Four Fortuna runners Friday/Saturday 16^th/17th October, three in NZ, one in Singapore

Khafeef takes his place in the Rating 65 2200 metre event at Wingatui 16^th October – Race 3 @ 1.52pm. Plain in his two previous starts over 1600m at Timaru and Ashburton, he gets his opportunity here to shine over more ground and endeavour to replicate the form he showed in France before we acquired him – he will be ridden by Jason Laking from a handy barrier  – he does need to put his best foot forward here to engender confidence from his connections but will appreciate the step up in trip.

Melody Belle heads to Hastings Saturday 17^th of October to defend her Livamol Classic (Group One 2040m) crown – Race 8 @ 4.25pm. Bolstered by her stunning victory in the Windsor Park Plate at the same venue two weeks ago, she has not put a foot wrong since with her work, her appetite and her demeanour. Troy Harris retains the ride – this Champion mare is a short price favourite to win her 12^th career Group One race

Rhapsody In Blue contests the Rating 74 1200 metre event at Hastings – Race 7 @3.50pm. A last start winner over the same trip at Taupo on 13th September, she has done well since and gets her chance in this event in Saturday company. Danielle Johnson to ride from barrier 3 with 54.5kgs. This is a significant step up from winning a R65 at Taupo to take on a R74 event on a Premier Day, but good draw and top rider gives connections some confidence that she can run into the money

In Singapore, Hidden Promise contests the Class 5 1400m Turf event – Race 1 @ 5pm NZT. A last start winner in Singapore over 1800m on 19 Sept, he steps back in trip here to a distance he has not won at before (he has 6 Singapore wins to his name, all at 1600m or more). Gun Apprentice K Hakim takes the ride and brings his 3kg allowance to the table. Slightly tricky draw from Barrier 9 with rail out in D position, this won’t be easy for him at the 1400m trip, but a quality ride and the 3kg allowance could see him run into a top four placing at Odds!!!

Te Akau Track work this week – Fortuna Runners –  Matamata

Tuesday 13th October

Racing in the Group 1 Livamol Classic at Hastings on Saturday,  Melody Belle (T Harris) galloped nicely over 1200 metres in 1.17.9, last 600 in 36.8.

Rhapsody In Blue (T Harris) pleased when galloping over 1000 metres in 1.04, last 600 in 36.9. She is aimed toward the Rating 74 1200 metres at Hastings on Saturday.

Thursday 15th October

Racing in the Group 1 Livamol Classic at Hastings on Saturday, Melody Belle (T Harris) looked great galloping over an easy 1200 metres in 1.25, last 600 in 39.7.

Other News

Harris bullish with Melody Belle

NZ Racing Desk

Jockey Troy Harris is confident Melody Belle can record her 12th Group One victory in the Livamol Classic (2040m) at Hastings on Saturday. Photo: Trish Dunell

No jockey will go into Saturday’s Gr.1 Livamol Classic (2040m) at Hastings with more confidence than Melody Belle’s (NZ) (Commands) rider Troy Harris. The 32-year-old Matamata hoop racked up his fifth Group One win when he guided Melody Belle to success in the Gr.1 Windsor Park Plate (1600m) at Hastings a fortnight ago and he has seen nothing since to convince him she won’t repeat the victory in Saturday’s weight-for-age feature.

“She’s bounced back to her best. She’s happy to be home,” Harris said.“She was really strong there last time and I couldn’t pull her up till the 800m which really gives me confidence she’ll run out the 2000m even stronger than she did the mile. “Her work was outstanding this morning (Thursday). If they couldn’t beat her last time, they won’t get close to her this week. That’s just how confident I am going into Saturday.”

Melody Belle was arguably at her most vulnerable for the Windsor Park Plate going into that race off two unplaced Sydney runs and a six-week gap between runs. She surged home in the closing stages to deny stablemate Avantage by a nose, her 11th Group One win and her 15th career win from 32 starts.“ She’s a real racehorse. She just wants to win. She puts herself there and tries her heart out,” Harris said.

