Well, a “three peat” may have been beyond the New Zealand All Blacks at the Rugby World Cup, but for the Fortuna NZ Stable’s RED ROVER, the 5yo Gelding by O’Reilly out of Pin Up, it was no problem. Boasting a Singapore race record of four starts for a 3rd, a 2nd and two wins in Class 4 Grade prior to this race, RED ROVER was now up in grade to Class 3. This rise in class did not seem to ruffle punters however, who sent him out an odds on favourite. Drawn perfectly in barrier 1, jockey Benny Woodworth had his charge away well and raced one back on the rails. Easing him off the rails as they turned, “Bullet”, as RED ROVER is nicknamed, sped for home. Drifting out a few horse widths in the final stages, it looked at one stage as if the swoopers might get to him, but in the end he was too strong, going to the line with a margin of half a length over the 2nd horse.

Click HERE to see the race replay

“Red Rover” – Wins 3rd time in a row – Singapore 03 November 2019

RED ROVER’s win capped off a remarkable weekend for the Fortuna Syndications team with MELODY BELLE winning the A$1m Group One Empire Rose Stakes at Flemington on Derby Day, attended by Fortuna boss, John Galvin accompanied by Jessica Galvin and 18 other syndicate Members. While the prizemoney for RED ROVER’s win (S$70,000) was far less than MELODY BELLE’s, John Galvin was no less ecstatic.  “This was an outstanding result for RED ROVER and his connections,” said John, “not many win three in a row in Singapore and for this horse, who did not cost us a lot to purchase and has needed wind surgery, it was an outstanding result and full credit must go to our Singapore Trainer, Mark Walker, for firstly recommending this horse to us and secondly, making a great job of training him. And a big thanks to Benny Woodworth for riding him so well”

RED ROVER’s win was the 10th win in Singapore during 2019 for the Fortuna NZ Stable and took Te Akau Racing Stables Trainer, Mark Walker, to 71 wins for the season, 18 clear of his nearest rival in the Premiership race.

RED ROVER was acquired by Fortuna in 2018 for A$13,000 and now has prizemoney earnings of over S$100,000. He is owned by the Fortuna Red Rover Syndicate, an ownership Group of 42 individuals from New Zealand, Australia, Singapore, Hong Kong and the Philippines. Several of the Ownership Group were on course to celebrate the victory.

The commentator said it all “Melody Belle is flying home – here comes the Kiwi star – she is a bonny mare, a mighty mare,”

Yes, she did it, a nine time Group One winner in New Zealand and a Group Two winner in Australia, two previous Group One attempts in Australia had eluded her, but today she put the record straight. She shrugged off the wide draw, the wet track and the three wide trip to put in a compelling and dominating finishing run to win at the line by one and a half lengths.

Click HERE to see the race replay.

Fortuna Syndications Director, John Galvin, was on course along with 20 of the 37 syndicate Members. “What a day,” he said, “here we are on one of the great racecourses of the world on one of the greatest race days of the world and we have won a Group One race with our wonderful Mare – it dos not get any better than that.”

Melody Belle has now won 15 of her 25 races, takes her Group One tally to 10 and has accumulated prizemoney of NZ$2,700,000

John Galvin also paid tribute to Jamie Richards, describing him as an outstanding young Trainer, Te Akau supremo, David Ellis, who acquired Melody Belle for $57,500 at the 2016 NZ Bloodstock Sale, Opie Bosson, who is unbeaten on Melody Belle and strapper, Craig Thornton who has been looking after the Mare in her time at Flemington

Fortuna runners this week are MELODY BELLE who contests the Group One Empire Rose Stakes at Flemington on Saturday 2nd (Derby Day), AABIR and SPORTSCASTER race in Singapore Friday 1st while the exciting RED ROVER looks to make it three in a row Singapore Sunday 3rd.

MELODY BELLE – well what can you say – 14 career wins, 13 of them at the elite level, reigning Horse of the Year. Hard to win in Aus though and she will need to be at her best. Draw a little bit tricky, but stats show that 1600m barrier draws at Flemington show no particular bias. Highest rated horse in the field by a good margin and with no 3yo’s in the field, it is a level weights race. Be hard to beat

AABIR has undoubted ability, but is a bleeder. Work has been good and has undoubted ability. If all goes well, he is a chance of running in the money

SPORTSCASTER gets up to 1800m, a perfect distance for him and on the Poly as well. Has a good draw and a very good lightweight jockey in Alysha Collett. Field is quite strong, but with his good draw and light weight, he will be in it for a long way – Each way.

