Dual Horse of the Year Melody Belle  (6 m Commands – Meleka Belle, by Iffraaj) had an exhibition gallop during the meeting on 20 January at Te Rapa.

MELODY BELLE with Opie Bosson aboard at Te Rapa 20th January

Melody Belle worked boldly over 1000 metres under rider Opie Bosson, in preparation for the Thorndon Mile (Gr. 1, 1600m) on 30 January at Trentham.

Not seen since a sell-out crowd came to see her win the Livamol Classic (Gr. 1, 2040m) in October at Hastings – recording her 12^thGroup One victory and one short of the all-time record held by Sunline (Desert Sun) – Melody Belle also had an exhibition gallop on 1 January at Ellerslie, and ran home strongly on terms with stable-mate Amarelinha (Savabeel) when trialling on 12 January at Matamata.

“Everything is going according to plan,” said trainer Jamie Richards. “She had a decent blow after the trial last Tuesday and we’re taking the opportunity to get more work into her there today.

“She was keen to go quicker, so I’m glad we’re taking the edge off her. We were treating it like a second trial and an opportunity to get her off the property, give her a spin around and tighten her up a little bit. She’s probably five to 10 kilos above where I’d like her to be in terms of her racing weight but this will bring her on nicely and she looked to be doing some nice work.

“She’s going as good as we’ve ever had her, I think. She is sound and happy and as she’s got older she’s eaten better and continued to work well. She has lost a little of her spring, or sharpness, and looking for a bit further, hence why she’s kicking off at a mile.

“She was there to do a nice strong bit of work today, and Opie gave her a click down the shoulder and made her run through the line and that’s exactly what we wanted her to do.”

Richards said that following the Thorndon Mile, Melody Belle would target the $400,000 Herbie Dyke Stakes (Gr. 1, 2000m) on Saturday 13 February at Te Rapa.

“That’s the plan and we’re pretty mindful of travel to Wellington and making sure she is fit and forward enough to handle it, and then the travel home and two-week turnaround into Te Rapa,” he said. “So, it’s important she has a couple of extra decent gallops, a good strong trial, and hopefully she’s right where she needs to be.”

Purchased by Te Akau principal David Ellis CNZM for $57,500 as a yearling at Karaka, Melody Belle has won 17 of her 35 starts and $4 million prize money for her ownership group, the Fortuna Melody Belle Syndicate (Manager John Galvin)

Fortuna has three runners this Saturday 16^th January, one in NZ and two in Singapore

New Zealand

5yo Mare, Burgundy Belle (Race 8 – Telegraph Group One – 1200m) gets her chance in this prestigious race. Her spring and early summer form has been very good but without managing to win. Not well suited by the Weight For Age scale off her 86 rating as she has to carry the same weight as much higher rated horses. Drawn barrier 7 in a field of (remarkably) just 11 runners, with Sam Collett to ride, she will go forward from the draw. Never runs a bad race and is cherry ripe for this. A top four chance

Burgundy Belle – Danielle Johnson aboard

Singapore

4yo Gelding, Brutus (Race 4 – Novice – 1200m Poly) was desperately unlucky in the final stages of the Class 4 1100m event two weeks ago, getting blocked for room. Has chance to atone here in this strong Novice field. Stable apprentice Jerlyn Seow, claiming 4kgs, takes the mount from Barrier 1. Is right in  this – but the 3yo’s get a big weight allowance and will be hard to beat, however the 4kg claim and the draw are big advantages to Brutus – very strong each way chance.

7yo Gelding, Sportscaster (Race 6 – Class 5 1100m Poly) is very consistent, but will find this too short. Jerlyn Seow, takes the ride, claiming 4kgs from Barrier 10. Will struggle to feature from the draw over this trip – needs longer

Fortuna trackwork this week – Matamata

Tuesday 12^th January

No timed trackwork for Fortuna runners today

Thursday 7^th January

No timed trackwork for Fortuna runners today

OTHER NEWS

Melody Belle trialed nicely at Matamata 12^th January – she will now have an exhibition gallop ahead of resuming on race day at Trentham 30^th January where she will contest the Thorndon Mile (G1 -1600m – $200,000)

ENTERTAINER lived up to his name and kept both the punters who sent him out a very hot favourite and his small army of owners very happy when taking out the Open Maiden 1100m on the Poly at Kranji racetrack in Singapore today. A 4yo Gelding by Zoustar, who sports the stable name “Joker”, he had drawn barrier 1 over the 1100m trip, was having his 5th Singapore start and after being beaten just under 4 lengths in Class 4 company company at his last outing, punters had clearly decided he was the one to beat in this Open Maiden event, no doubt their thinking backed up by the No 1 barrier draw and the fact that the up and coming star in Singapore riding ranks, Ruan Maia, was slipping into the stirrups.