Harris has ridden Melody Belle twice now for Group One wins in the Windsor Park Plate and last year’s BCD Group Sprint (1400m) at Te Rapa, part of a remarkable record the jockey has forged for the Fortuna ownership syndicate. He has yet to taste defeat in the colours at Group One level, having also partnered Tell A Tale to success in the Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton in 2008. In all, he has had 12 rides in the Fortuna colours for nine wins, having ridden Tell A Tale eight times for five wins as well as getting two wins from as many starts aboard Leaderboard at Riccarton last spring.

The only potential stumbling block for Melody Belle this weekend could be her draw of barrier 12 but Harris can only see positives in that too after rain this week has seen the Hastings track drop into the slow range. “I was a bit worried when the draws first came out but they’ve had a bit of rain down there and being away from the fence might be an advantage,” he said. “Jamie normally lets me ride the race how I see it. We’ll see how she gets away from the barriers but I wouldn’t mind settling in front of a few of the outsiders. As I said I’m pretty confident. I’d be surprised if she got beaten.”

Harris can only remember riding in the race once before, when he finished 14th on Pentathon in 2008, but he’d like to win on Melody Belle to add to a strong family legacy in the race, joining his father Noel Harris’ three wins in the race aboard Secret Seal in 1987, Castletown in 1991 and Princess Coup in 2007 and his uncle Des Harris’ back-to-back wins aboard La Mer in 1978 and 1979. “It would be a good race to add to my CV and good to go down in the race history with Dad and my uncle,” he said.

Harris has five rides at Hastings, the others being Mandalorian, Son Of Bielski, Excelleration and Original Gangster.

Crowned in 2019 as the 2018/19 Season Horse Of The Year, the question on everybody’s lips leading into the 2020 renewal of this historic event was “can Melody Belle do it again”? Four Group One victories during the 2019/20 Season including one at Flemington on Derby Day (Empire Rose Stakes) with the other three being the three legs of the Hawkes Bay Triple Crown, a feat that had never been achieved before, plus a brave 2nd in the Group One McKinnon Stakes and a 4th in the Group One Doncaster Handicap (when carrying top weight), had set the scene for her. She had been nominated in three Categories (Sprinter/Miler, Middle Distance and Horse Of The Year). Te Akau Shark presented the possibility of being a strong contender in the Sprinter/Miler category with his two Group One victories (Waikato Sprint and Chipping Norton Stakes at Randwick) and high class performances for 2nd in the Epsom and 3rd in the Cox Plate.

A degree of drama surrounding the event had been caused by the NZ Thorougbred Racing decision five weeks before its holding, to make it “virtual” given the uncertainties at the time around Covid – 19. Seizing the initiative, the Principals of Te Akau Racing, David and Karyn Ellis, decided to hold a “Te Akau Racing” event for their Owners, Staff and other supporters in the upmarket Fosters Lounge at Te Rapa race course and “live stream” the virtual ceremony to the attendees. Fortuna Melody Belle Syndicate had 14 of its Ownership Group in attendance.

Cutting to the chase, the big news of the evening was that Melody Belle scooped the pool, winning all three of the Awards she was nominated for. As expected, there was support from the Voting Panel, (made up of 60 individuals from around NZ from Media and Racing Administrators), for Te Akau Shark in the Sprinter/Miler category, however Melody Belle prevailed with 37 votes to Te Akau Shark’s 16. In Middle Distance category, she received 57 votes and in the Finale, the very prestigious Horse Of The Year Award, she received 54 votes.

Melody Belle  – Tarzino Trophy  – Group One 1400m  – 31st August 2019 – Michael McNab in the saddle

Fortuna Syndications Director, John Galvin, on accepting the Awards on behalf of the Melody Belle Syndicate, an ownership Group comprising 33 individuals around NZ and 1 from Australia, paid tribute to Te Akau supremo, David Ellis, who had purchased Melody Belle for $57,500 on behalf of Fortuna at the 2016 Karaka Million Sale, Trainer Jamie Richards, all of the Te Akau staff who had worked with her and the two riders who rode her her in her Group One victories during the season, Opie Bosson and Michael McNab.