RED ROVER is all class – big, strong, very fast. Three Singapore starts for a 2^nd and two wins in succession says it all. But now up in Grade to Class 3, so he is in the big boys play pen. Great draw and a rider in Benny Woodworth who can do no wrong at the moment. Can win and is a very good each way chance.

Matamata Track work this week – Fortuna Runners

No Fortuna runners did fast work this week

In Melbourne Melody Belle worked superbly down the Flemington straight Tuesday 29th – last 400m in 22.5 secs

Fortuna Strike Rate in NZ season to date – 6 wins from 20 starts – Win SR 3.33 – 17 times in the money from the 20 starts

New UK acquisition – a genuine “Cups Type” Stayer – arrives in NZ 7^th December – Read more HERE– expressions of interest please email John HERE

 

 

 KHAFEEF

Fortuna secured the 3yo Gelding, Khafeef, (Champs Elysees (GB) EX Tawaareekh (USA) – Lot 551 for 28,000 Guineas on Day 2 of the Tattersalls Horses In Training Sale. Identified by International Bloodstock agent, Hubie de Burgh, as an ideal type for Southern Hemisphere racing, this purchase comes hot on the heels of the success of Fortuna’s 2018 purchase at the same sale, Leaderboard (Street Cry – Flower Fairy), who scored an impressive first win in NZ at Riccarton (1600m) on 26^thOctober 2019 at just his 2^nd NZ start.

“We are very pleased to secure Khafeef”, said Fortuna Director, John Galvin, “he is lightly raced with just four starts as a 3yo and was an impressive winner of his Maiden race in France over 2100 metres in August. We were prepared to pay a lot more for him than we had to in the end and I am sure he will be a very popular syndication opportunity for our clients, who just love to be involved with these European bred staying types – he will be aimed at the staying events here in NZ and if successful, we will then  set our sights on the staying events in Australia”

Click HERE to see Video of Khafeef’s winning run in France 21st August 2019 – Look for Blue and White Jockey silks

And Click HERE to see Khafeef parading at Newmarket 28th October  2019

Khafeef will travel direct to NZ in early December, will spell at Te Akau Stud for a few weeks before being prepared by Te Akau Trainer, Jamie Richards, for an initial NZ campaign in the Autumn of 2020

Confidently ridden by Troy Harris, the Fortuna Syndications international recruit Leaderboard (5 g Street Cry – Flower Fairy, by Dynaformer) appreciated Riccarton’s wide expanses to win the $22,500 Pryde’s Easifeed Rating 65 1600 metres on Saturday..

Patience is a Harris trademark – his father Noel had it down pat – and the ride by Troy exemplified the skill. Away well but content to steady off a competitive pace, Harris had Leaderboard travelling beautifully in 10^th before tracking up with a lapful of horse into the straight and the outcome looked probable after being presented widest at the 200m.

Click HERE to see Race Video Replay

Winning at his second start in New Zealand, Leaderboard ($4.30 & $1.90) had clocked the fastest last 600m (36.1), coming from last to finish fourth when having his first NZ start in the Rating 65 1300 metres on 20 September at Taupo, and so had strong appeal to punters who sent him out favourite at Riccarton.

“I like this horse and it was a super run,” said trainer Jamie Richards, not long before saddling Te Akau Shark (Rip Van Winkle) in the Cox Plate (Gr. 1, 2040m). “He’s shown us plenty since he arrived, and a horse that John Galvin bought from Europe.

“He’s a lovely, big, athletic horse, with a good attitude and we sent him down to the South Island looking for better ground. We’ll pick out another race during the carnival, either a Rating 72 1600m or 2000m, and it looks like there’s plenty more wins in front of him.”

Owned by the Fortuna Leaderboard Syndicate headed up by John Galvin and with the stable name “Tiger” he was purchased last October by International Blood Stock agent Hubie De Burgh at the Tattersalls Horses In Training  sale at Newmarket in the U.K. for 70,000 Guineas, soon after winning a Maiden race over 2400 metres in Ireland. By Street Cry, the sire of Winx and out of a Dynaformer mare, he looks an ideal staying prospect to work through the grades downunder.