Maia rode him perfectly, away well, holding the rail, led throughout, well clear on turning, a couple of reminders behind the saddle over the last 200 metres and had the last laugh over the final stages, going to the line clear by 1.75 lengths.

Click HERE to see the race replay

Entertainer – 1st win – Singapore – 9th January 2021

Fortuna NZ Stable Director, John Galvin, on holiday with his family in Queenstown, New Zealand, was over the moon with the result; “Entertainer has always shown ability, however was inclined to over race in his first few Singapore starts and then we had the frustration of him being balloted our on several occasions, so to score this win today is very satisfying, Full kudos to trainer Mark Walker and his team, who have worked hard teaching this horse to relax And what a great ride from Ruan Maia, who is proving to be a class act in Singapore. A big shout out also to his ownership group, consisting of 53 individuals from New Zealand, Australia, Singapore and Hong Kong, who have been very patient and understanding, firstly as we have needed to teach this horse to relax and secondly, the balloting issues due to the Covid-19 issues affecting Singapore racing”

Entertainer was acquired by Mark Walker on behalf of Fortuna in December 2019, for A$20,000 from an Inglis online digital sale. He had been acquired originally as a yearling for A$150,000 by a high profile ownership group, who had stallion making prospects in mind. Trained by Chris Waller, he showed some ability, but having needed to geld him and then after four non winning races in Australia, they offered him for sale on the Inglis platform.

Fortuna has five runners in Singapore this Saturday 9th January.

4yo Gelding, Entertainer (Race 2 – Open Maiden 1100 Poly) has had four Singapore starts to date and has shown promise without yet winning – drawn the ace barrier in this 1100m Maiden event on the Polytrack – has the gun rider, Ruan Maia aboard. Trialed nicely pre Christmas, now relaxing better in his races – can give this a shake

 4yo Gelding, Showbound (Race 2) is in the same event and is another who  has been running nice races without winning – had a winning trial recently after a freshen up – has a top rider in Benny Woodworth aboard but has a difficult draw. Can feature but will need luck from the draw

Here is what the Singapore Turf Club pundits say about this race;

1st Pick: BEN WADE (4)

A newcomer from the family of Tannhauser and has trialled nicely enough for this debut. In what is not a deep race, he should be able to figure here.

2nd Pick: ENTERTAINER (1)

Form has eased off a bit from early promise but can go well in this lesser contest.

3rd Pick: EIGHT BALL (10)

Very poor effort on debut when last of 12 in December. Has won a trial since and can show improved form.

4th Pick: SHOWBOUND (2)

The run back in September is good enough form to expect a bold show at odds.

Entertainer – 14th September – Singapore

8yo Gelding, Hidden Promise, (Race 8 Class 5 1200m Poly)  is a six win horse in Singapore, but not at this trip, although is capable of running a bold race in his current fresh state – the in form apprentice, Hakim, takes 3kgs off his back from a nice draw – can run a place

6yo Gelding, Red Rover, (Race 9 Class 3 1600m Poly) won three in a row late 2019, but struggled to find form in 2020 – faces a strong field here at distance he has not won over – hard to have here

5yo Gelding. Federation, (Race 10 Class 4 1200m Turf) is a talented galloper with four Singapore wins to his credit, but has battled a foot issue during 2020 – now fully over that and back to Class 4. Hakim to ride claiming 3kgs – has an OK draw and is a good each way chance in this but would not appreciate any rain

Fortuna trackwork this week – Matamata

Tuesday 5^th January

Leaderboard (S Pillay) galloped over an easy 800 metres in 53.4, home in 38.9.

Burgundy Belle (J Kamaruddin) galloped over 1000 metres, running the final 600 in 39.4.

Thursday 7^th January

Navalha (R Khan) worked at three quarter pace over 1000 metres in 1.14.7.

Melody Belle (T Harris) galloped over an easy 1000 metres in 1.08, home in 40.2. She was followed by Burgundy Belle (J Kamaruddin) who ran 1.05, last 600 in 39.

Madame Moet (J Kamaruddin) galloped over an easy 800 metres in 53, final 600 in 39.8

OTHER NEWS

Melody Belle was super impressive at Ellerslie New Years Day in an exhibition gallop over 1000m with Opie Bosson aboard – she will now trial at Matamata 12^th January ahead of resuming on race day at Trentham 30^thJanuary where she will contest the Thorndon Mile (G1 -1600m – $200,000)

Fortuna has three runners in Singapore this Sunday 3^rd January.