Melody Belle is the ninth horse to win the title more than once. Sunline took the title four times with Show Gate, Rough Habit, Xcellent, Seachange, Mufhasa, Mongolian Khan and Bonneval the other dual winners.

Apart from Melody Belle’s dominance in her various categories, other highlights of the evening were the Te Akau trained 2yo, Cool Aza Beel, winning the Champion 2yo Award, Te Akau Trainer, Jamie Richards, for winning both the Trainer Of the Year and Trainers Premiership Awards, Te Akau Stable rider, Opie Bosson, winning the Jockey Of The Year award (for the 6th time) and Julia Rose Hayes of Te Akau Racing taking out the Award for Contribution to Media, Digital & Content, Julia-Rose emulating her Mother (Karyn Fenton-Ellis) who had won the award in 2012.

See the full list of Awards recipients below:

Two Fortuna runners Saturday 10th October, one in NZ, one in Singapore

With the memory of Melody Belle’s stunning comeback in the Windsor Park Plate last Saturday, fresh in our memories, it is now the turn of our other “Belle” – i.e.  Burgundy Belle,to shine in Black Type company when she tackles the Matamata Cup (Listed – 1400m) for $50,000 this Saturday at her home track (Race 7 @3.53pm). The winner of 4 of her 9 races to date, this lightly raced 5yo never runs a bad race and her resuming run for 2nd at Hastings 19^th September over 1200m was full of quality. Drawn barrier 7 and possessing good natural gate speed, she will be put nicely into the race by leading jockey, Danielle Johnson. Carrying the minimum of 53kgs in this Handicap event, “Lisa” is a strong each way chance in this race.

Burgundy Belle brilliant at Hastings 31st August 2019

In Singapore, Marcus Antonius, a 3yo Gelding by Sepoy, contests the Restricted Maiden 1200m event on the Polytrack (Race 2 5.30pm NZT) for S$75,000. Three unplaced runs in this grade previously, is not the flashest form line, but twice he was badly hampered on jumping and the 3^rd time was beneficiary of a wide draw. Blinker/Pacifiers go on, he jumps from a good barrier (6) in the hands of leading apprentice Simon Kok, who claims 2kgs. Work has been very good, he has had race day experience now from his 3 starts and if he jumps away well from the barriers, he can feature here as an each way chance at odds.

Te Akau Track work this week – Fortuna Runners –  Matamata

Tuesday 6^th October

Burgundy Belle (T Harris) looked good galloping over an easy 1000 metres in 1.08.

Thursday 8th October

Burgundy Belle (T Harris) galloped over 1000 metres in 1.09, last 600 in 39.

Melody Belle (J Kamaruddin) worked at three quarter pace over 1200 metres, running the final 600 in 43.6.

Other News

The Annual NZTR Horse Of The Year Awards are scheduled for Sunday 11th October – but are being held as a “Virtual” event – Te Akau Racing are holding their own “live” event simultaneously

Yes its true, NZTR, in their wisdom, some five weeks ago, announced that this year’s event would be “crowds free”, citing concerns over Covid-19. This was extremely disappointing to us at Fortuna and David and Karyn Ellis were equally disappointed given Te Akau Racing’s dominance of the nominations in many of the Awards. Not people to let grass grow under their feet, David and Karyn set about organising their own Awards night to be held in the Fosters Lounge at Te Rapa Race Course. Their event will be MC’d by Aidan Rodley and there will be a live link to the virtual ceremony, hosted by George Simon and Kate Gourdie. Melody Belle has been nominated in a number of categories – John and Jessica will be in attendance along with 12 others of the Ownership Group. See below the full list of Categories and nominations in each Category

2019/20 Finalists

For those who are not attending, The Awards will be livestreamed  from the NZTR website (www.nztr.co.nz) on LOVERACING.NZ and Facebook (go to the Love Racing Facebook page) on Sunday 11 October, from 7pm.