Soon after accepting the accolades, Galvin said: “It’s a room (winner’s circle) I’ve been in a few times here at Riccarton in the past. We have a lot of Stakes winners here over the years, Tell A Tale won the Canterbury Stakes and the 2000 Guineas for us here in 2008, Zabene won the Metroplitan Trophy and the full sisters Darci’s Dream and Windborne won the Canterbury Belle Stakes in successive seasons. There are around 60 owners from all over NZ in the group and we had about 15 on course. Most were from Christchurch, but also Ian and Christine Price from New Plymouth. Tiger is their very first horse and a winner for them at his second start.

“Troy said the horse did nothing in the early run and was just content to lope along and the further he goes the better he will be. He had a few traffic problems trying to find a gap in the straight but once he came off heels and went to the outside  it never looked in doubt. We think he’s a serious racehorse and Jamie has been thrilled with him. While today wasn’t a huge test, it was still a test and he’s done it. So, well done to everyone involved.

“I had asked Hubie de Burgh to find a European bred stayer that had a typical stayers pedigree and the type that could turn into a Cups horse down here in New Zealand and Australia. So, he went to last year’s Tattersalls Horses in Training Sale and picked him out. We had a budget of 70 to 80,000 Guineas and we got him for the budget. He had a slight setback in the autumn, which was probably a blessing in disguise, because in that time he’s filled out, matured, and developed. He’s got a real turn of foot – Jamie likes that and also that he bounces out of his box each morning and gets straight into his work. He is a very sound, straightforward horse and although a five-year-old he’s really only four to Northern Hemisphere time because he was born in May 2015. Te Akau Assistant Trainer Paul Richards has been really happy with him down here and said his work on Tuesday was super.”

Leaderboard was strapped by Lydia Truesdale.

Fortuna horses racing this week are Meteoric Lass in the R72 1200m at Tauranga on Friday, Hidden Promise in Singapore in the Class 5 1600m Friday 25th and Leaderboard in the R65 1600m at Riccarton on Saturday 26th

Meteoric Lass looks well placed at Tauranga today. 1200m, Barrier 1, Michael McNab in saddle, track conditions to suit. She has been knocking on the door of late and presents as a very good each way chance in this.

Hidden Promise is another one who has been knocking on the door – all of his five Singapore wins have been at tonight’s 1600m trip – good draw, top rider in Benny Woodworth in the saddle – has been up a long time but presents as a good each way chance here.

Leaderboard gets his chance in the 65 1600m at Riccarton Saturday – a winner in Ireland 12 months ago, he ran a slashing 4^th place over 1300m at Taupo on his NZ debut – has been frustrated since with having to be scratched because of Heavy tracks. This looks like his race.

Matamata Track work this week – Fortuna Runners

Tuesday 22 October

 Course proper

Preparing to race at Tauranga on Friday, Meteoric Lass (M Roustoby) galloped over 1000 metres in 1.08.5, home in 38.9.

 

MELODY BELLE in Melbourne. The glamour Fortuna Filly is thriving at Flemington – she has a new “bestie” in Te Akau Shark, who has a Cox Plate assignment tomorrow – Melody Belle of course heads to the Group One Empire Rose Stakes over 1600m at Flemington on Derby Day.

See pictures below – Craig Thornton on the Shark (white blaze) and Jamie Richards on Melody Belle

 

 

 

 

 

Fortuna Runners this week are SPORTSCASTER in Singapore Sunday 20^th October

SPORTSCASTER faces a tough challenge in this event. A game 3^rd in this Class 4 Grade last start after an easy win in Class 5 before that, he faces a stronger field in this event over 1600m on the Poly – a place chance if things go well for him in the run. Senior rider Azahar Ismail to ride from Barrier 12 – Race 7 at 9.10pm NZT

Matamata Track work this week – Fortuna Runners

Tuesday 15^th October

No.2 Sand:

Meteoric Lass (R Cole) worked at three quarter pace over 1000 metres, last 600 in 46.

Ronaldo’s Dream (A Jones and Red Jakkal (C Burdan) worked at three quarter pace over 1000 metres in 1.15, last 600 in 45.