7yo Gelding, Sportscaster, (Race 1) a three win horse in Singapore does, not win out of turn, but in the past often goes well on a quick back up and gets that opportunity in the Class 5 1600m on the Poly – he finished well back in the field running same grade 1700m last weekend after leading for most of the race – looks well suited here and claims 3kgs courtesy of the apprentice rider K Hakim – Has drawn wide which will present a challenge but with luck in the running he presents as a Good Each Way chance

3yo Gelding, Marcus Antonius, (Race 2) has not set the world on fire from his four Singapore starts to date, however trialed very well on 22^nd December for a strong finishing 2^nd place and gets his chance in this Restricted Maiden 1200m Turf event – has a top rider in Benny Woodworth aboard from a nice daw. Can feature – watch market 

4yo Gelding, Brutus, (Race 3)  has fashioned a great looking form line in Singapore, never running a bad race and already the recipient of over S$100k in stakes. Gets his chance here in the Class 4 1100m on the Poly track with Benny Woodworth to ride. Is right in this – can win.

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

1st Pick: VULCAN (8)

Lightly-raced sort with a good turn of foot. One of two wins on Polytrack. Big say if he arrives on time. Blinkers on.

2nd Pick: BRUTUS (3)

Did his best in a strong Novice race last time out. This is much easier. Go close.

3rd Pick: MARDOONA (10)

Spelled since second-up win in August. Barrier trials have been steady. May need the run but he can still run a place. Blinkers and tongue-tie on.

4th Pick: MIRACLE (11)

Much better was expected from him, but he has not quite delivered. Last start was a touch better. Chance if he lifts his game.

 BRUTUS  (inside) – Wins in Singapore 19th September 2019

Fortuna trackwork this week – Matamata

Tuesday 29th December

Burgundy Belle (J Kamaruddin) worked nicely at three quarter pace, running the final 600 in 45.4.

Melody Belle (T Harris) galloped on her own over an easy 800 metres in 58, quickening over the last 600 to finish in 38.

Thursday 31st December

Burgundy Belle (T Harris) worked at three quarter pace over 800 metres in 1 minute, last 600 in 44.8.

Leaderboard (S Pillay) worked nicely at three quarter pace over 800 metres in 59.6, quickening in the straight to finish in 42.8.

OTHER NEWS

Melody Belle will do an exhibition gallop after Race 1 at Ellerslie New Years Day – she will then trial at Matamata 12^th January ahead of resuming on race day at Trentham 30^th January where she will contest the Thorndon Mile (G1 -1600m – $200,000)

Christmas came two days early for the Members of the Fortuna Navalha Syndicate, when their handsome 3yo Gelding, NAVALHA, overcame a wide barrier draw in the astute hands of Opie Bosson, to lead all the way and come home victorious in what was his first NZ race and his first in the Fortuna colours – much to the delight of his big group of Owners who were on course to cheer their charge home.

NAVALHA (which means “Razor” in Portuguese), a 3yo Gelding by Sebring out of the Encosta de Lago Mare, Afiado, was acquired by John Galvin on the recommendation of Fortuna’s Singapore Trainer, Mark Walker, for just A$27,500 from the Inglis Digital Sale late July 2020. John Galvin picks up the story “Mark Walker and I, over the past couple of years, have made a bit of an art form of targeting well bred 2yo’s who had previously been acquired for big money at the Aus yearling sales as Stallion prospects. However, as inevitably happens a lot of the time, these horses don’t meet their owners expectations, either because they don’t consider them top liners and/or they need to be gelded and so they just move them on. In Navalha’s case, he had been a A$450k purchase by James Harron Bloodstock at the 2019 Magic Million Gold Coast Yearling Sale – they had given him a couple of trials and three races – he was very colty and so they decided to sell him – we picked him up for A$27,500, gelded him straight away, brought him home to NZ, gave him a decent spell at Te Akau Stud and now we seem to have a very nice horse on our hands – big kudos to Trainer Jamie Richards and his team for making such a good job with the preparation of this horse – and Opie summed up the situation perfectly, jumping well from the barrier, going to the front when no one wanted to take him on and rating him nicely in the run.”