The old adage “Form is temporary but class is permanent” was well to the fore Saturday 3rd October at Hastings race course when NZ’s Glamour Mare and Queen Of the Turf, MELODY BELLE, put in an outstanding galloping performance to take out the Group One Windsor Park Plate for the third year in succession. After returning home from Sydney after a couple of sub par performances in the early Spring, the pre race question on everybody’s lips was “can she return to her best?” Punters were taking no chance however with Melody Belle and stable mate and fellow Karaka Million winner, Avantage, vying for favouritism, with the latter starting as the slight pre post favourite. Melody Belle’s connections were wary of the fact that it was her very first time resuming at a 1600m trip and conceded that Avantage had the more recent race day experience,

And what a race it was with The Mitigator opening up a big lead and setting an extremely hot pace. Melody Belle had jumped well from her good gate and settled into 5th position one out from the rail. But Avantage was one back behind her stalking her every move. Melody Belle’s rider, Troy Harris, urged her up before the turn to mount her run, but with every stride she took, Avantage, with NZ leading jockey, Danielle Johnson aboard, was tracking her every step of the way. In the meantime, the horse who caused the big upset in the Tarzino Trophy just two weeks earlier, Callsign Mav, had skipped away at the top of the straight and established a three length break. In scenes reminiscent of the mighty battle between Melody Belle and DanzDanzDance in the 2019 Bonecrusher Stakes where those two mares fought it out the whole length of the Ellerslie straight, so it was with Melody Belle and Avantage, with Avantage going up to eyeball Melody Belle at the 200 metre mark, actually getting her head in front, but then the reigning Horse Of The Year fought back in the shadows of the post with Troy Harris standing high in the stirrups, exultant, once past the post. The time of 1.33.88 was a ripper, breaking the race record of 1.34.05, set by Jimmy Choux back in 2011.

Click HERE to see race replay

Melody Belle – Windsor Park Plate – Hastings  – October 2020

Melody Belle has now won 16 of her 33 race day starts, 11 of those 16 wins at Group One level, a record that now draws her equal with Rough Habit and only two short of the 13 Group One wins amassed by the mighty Sunline. Fortuna Syndications Director, John Galvin, was on course with his wife, Jessica, a part owner of Melody Belle and 18 other Members of the Ownership Group. “What an amazing performance we have just seen,” he said, “Jamie Richards (trainer) had her trained to the minute – what a spectacle for racing fans everywhere.” John also paid tribute to Te Akau racing supremo David Ellis, saying “What an incredible selection record this man has, buying these two great mares in successive years at Karaka, winning Karaka Millions in successive years and today only a nose separated them at the post at their very first race day meeting”

“And what can I say about Troy Harris, three times he has ridden in Group One events for Fortuna (twice with Melody Belle and once with Tell A Tale) and three times he has won for us – an incredible record.”

Melody Belle was acquired by David Ellis at the 2016 Karaka Million Sale for $57,500 on behalf of Fortuna and has now accumulated NZ$3.67m for her 34 Member Ownership Group. She was bred by Marie Leicester, who had the honour recently of receiving the 2020 Broodmare Of The Year Award for Melody Belle’s Dam Meleka Belle

Two Fortuna runners Saturday 3^rd/Monday 5^th October

Reigning Horse Of The Year, MELODY BELLE, is back!!! Not seen on a NZ race track since her victory in the Livamol Classic in October 2019, her last eight starts have been in Australia. However on Saturday 3^rdOctober, she takes her place in the Windsor Park Plate (Group One -1600m – $200,000), a race she has won the past two years. Troy Harris takes the mount from Barrier 4. A recent trial win at Rotorua indicates she is in good shape for this assignment, which is the first time in her racing career that she has resumed at 1600m and she faces a strong field of several runners who have had recent raceday form at this level. Presents as a Good Each Way chance in this

Leaderboard takes his place in the R72 1900m event at Canterbury Park (Sydney) on Monday 5^th October. Finishing a well beaten 12^th placing over 1400m Warwick Farm 16^th Sept in a race run at high tempo when on debut in Australia, he gets up to a more suitable trip here. Sam Clipperton to ride from Barrier 3 in a field of 8 runners. Stable is looking for an improved run here from this staying type of horse.

