROCKY” – 60% sold – 40% still available

As you may be aware, our record in Singapore with “tried horses” in recent times is simply outstanding  – of the 8 sent in the last three years, who have raced to date, 7 of them have won and all up have won 22 races between them and collected close to S$1m – our clients love the regularity of the wins (16 so far in 2021 and Fortuna is 2nd on the Singapore Winning Owners list) – one client who is in many of our Singapore horses emailed me recently to say – “John, almost every 2nd week this year, you have sent me prizemoney – its just like getting the pension!!!”

Two weeks ago, we acquired  for Singapore racing, a 3yo Gelding named “ROCKY” – by the emerging young Stallion, El Roca, from the Gavelhouse online auction – notable the $50k we paid for this horse was the sales topping price – however Rocky was sold at the 2020 Ready To Run Sale for $80,000 and in January David Ellis paid $200k for his full brother at the Karaka Yearling Sale!!

“Rocky” is a beauty, a real handsome, athletic type standing 16.1 hands and weighing 520kgs. Mark and I were really taken by his trial at Avondale in May and he has passed his Singapore Turf Club Vet test with flying colours – read all about him below –

About Rocky

ROCKY has been identified by Champion Singapore Trainer, Mark Walker as an ideal type for Singapore Racing. Now a Three Old Gelding, ROCKY is unraced but was prepared by NZ Trainer Richard Collett for a trial at Avondale in May 2021, where he finished 2^nd, beaten a head. John Galvin acquired ROCKY at the October 2021 Gavelhouse Online Sale for NZ$50,000. This after conducting due diligence including the horse passing the required Veterinary Test for the Singapore Turf Club

ROCKY is now in work at Paul Pertab’s property near Matamata where he is being given a preparation for a trial in December ahead of travel to Singapore in early January – after exiting quarantine in Singapore, he will be prepared to race by Fortuna’s Singapore Trainer Mark Walker and should be ready to have his first race in Singapore late March 2022.

• As a non winner ROCKY will be eligible to contest Restricted Maiden Grade events in Singapore, a Grade which carries S$75,000 of prizemoney (approx NZ$78,000). Once winning in that Grade, he will then be eligible to race in Novice Grade, a Grade which also carries S$75,000 of prizemoney (approx NZ$78,000). As a Three Year Old in the 2021/2022 Season  ROCKY will be eligible for the very lucrative Three Year Old Series run during May and June 2022

ROCKY – By EL ROCA out of ANTHOLOGY

Pedigree
ROCKY possesses a very strong pedigree. He is by the young Stallion, El Roca, who is making his mark as a Sire with  71 winners to date on both sides of the Tasman, from just three crops racing.  ROCKY’S Dam, Anthology (by Encosta de Lago) raced in NSW for three placings and is a daughter of the exceptional sprinting Mare, the Group One winning (ARC Railway) Iamananabaa – this her first living foal.

Click HERE to view ROCKY pedigree

Physical type 
A strong, handsome, athletic Bay Gelding, standing 16.1 hands high and weighing 520kgs,  ROCKY is hard to fault physically – he passed his Singapore entry Vet examination performed on 1^st October 2021 with flying colours. Click HERE to see ROCKY parading 25^th September

Background
ROCKY was bred by Westbury Stud Principal Gerry Harvey and sold at the NZB 2020 Ready to Run Sale for $80,000 to connections associated with the Macau Jockey Club – sent to Richard Collett for a training preparation, he trialed at Avondale 11^th May 2021, finishing 2^nd by a head after running very greenly in the run home. Click HERE to view this trial (green and gold silks)

Trainer’s view (Mark Walker)
“This horse caught my eye with a strong trial at Avondale in May where he showed good gate speed and would have won the trial easily except for the fact that he was a bit green. I have since seen his walking video and he impresses me as a very athletic type who is physically correct with a lovely walk. He has size and scope and has Vetted perfectly. He is from a strong family and so possesses all of the characteristics to be successful here in Singapore.”