Leaderboard (O Bosson) galloped over an easy 1000 metres in 1.09, final 600 in 40.9

Thursday 17^th October

Course Proper: 

Departing Friday for a South Island campaign Leaderboard (M McNab) galloped over 1200 metres in 1.24.1, home in 39.7.

Meteoric Lass (A Jones) galloped on her own over an easy 1000 metres, home in 39.

MELODY BELLE now in Melbourne at the Flemington Visitors Stable in the capable hands of Te Akau groom Craig Thornton – she will race next at Flemington on Derby Day 2^nd November in the Group One Empire Rose Stakes 1600m -A$1m

RED ROVER (O’Reilly – Pin Up) showed that his last start win was no fluke when he ran out a dominant winner in the Class 4 1000m event on the Polytrack at Singapore’s Kranji Race Course. A winner at Rosehill in April 2018 before being acquired by Fortuna to race in Singapore, RED ROVER had had three previous starts in Singapore for a 3^rd, a 2^nd and a win in August 2019. Spelled at that point by Trainer Mark Walker, the Waikato Stud bred gelding had returned to work in great order and his track gallop on Wednesday was top class.

Sent out an odds on favourite by punters, they and the horse’s connections had their hearts in their mouths when the usual quick beginning RED ROVER was a tad slow out of the barriers. Rider Azahar Ismail did not panic however, urging the horse up into a mid field, three wide with cover position, then giving him a bit of a breather behind a very hot pace being set by race leader, XXX. On turning RED ROVER was in 4^th position but looking ominous, Azahar got  him balanced up and, sprinting strongly down the middle of the track, soon gobbled the leading horses up and went to the line 3 lengths clear of the 2^nd horse.

 Click HERE to see race Video replay

Fortuna Syndications Director, John Galvin, watching the race on TV from his New Zealand home, expressed a high degree of satisfaction with RED ROVER’s record to date. “No question the Mark Walker and I plus the syndicate members took a punt on this horse when we acquired him as he did have a wind issue which required surgery, however he was a bargain purchase, clearly has a lot of ability and now the punt is paying off for us all,” he said. 

The veteran rider, Azahar, who has ridden RED ROVER in all of his Singapore races, pulled no punches in his assessment of the horse, “He was very fresh today and was away slowly, but he is a big powerful, speedy type who will have no difficulty being competitive in Class 3 and possibly even higher,” he said.

The victory chalked up Te Akau Trainer Mark Walker’s 69^th victory for the season, 21 clear of his nearest rival with just two months of the Singapore racing season to go.  A Premiership training victory would represent Walker’s 8^thPremiership title (5 in New Zealand and 2 previously in Singapore). For Walker and Galvin, the success could not have come at a better time as both men are currently attending the Magic Millions Horses in Training Sale on the Gold Coast with the aim of buying a couple of Two Year Olds to be contenders for the very lucrative AusHorse Two Year Old Series run in Singapore between February and July 2020. Walker said, “John Galvin and I go back a long way, we have had a lot of success over the years both in New Zealand and Singapore and of late, particular success with tried horses we have been buying out of Australia, as was the case with Red Rover”

RED ROVER was acquired at a Gavel House online auction for NZ$15,000 and is now nudging S$70,000 in Singapore winnings from just four race day starts. He is raced by The Fortuna Red Rover Syndicate, an ownership group of 42 individuals from New Zealand, Australia, Singapore, Hong Kong and the Philippines. Several of the Ownership Group were on course to celebrate the victory, including Hong Kong resident Derek Fong, who celebrated his first victory with Fortuna with his first ever Fortuna runner.