Te Akau Track work this week – Fortuna Runners –  Matamata

Tuesday 29th September

Melody Belle (T Harris) galloped over 1200 metres in 1.16.2, last 600 in 37.6.

Thursday 1st October

Melody Belle (T Harris), together with the Te Akau runners, Avantage (D Johnson) and Prise De Fer (O Bosson) worked solo at three quarter pace over 1200 metres.

Burgundy Belle (T Harris) looked good working at three quarter pace over 1000 metres in 1.16, home in 45. 

Other News

Written Tycoon surges to the top of Australian Stallion rankings

A Group One double in Australia last weekend by Pippie in the Moir Stakes and Ole Kirk in the Golden Rose saw Written Tycoon take over the coveted No 1 Slot in the General Sires rankings in Australia.

This is of big interest to the Fortuna Team, as we now have three Geldings in Singapore by Written Tycoon, the 5yo Federation, who has already won four races for us in Singapore and the two 3yo/s Prohibition and Titan, recent acquisitions by us who have just arrived in Singapore recently – currently in quarantine, they will be released to Fortuna’s Singapore Trainer, Mark Walker, on Monday 5^th October and he should be making his Singapore debut in January 2021

Shares in Prohibition are fully sold, but we still have shares left in Titan at $9,000 per each 10% share, $4,500 per each 5% share, $2,250 per each 2.5% share and $900 per each 1% share

These costs include horse purchase, promoters fees, transport to Singapore, insurance to 31 Jan 2022 and working capital – great value here when you consider that Written Tycoon’s Stud fee is A$77,000

Read More HERE – applications for shares can be made direct from this link

“Titan” – 5th August 2020

Two Fortuna runners this week in Singapore on Saturday 26th September

In Singapore, the Fortuna NZ Stable has two runners, Showbound, and Federation

4yo Showbound ran a nice 2^nd over 1200m last Saturday and is primed to back up this week in the Restricted 4yo Maiden 1600m Turf for S$75,000 of prizemoney. Has a tricky draw (13) but does get a long run down the back straight.  J P Van Der Merwe takes the mount. Gets his chance here at 1600m, which we think he is looking for – it is a strong field with many chances, Showbound will roll forward from the wide draw and take up a forward position. Blinkers go on and can feature in the placings with the right run

Here is what the STC Tipsters have to say about this race:

1st Pick: SPEEDY MISSILE (1)

On paper he looks too good for this following his two seconds from as many starts. Will relish the extra 200m. Hard to beat.

2nd Pick: KINABALU WARRIOR (5)

Improving with every run. Let down strongly for a close third to Hard Too Think at his last start. Nice low draw. Go close.

3rd Pick: ALFARES (10)

Another one who had showed potential at his first couple of starts. Drawn wide. Louis-Philippe Beuzelin will be seen pumping away in his vigorous style on him inside the last 200m.

4th Pick: SHOWBOUND (2)

On the way up, especially after the addition of shades. Wide barrier is a query as well as the big jump in distance, but he can still give a good account of himself.

5yo Federation is a 4 win horse in Singapore and gets his chance to make if 5 wins in the Class 3 1400m Turf event for S$70,000. After racing 3 wide without cover he was beaten 4.2 lengths in Class 2 1400m 5^th Sept –  the run was better than it looked. Rising star Ruan Maia takes the mount. Back in Class 3, trip to suit, slightly tricky draw, but presents as a good each way chance in  this race