Syndicator’s view (John Galvin)
“Mark Walker and I were really taken with this horse, he trialed well, is an imposing physical type, was given a big thumbs up by our Vet and we were fairly determined to secure him and set a budget of $70,000 to do so – we secured him for $50,000 after a bit of a tussle with his Trainer who was keen to retain him and it was notable that he was the sales topper by a considerable margin at this sale – also notable that he was sold at the 2020 Ready To Run Sale for $80,000 and that David Ellis paid $200,000 to secure his full brother at the 2021 Karaka Book One Sale”

Disclosure Statement 
View the Disclosure Statement 

Terms

• Shares available right down to 1%.
• 10% share $10,000– 5% share  $5,000 – 2.5% share $2,500  – 1% share $1,000 (all pricing in NZ$)
• Share price includes all Initial Costs (Purchase price, Promoters Fees, Transport to Singapore, Insurance through to 31st January 2022, and Working Capital of over $9,000
• Monthly ongoing costs from 1^st December 2021 – 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

Shares can be ordered directly off the Fortuna website – Click HERE  – or just email me or call/text 021 921 460 if you need more info or assistance

Fortuna has two runners in NZ and four in Singapore Friday/Saturday

New Zealand

Charmaine’s Dream contests the Rating 65 1200 at Te Aroha on Friday – Race 5 at 2.40pm – this is resuming run for her – a nice maiden winner at Tauranga in the autumn, she had a good spell and has come to hand nicely with her work and a good recent trial – she has been held up with wet tracks but finally gets an opportunity to resume here – has drawn a little awkwardly in barrier nine, however the race plan will be to go forward and take up a good position in the running – ideally she would prefer track conditions in the dead 6 to slow 8 range which looks likely. She is a mare with ability and the country’s leading rider Danielle Johnson takes the mount she presents as a good each way chance

Khafeef contests the Rating 65 2200 event at Hastings on Saturday -Race 1 at 12.20 – and will be ridden by apprentice Ashvin Goindasamay claiming 1 kg from barrier three. Yet to win in New Zealand from 12 starts, this UK import is a genuine staying type and has been knocking on the door – another one who has been held up with wet tracks, he gets conditions to suit Saturday – will get a soft run from the draw and will be running home strongly at the finish – solid place chance

Singapore – Saturday

Hidden Promise contests the Class 5 1600 Polytrack event with Shafiq Rusof in the saddle – Race 2 at 5.30pm NZT- this seven time winner in Singapore hardly ever runs a bad race and is always a chance in this sort of race – at his favourite distance, has a good draw and can feature in the finish if he gets a good run – certainly one for the multiples

Sportscaster races in the Class 5 1200 Polytrack event  – Race 6 at 7.30pm and will be ridden by apprentice Jerlyn Seow claiming 3kgs – originally scheduled to run the 1600 meter trip this week, he missed a gallop last Saturday due to a bruised heel, so has been kept nice and fresh and did run a bold 4th placing this trip, this class 2^nd Oct – a repeat performance of that could see him featuring in the finish

Marcus Antonius contests the Class 5 1600 Polytrack event – Race 9 at 9pm – this is another horse who hardly ever runs a bad race – he is a dour type of galloper and this trip may be a bit short of his best, but for once he has got a nice draw  – with the highly experienced Shafiq Rusof in the saddle is a good each way chance

Entertainer gets back to the races after a break of five weeks and contests the Class 3 1200m Polytrack event – Race 10 at 9.30pm – this horse has taken all before him in Singapore this year with five wins under his belt – all five of those wins have been at 1100m on the Poly – bold front running tactics have been his trademark racing style – he gets out to 1200m this week, a distance he has never won at before but he continues to improve and strengthen – he also has a difficult barrier (11 0f 12) to contend with  but with Singapore’s leading jockey, Apprentice K Hakim in the saddle claiming 2kgs, he will get every chance  – strong each way chance and can win

Here is what the Singapore Turf Club Team have to say about this race

1st Pick: TUESDAY (12)

A smart young sprinter and is resuming here after a decent break. He has had a couple of very good trials since he was last seen and recently ran second to the useful Everest. With a lovely light weight and a good cruising speed, he looks well placed here under Louis Beuzelin.

2nd Pick: ENTERTAINER (3)

In super form and won well last time out. He has to prove as affected over 1200m as he has been over shorter distances, but is in great form and is a leading contender here.

3rd Pick: UNIVERSAL EMPIRE (10)

Winner of his last two races in Class 4 grade. Having improved 10 points for these victories, he has to overcome a wide draw here but does look capable of more progression.

4th Pick: SACRED GIFT (7)

Another who is better suited to shorter trips. He has run some good races in hotter company than this and if he stays the 1200m well, he should be right there at the business end of the race.

Entertainer makes it 5 wins in Singapore – 11th September 2021

Fortuna Horse Trackwork Matamata

 Tuesday 12^th  Oct

Navalha (R Khan) worked at three quarter pace over 800 metres in 59.8.