Click HERE to view the Race result and Video replay

“Navalha” – wins on NZ debut – Matamata 23rd December 2020

Navalha is raced by the Fortuna Navalha Syndicate, an ownership group of 57 individuals, several  of whom are brand new to horse ownership

Navalha was strapped by Sumeet Pillay

The five year old Fortuna syndicated mare, Burgundy Belle, has been confirmed as a definite prospective starter in the time-honoured Berkett Telegraph (Group One -1200m – $250,000) at Trentham 16th of January. Lightly raced with just 14 career starts to date, Burgundy Belle (Burgundy-Spin ‘N Grin) has been ultra consistent recording 4 wins and only finishing out of the first three, 3 times in her career. Three of her last four starts have seen her run placings in Listed (Black type) events – on two of those occasions, finishing in behind the highly talented Tavi Mac.

Trainer Jamie Richards is in no doubt that she deserves a crack at the highest level – “She is a lovely mare who has had her physical issues, but can gallop, has been ultra consistent and deserves her opportunity in this race. It won’t be easy for her as she will be tackling the best Sprinters in the country at Weight For Age off an 86 Handicap Rating, but given a nice draw and a good passage, she can certainly be competitive down the Trentham 1200m chute.”

Burgundy Belle brilliant at Hastings 31st August 2019

Fortuna Director, John Galvin, is looking forward to the challenge – “I am rapt for her ownership group comprising more than 50 individuals, several of whom are in the Melody Belle Syndicate also. “Lisa” as she is called at the stable has had some physical issues throughout her career, but has more than her fair share of ability – any softening of the track on the day will suit her and we are looking forward to seeing her compete in this historic race.”

Bred by Tom and Sue Roper, Fortuna acquired Burgundy Belle as a yearling in a private sale from Karyn Fenton-Ellis

Four Fortuna has two definite runners  this Saturday 12^th December, one in NZ, one in Singapore and another one in Singapore who needs a scratching to get a start.

 6yo Gelding, Beau Geste, steps up to a 2100m trip at Awapuni after resuming at 1600m off a six month break at Taranaki 3^rd December, finishing worse than mid field. A dour staying type whose future is as a jumper, he is a two win horse, who will appreciate the 2^nd up start over more ground. Will be ridden by claimer Sam O’Malley from a nice draw and does like to run on the speed. Firm track may not suit this horse

 6yo Gelding, Red Rover, a four win horse (three in Singapore) contests the Class 3 1200m event (Race 8) at Kranji. Red Rover is a very capable type, who gets the benefit of a 3kg claim from C K Ng, but is racing out of his grade and does need Class 4 to be truly competitive.

4yo Gelding, Brutus, who is also in the Class 3 1200m event, has a very good record in Singapore and would be a genuine each way contender if he starts, but does need a scratching to get a start

Fortuna trackwork this week

Tuesday 15th December

No Fortuna Timed trackwork today

Thursday 17th December

 No Fortuna Timed trackwork today

Yes, it’s true, not the legendary King Arthur with his sword Excalibur in hand and accompanied by the Knight of The Round Table, but the four legged equine version, a Three Year Old Thoroughbred gelding by Australia’s Stallion sensation, I Am Invincible and out of the 7 times winning racemare, Pentasia (by Pentire).

King Arthur arrived in Singapore 4th December, where he is currently undergoing quarantine and will be released to Fortuna’s Singapore Trainer, Mark Walker, Monday 21st December.

King Arthur has had two race day starts in Australia (racing under the name Tintagel) and should be ready to have his first Singapore start late February 2021 – when he does start racing, he will contest Restricted Maiden Grade races with prize money of S$75,000 (approx NZ$83,000)

King Arthur in Singapore 5th December 2020

A big, strong handsome type, standing 16 hands tall and weighing 535kgs on arrival in Singapore, King Arthur has the physical attributes to go along with his outstanding pedigree and is sure to make his mark in Singapore Racing.

Four Fortuna has two runners this Saturday 12^th December, one in NZ, one in Singapore

5yo Mare, Burgundy Belle, takes on a quality field in the J Swap Sprint (Open Hcp – 1200m – $70,000) at Te Rapa – Race 5. This 4 win Mare rarely runs a bad race and in two recent starts she has achieved black type status, running 3^rd in the Matamata Cup and 2^nd in the Levin Stakes, beaten both times by the talented Tavimac. Will be ridden by Danielle Johnson from Barrier 4 and carries 53kgs. In terrific form, lovely draw, top rider, she is a genuine contender, but meets a strong field. Can run into the money.

7yo Sportscaster tackles the Class 4 1200m Turf in Singapore on Saturday – race 10 – drawn out wide on the short course with running rail in widest position, he has a tough ask in this race and is hard to recommend at this grade and distance.

Fortuna trackwork this week

Tuesday 8th December

Burgundy Belle (T Harris) galloped nicely over 1000 metres in 1.04.1, last 600 in 36.8.

Thursday 10th December

No Fortuna Timed trackwork today