Te Akau Track work this week – Fortuna Runners –  Matamata

No timed trackwork for Fortuna runners this week

Other News

Fortuna runners score Trials double Rotorua 22^nd September

All eyes were on Horse Of The Year, Melody Belle, at her first public appearance since returning from Australia – away nicely, she settled back in the running, came into the trial nicely on the turn was urged up a little by rider Opie Bosson, but ran home strongly to score a nice trials win – she is right on track to defend her 201 and 2019 Windsor Park Plate crown Hastings 2^nd October

Fortuna’s 2^nd runner was the 2yo, Our Final Offer (by Deep Field) – his Te Teko trial two weeks prior was very ordinary – blinkers and ear muffs were applied at Rotorua. Jumping well in the hands of Troy Harris, he took a sit holding the rail, went to the outside of a tearaway leader as they turned and went to the line strongly – a nice result for a horse who has had issues. He is now ready to make his race day debut

3yo TITAN now in Singapore quarantine – a strong physical type by one of Australia’s best Stallions, Written Tycoon, Titan has had race day experience in Australia – should be up and running in Singapore by early January – still a Maiden, he will be eligible to contest Restricted Maiden Grade races in Singapore for prize money of S$75,000 (NZ$83,000) approx. – still some shares left – each 2.5% is NZ$2,250 and NZ$90 per month from 1 Oct. Click HERE to read more

“Titan” – 5th August 2020

The phrase “it is a long time between drinks” is a well worn one, however the Fortuna eight-year-old Hidden Promise took it to extreme lengths by winning the Class five 1800m event on the Turf at Singapore’s Kranji racecourse on Saturday 19th of September. Amazingly  it had been 748 days since he had last greeted the judge. A five win horse up to and including 2nd Sept 2018, all of those 5 wins had come over the previous 13 months. Which is not to say that his form had been bad in the time since, having raced 28 times for 19 prize money earning placings in the hiatus period.

Fortuna Director John Galvin picks up the story. “It has been an incredibly frustrating period for the connections of Hidden Promise, he was always racing well, but bad draws, bad luck, plus the occasional poor riding decision, meant that he continually found a way to lose. However his ownership group never lost the faith and now they have been rewarded with their 6th win with this horse. I want to pay tribute to trainer Mark Walker, who also never lost faith in “Bart”, as we like to call him and huge kudos to rider Ruan Maia, who rode him perfectly.”

Click HERE to see the race replay.

Hidden Promise winning – Kranji racecourse – 19th September 2020

Hidden Promise’s win capped off a fruitful day for the Fortuna NZ Stable with their 4yo Brutus winning the Novice Event earlier in the evening and fellow 4yo Showbound running a bold 2nd placing in the Open Maiden. All three horses were ridden by Ruan Maia

Hidden Promise (Postponed-Promissory) was acquired by David Ellis on behalf of Fortuna Syndicators at the 2014 NZB Ready to Run Sale for NZ$65,000 and has now accumulated S$223,000 for the Fortuna Hidden Promise Syndicate, an ownership group comprising 29 individuals.

4yo Gelding BRUTUS finally shook off his “always the bridesmaid, never the bride” tag when putting in a strong winning performance in taking out the Novice Grade race over 1200 metres in Singapore today. Arguably the best Maiden in Singapore, having recorded 4 thirds and 3 seconds from his seven Singapore starts to date, his connections were confident that he would race well but would he race well enough to achieve victory?

Ridden positively from the barriers by Singapore’s newest riding sensation, Ryan Maia, Brutus was always trailing well and looked all over the winner with 2oo metre to go, but had to with stand a late challenge by the race favourite, Tuesday, to whom Brutus was giving 3.5 kgs in weight, but withstand he did, going to the line with a half head to spare. Click HERE to see the race replay

 BRUTUS – Wins in Singapore 19th September 2019

Fortuna Director, John  Galvin, was a happy man post race ” That was a fantastic result – Brutus has never run a bad race, but always seemed to have run into one that was better than him on the day. However today he contested a Novice (1 win Grade) as a Maidener and pulled off a great victory for his very patient ownership team. Congratulations to Mark Walker for handling this horse so well and big kudos to Ruan Maia who put his hand up for the ride earlier in the week and then rode the horse perfectly.”