Charmaine’s Dream (M Grylls) galloped over 1000 metres in 1.07, last 600 in 38.

Thursday 14^th  Sept

Navalha (R Khan) worked at three quarter pace over 800 metres in 58.6.

Singapore Trackwork

Saturday 9^th Oct

Cosmic Sands (Saimee) with Deception (Jerlyn) – C, 800 ¾ – last 600 41.25;

Tuesday 12^th Oct

Marcus Antonius (Aiman) – C, 1000 ¾ – last 600 40.97;

Other News

New Singapore Opportunity

The Fortuna record in Singapore with “tried horses” in recent times is simply outstanding  – of the 8 sent in the last three years who have raced to date, 7 of them have won and all up have won 22 races between them and collected close to S$1m – our clients love the regularity of the wins (16 so far in 2021 and Fortuna is 2nd on the Singapore Winning Owners list) – one client who is in many of our Singapore horses emailed me recently to say – “John, almost every 2nd week this year, you have sent me prizemoney – its just like getting the pension!!!”

Last week we acquired  for Singapore racing, a 3yo Gelding named “ROCKY” – by the emerging young Stallion, El Roca, from the Gavelhouse online auction – notable the $50k we paid for this horse was the sales topping price – however Rocky was sold at the 2020 Ready To Run Sale for $80,000 and in January David Ellis paid $200k for his full brother at the Karaka Yearling Sale!!

“Rocky” is a beauty, a real handsome, athletic type standing 16.1 hands and weighing 520kgs. Mark and I were really taken by his trial at Avondale in May and he has passed his Singapore Turf Club Vet test with flying colours – read all about him below –

About Rocky

ROCKY has been identified by Champion Singapore Trainer, Mark Walker as an ideal type for Singapore Racing. Now a Three Old Gelding, ROCKY is unraced but was prepared by NZ Trainer Richard Collett for a trial at Avondale in May 2021, where he finished 2^nd, beaten a head. John Galvin acquired ROCKY at the October 2021 Gavelhouse Online Sale for NZ$50,000. This after conducting due diligence including the horse passing the required Veterinary Test for the Singapore Turf Club

ROCKY is now in work at Paul Pertab’s property near Matamata where he is being given a preparation for a trial in December ahead of travel to Singapore in early January – after exiting quarantine in Singapore, he will be prepared to race by Fortuna’s Singapore Trainer Mark Walker and should be ready to have his first race in Singapore late March 2022.

• As a non winner ROCKY will be eligible to contest Restricted Maiden Grade events in Singapore, a Grade which carries S$75,000 of prizemoney (approx NZ$78,000). Once winning in that Grade, he will then be eligible to race in Novice Grade, a Grade which also carries S$75,000 of prizemoney (approx NZ$78,000). As a Three Year Old in the 2021/2022 Season  ROCKY will be eligible for the very lucrative Three Year Old Series run during May and June 2022

ROCKY – By EL ROCA out of ANTHOLOGY

Pedigree
ROCKY possesses a very strong pedigree. He is by the young Stallion, El Roca, who is making his mark as a Sire with  71 winners to date on both sides of the Tasman, from just three crops racing.  ROCKY’S Dam, Anthology (by Encosta de Lago) raced in NSW for three placings and is a daughter of the exceptional sprinting Mare, the Group One winning (ARC Railway) Iamananabaa – this her first living foal.

Click HERE to view ROCKY pedigree

Physical type 
A strong, handsome, athletic Bay Gelding, standing 16.1 hands high and weighing 520kgs,  ROCKY is hard to fault physically – he passed his Singapore entry Vet examination performed on 1^st October 2021 with flying colours. Click HERE to see ROCKY parading 25^th September

Background
ROCKY was bred by Westbury Stud Principal Gerry Harvey and sold at the NZB 2020 Ready to Run Sale for $80,000 to connections associated with the Macau Jockey Club – sent to Richard Collett for a training preparation, he trialed at Avondale 11^th May 2021, finishing 2^nd by a head after running very greenly in the run home. Click HERE to view this trial (green and gold silks)

Trainer’s view (Mark Walker)
“This horse caught my eye with a strong trial at Avondale in May where he showed good gate speed and would have won the trial easily except for the fact that he was a bit green. I have since seen his walking video and he impresses me as a very athletic type who is physically correct with a lovely walk. He has size and scope and has Vetted perfectly. He is from a strong family and so possesses all of the characteristics to be successful here in Singapore.”