Fortuna horses racing this weekend are LEADERBOARD and BURGUNDY BELLE at Matamata Saturday, RHAPSODY IN BLUE Hawera Saturday and RED ROVER resuming Singapore Sunday

Leaderboard, a Maiden winner over 2400m in Ireland a year ago had his first NZ run at Taupo for a fast finishing 4^th over 1300m two weeks ago. Gets his chance here up to 1600m – Race 1 – has wide draw to contend with but is a quality type and can win this if he gets luck in the running, however if the Track gets to a Heavy 10, that may trip him up. Opie to ride

Burgundy Belle was super impressive when winning at Hastings 31 August. Up to Rating 82 Grade, back to 1200m, winner of 4 from 8, bice draw, Opie aboard, any rain no problem, she is right in this – Race 4

Rhapsody In Blue was impressive winning in Maiden Grade at Taupo – now steps up to R65 Grade at Hawera – never easy for last start Maiden winners to win first start in R65, but she has a touch of quality about her – Craig Grylls to ride from a nice draw – she presents as a good each way chance – Race 9

Red Rover resumes after a nice freshen up. An impressive last start winner this grade (Class 4) and trip (1000m), this gelded son of O’Reilly is a big powerful sprinting type. His work on Wednesday was super and he is quite capable of winning this – drawn 7 out of 12 and will be ridden by Azahar, who rode him to victory at his last start – Race 7

 Matamata Trackwork – Tuesday 8 October –

Course Proper: 

Burgundy Belle (T Harris) galloped over 1000 metres in 1.09, last 600 in 38.5. She is ready for the Rating 82 1200 metres at Matamata on Saturday.  

Rhapsody In Blue (M McNab) galloped over 1000 metres in 1.06, home in 38.3. Rhapsody In Blue has options at both Matamata and Hawera. 

Preparing for the Rating 82 2000 metres at Matamata, Luminous (T Harris) galloped over 1200 metres in 1.23.7, last 1000 in 1.07.4.

Also racing at Matamata Leaderboard (M McNab galloped in a pair over 1000 metres – fog prevented time being taken.

No.2 Sand:

Red Jakkal (C Burdan) worked at three quarter pace over 1000 metres, home in 44.

Matamata Trackwork – Thursday 10 October 

Course Proper: 

Racing in the Rating 65 1400 metres at Hawera on Saturday, Rhapsody In Blue (A Jones) worked at three quarter pace over 1000 metres in 1.16, home in 45.

No.2 Sand:

 Red Jakkal (M McNab) galloped in a pair over an easy 1000 metres in 1.10, home in 40. 

Leaderboard (O Bosson) worked at three quarter pace over 1000 metres in 1.14.4.

Dundeel’s Girl (A Jones) galloped over 800 metres in 54.4, home in 38.5.

World Thoroughbred Rankings List – Notable that off the back of Melody Belle’s Group One Livamol Classic win that Jamie Richards has moved up 3 spots to sit at #17 in the World in the Trainers rankings, Opie Bosson has moved up 4 spots to be #33 in the World on the Jockey’s list and incredibly, the Fortuna Melody Belle Syndicate sits at #30 on the Owners List – a huge thrill for her Ownership Group

Click HERE to see the rankings list

Fortuna Syndications Director, John Galvin, has announced that Reigning NZ Horse Of the Year and recent Hawkes Bay Triple Crown winner, Melody Belle will campaign in Victoria this Spring

“On Monday 7th October I met with our Trainer, Jamie Richards, to review all options with respect to Melody Belle’s immediate and ongoing racing plans. Jamie reported that Melody Belle has come through her Triple Crown campaign in great order and he cannot fault her physically. Accordingly the decision was made that she would campaign in Melbourne in the coming weeks. Jamie and I decided that the right race for her in this campaign would be the Group One Empire Rose Stakes (Flemington 2^nd November -1600m – A$1m) – this decision reached with input from Te Akau Principal David Ellis and Te Akau Singapore Trainer Mark Walker. We did give serious consideration to the Cox Plate, however the consensus reached was to go for the Empire Rose instead and if she were to race well in that event, then the option of backing up into the MacKinnon Stakes (Flemington 9^th November – 2000m – A$2m) would be available to us,” he said. “Naturally, the connections are excited to have the opportunity to show off our wonderful racemare in Australia – she has carried all before her in NZ over the past 15 months winning eight Group One races here in that time – now is the time for her to step up and tackle some of the best horses in Australia.”

Looking ahead Melody Belle will return to NZ after the MacKinnon and be freshened – she will then return to Melbourne in the New Year and be aimed at races such as the Group One Futurity Stakes (Caulfield – 22^ndFebruary – A$500,000)  and the All Star Mile (Caulfield – 14 March 2020 – A$5m)  with a season ending target being the Group One Queen Elizabeth Stakes (Randwick 9^th April – 2000m – A$4m)