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 approximately S$110,000 for his 46 member strong ownership group, the Fortuna Brutus Syndicate

Almost a year to the day since the Fortuna syndicated mare, RHAPSODY IN BLUE (Medaglia d’Oro -Kablues), scored her maiden win at the same venue, she scored her second career win in the Rating 65 1200 metre event. Drawn perfectly in barrier one, she was given the perfect ride by the experienced Danielle Johnson, who put her into the race nicely from the start, held the rail, then handed up the lead racing in third place on the rail. Just before the turn, Danielle edged the Mare off the rail and out into the middle of the track and from there maintained a strong run to the line winning in the end with a bit over a length to spare. Click HERE to see race Video replay

Fortuna’s John Galvin was quick to give credit where due. “That was a lovely win today from a Mare who hasn’t been the easiest to train as she has a rather scratchy action, however in this current preparation, her trainer Jamie Richards has given her a lot of work, including galloping work, on the treadmill and it is obvious that this has paid off. Full marks also to rider Danielle Johnson, who once again showed that she is a class act.”

Rhapsody In Blue – Victorious at Taupo 13th September 2020

Rhapsody In Blue was bought by David Ellis on behalf of Fortuna at the 2018 Karaka Yearling Sale for the sum of $95,000 from the Valachi Downs draft and is raced by the Fortuna Rhapsody In Blue Syndicate, an ownership group comprising 48 individuals.

Two Fortuna runners this week at Taupo on Sunday 13th and one potential runner in Singapore on Saturday 12^th  September

Fortuna runners at Taupo on Sunday 13th are 3yo Filly Charmaines Dream (Race 2 – 1.29pm) and 4yo Mare, Rhapsody In Blue (Race 5 – 3.14pm).

Charmaines Dream, a 2019 Ready To Run graduate, has had three trials for a win and two seconds – she made her race day debut over 1100m at Te Rapa in early July, drew wide, got back and ran home well without threatening. Freshened since, she trialed strongly at Te Teko Thursday 3^rd Sept. Drawn nicely in Barrier 2 in this 1100m Maiden event and with the classy Danielle Johnson aboard, she presents as a strong each way chance in this.

Rhapsody In Blue has had five race day starts for a win and a 2^nd, with her win coming on this track at this time in 2019. She trialed averagely at Te Teko 3^rd Sept, but did not get all favours in a slowly tun trial. Has been hard to follow in her career to date but has drawn the Ace barrier in this R65 1200m event and with Danielle Johnson to ride, she can be competitive in this race if at her best

In Singapore, Red Rover is Ballot 2  in Race 11 and needs  scratchings. If he does get a run, he has a nice draw (2) over the 1100m trip and would be a place chance in this Class 2 event.

Te Akau Track work this week – Fortuna Runners –  Matamata 

Thursday 10^th September

Rhapsody In Blue (M Roustoby) galloped over an easy 1000 metres in 1.09.

Other News

Fathers Day Discount on offer until Sunday 13^th September – Yes 5% off the price of any of the shares available on the Fortuna website  – Click HERE to view the offerings.

Singapore bound 3yo Gelding TITAN has had raceday experience, has a great pedigree (by Written Tycoon) and is set to travel to Singapore 24^th Sept, where he will be prepared to race by Singapore Champion Trainer Mark Walker and should be up and running on racedays in early January – just $900 (less the 5% discount) for each 1% share.

TITAN – 3yo Gelding by Written Tycoon

NZ racing prospect the 3yo Gelding NAVALHA (by Sebring) was a $450k Yearling purchase by his original owners – acquired by Fortuna as a three start racehorse for a fraction of his original price, he is now in NZ and commences work in the hands of Champion NZ Trainer, Jamie Richards, on 14^th September and should be having his first start in NZ early to mid December 2020. Just $760 (less 5% discount) – he represents great value

Shares in both horses can be purchased off the Fortuna website or contact John Galvin directly for further information