Syndicator’s view (John Galvin)
“Mark Walker and I were really taken with this horse, he trialed well, is an imposing physical type, was given a big thumbs up by our Vet and we were fairly determined to secure him and set a budget of $70,000 to do so – we secured him for $50,000 after a bit of a tussle with his Trainer who was keen to retain him and it was notable that he was the sales topper by a considerable margin at this sale – also notable that he was sold at the 2020 Ready To Run Sale for $80,000 and that David Ellis paid $200,000 to secure his full brother at the 2021 Karaka Book One Sale”

Disclosure Statement 
View the Disclosure Statement 

Terms

• Shares available right down to 1%.
• 10% share $10,000– 5% share  $5,000 – 2.5% share $2,500  – 1% share $1,000 (all pricing in NZ$)
• Share price includes all Initial Costs (Purchase price, Promoters Fees, Transport to Singapore, Insurance through to 31st January 2022, and Working Capital of over $9,000
• Monthly ongoing costs from 1^st December 2021 – 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

Shares can be ordered directly off the Fortuna website – Click HERE  – or just contact us HERE or call/text 021 921 460 if you need more info or assistance

When King Arthur (I Am Invincible) surged to the lead in the Open Maiden 1200 event at Singapore‘s Kranji racecourse 2^nd October, going to the line a length clear and breaking Maidens at his seventh race day start, he capped off a perfect four week pattern for the Fortuna Stable in Singapore with a winner every week for the past four weeks and bringing up 16 wins altogether for the calendar year of 2021.

With Fortuna‘s Singapore trainer, Mark Walker, collecting two winners on the day, it was a solid outcome as well for the Singapore conditioner, giving him 57 wins for the season and pushing him seven clear of Michael Clements in second place. With just eight race meetings to go to the end of the season, Mark would be at very short odds to collect his 4th Singapore training Premiership to add to the five he achieved when training in New Zealand.

KING ARTHUR winning at Kranji in the hands of Shafiq Rusof 

The Fortuna/Mark Walker/Singapore axis goes back a long time – Fortuna Director John Galvin picks up the story “Fortuna first started syndicating in 2007 – this after a successful stint for me as a private owner with Te Akau Racing and Mark Walker training the very first horse selected  for me by David Ellis back in 2003, that being the Group Two winning filly, Kapsdan – subsequently we had a great associations through my shareholding in Darci Brahma. 

“When David Ellis and Mark decided to set up a stable in Singapore in 2010, Fortuna became a significant initial supporter, recognising that the prize money levels up there were exceptional and would add another string to our bow.  We had immediate success with our Singapore venture with our very first horse, the New Zealand Stakes winner, Rio Fortune, winning his first race there and giving Mark his first winner in Singapore – subsequently our very good New Zealand horse, the 2000 Guineas winner Tell A Tale, went to race in Singapore and managed to run second in the Singapore Gold Cup

“The big attraction for us racing horses in Singapore is the very good prizemoney at grade level with Restricted Maiden Grade paying S$75,000, Class 5 S$30,000, Class 4 S$50,000  and Class 3 S$70,000 – these are exceptional prize money levels for bread-and butter horses – horses also race up there a lot more often because of the evenness of the Singapore climate all year round.

“I calculate we have had close to 80 wins from 23 individual winners over the years in Singapore and 2021 is shaping up as our best ever year with 16 wins to date from 9 individual winners, including Entertainer (5 wins) and Hadeer (3 wins) being our current stable stars. We suffered a significant loss recently when the six time winner Federation had to be put down after suffering a race day injury”

ENTERTAINER scoring his 5^th Singapore win in 2021 – K Hakim aboard

Te Akau Racing’s Singapore trainer acknowledges the contribution that Fortuna has made to his Singapore operation,  “John Galvin and his various ownership groups have been great supporters of our stable here in Singapore right from the start. John is the perfect owner to train for – he understands the issues around training horses very well and just lets me get on with the job with no pressure. John also has a good grasp of the right type of horse to buy for Singapore racing. Fortuna is having a great year in 2021 – they are in 2^nd place on the ownership table and deserve every success they get”

Te Akau Racing’s Singapore Trainer Mark Walker

Te Akau Racing currently train 29 horses for Fortuna Syndications – 14 in NZ by Jamie Richards and 15 in Singapore by Mark Walker