Fortuna’s CHANCE TO DANCE primed and ready for the $250,000 Group One Livamol Classic at Hastings Saturday 7th.

A mouth watering clash lies ahead as the two Te Akau trained stable mates, CHANCE TO DANCE and GINGERNUTS square off in the feature race at Hastings on Saturday. Both last start winners, GINGERNUTS winning the Group One Windsor Park Plate over 1600 metres at Hastings on the 23rd Sept and CHANCE TO DANCE winning over the same distance in the Listed Haunui Farms Karaka Classic the next day.

On paper the 4yo GINGERNUTS has the edge sporting Three Group One victories and over $1.2 million in prize money. He also gets 1.5kgs in weight advantage from his rival. The 8yo imported Irish Bred Gelding, CHANCE TO DANCE, will be no pushover however, being the winner of nine races in three countries (Ireland, Australia and NZ) and the winner of close to NZ$500k prize money. From 29 race day starts he has only finished out of the prizemoney four times.  The current betting market has GINGERNUTS, to be ridden by Opie Bosson, a very firm favourite at $2 on Fixed Odds, while CHANCE TO DANCE, ridden by Leith Innes,  is 2nd favourite at $6. To add to the spice, both horses are raced by large syndicates, 45 or so in the GINGERNUTS Syndicate and 78 in the CHANCE TO DANCE syndicate. Watch out for the noise if these two finish up in a two horse war in the run home!!!

Here is the trackwork summary from Tuesday morning

Gingernuts and Chance To Dance confirmed their readiness for Saturday’s Livamol Classic when paired in impressive work at Matamata this morning.

Galloping 18 metres out on a heavy course proper, Gingernuts (Bosson) and Chance To Dance (Pinn) set off at a steady rate and built momentum from the 1200m to run that distance in 1:22.8. Their last 1000m took 1:07.5 and they hit the line together full of running with a final 600m in 39.4.

Co-trainer Stephen Autridge was well satisfied with the stablemates’ final serious hitout ahead of the Hastings Group One. “That was decent work, just right,” he said. “They’re both ready for big runs.

Of course, it it not just a two horse race, with quality proven horses such as Volkstock ‘n’barrell, Authentic Paddy, Sofia Rosa, Mime and Close Up in the mix.

Fortuna Director, John Galvin, takes the NZTR handicapping rules as they are currently framed to task and is featured in a full page article in last week’s Informant.

“The current rules were framed with the best of intentions,” says John, “but there have been unintended consequences. If the Fortuna horse, CHANCE TO DANCE, had run 2nd in the Karaka Classic by a nose, then he, an eight win horse with earnings of over $450,000 and on a Handicap Rating of 101, would be one spot behind ALL IN VOGUE, a four win horse with earnings of $77,000 and a Handicap Rating of just 77, in the Group One Livamol Classic on Saturday and sweating on a start as a result. He did win the Karaka Classic of course and so therefore leapfrogged over a number of other horses with lower Handicap ratings, but that doesn’t make the situation right.” John has called for an urgent review of the rules by the NZTR Handicapping Committee. Click HERE to read the full story.

Big weekend for the Fortuna Malaysian Racing Team

Last Saturday four Fortuna Malaysian based runners, EATONS GOLD, READY FORTUNE, OUR RIVER DANCER, KING SAVINSKY were all set to race on their home track at Penang, however torrential rain saw the meeting canceled and so now all four will race at Ipoh at the Perak Turf Club, this coming weekend.

By Denis Ryan – Editor – The Informant

John Galvin with his champion two-year-old Melody Belle. 

One of the most discussed issues in racing, especially around this time of year, is the set of rules that govern the starting order in major races.

Amongst those in the frontline of that debate right now is John Galvin, the director of authorised syndicator Fortuna whose horse Chance To Dance was balloted out of Saturday’s Gr. 1 Windsor Park Plate at Hastings.

As an option to kick off his season, the Irish-bred gelding started in – and won – the Listed Haunui Farm Karaka Classic at Pukekohe a day after his stablemate Gingernuts had notched his third Group One win in the Hastings feature.

“I firmly believe that Group racing should be all about the best meeting the best; I imagine it would be hard to get any participant in the racing industry to disagree with that,” says Galvin.

“There may, however, be some who would argue for an exception or two from that general principle. That may well be why, when the NZTR Handicapping Review Committee met in late 2015 to consider rule changes and amendments for Group racing, changes were made that effectively provide advantage to horses on lower ratings over horses on higher ratings in non-handicap Group weight-for-age and set weight and penalty races.”

As Galvin points out, the rules are rather complex, but essentially any horse that has won or placed in a Group One or Two race or won a Group Three or Listed race in the 18 months prior to a Group race they have been nominated for will rank ahead of horses that may be on a higher handicap rating but have not won or placed in black type races as outlined.

For example, a horse with a handicap rating of 90 that has won a Listed race would rank ahead of a horse with a rating of 100 if that horse had not placed at Group One or Two or won a Group Three or Listed race in the previous 18 months.

“You would think that the Handicapping Review Committee would have good reason to make these changes, given that they do push against the basic principle of the best against the best,” says Galvin. “From what I can gather, however, the Committee was swayed by the argument that up and coming four-year-olds who had won Group or Listed Races as three-year-olds would be kept out of some Group races (particularly in the spring) by older horses who had historically high handicap ratings.

“We have to consider that if one group of horses is being favoured over another group in order to achieve a certain outcome, that is unfair on the group who are pushed out.”

“I am not privy to the actual issues considered by the Committee but perhaps they were swayed by arguments that these four-year-olds may choose to race In Australia if they could not make the fields for Group races here, or that their connections may choose to sell to overseas owners, again because they could not get a start in these nice races.

“These arguments do have merit, but we have to consider that if one group of horses is being favoured over another group in order to achieve a certain outcome, firstly that is unfair on the group who are pushed out and, secondly, there may also be unintended consequences.”

Galvin backs his argument by citing the impact of these rules on the Windsor Park Plate. In all 19 horses made the final withdrawal deadline, 14 to start and five on the ballot. The lowest rated horse among the 14 that made the cut had a handicap rating of 90. The two horses ranked 17th and 18th, Chance to Dance and Amarula, had ratings of 101 and 100 respectively.

The 15th and 16th ranked horses, Rock On and Charles Road, had handicap ratings of 85 and 81 respectively, which was significantly below the two horses immediately behind them in order of entry.

The field of 14 contained just two four-year-olds, Gingernuts (rating 105) and Volpe Veloce (94). The rules set by the Handicapping Review Committee were not needed for Gingernuts, whose rating was the third highest, whereas Volpe Veloce was clearly advantaged by the rules.

“Let me hasten to add that these observations are not intended to take aim at any horse or their connections,” said Galvin. “There were two other top four-year-olds, Bonneval and Jon Snow, who would not have had any trouble making the field, but the connections of both had option to pursue their opportunities in Australia instead.

“The point here being is that if these rule changes were designed to make it easier for promising four-year-olds to participate in New Zealand Group racing, but with the exception of Volpe Veloce, there were actually no others that made the final 14.”

Galvin takes his argument further by referring to the “unintended consequences” of the selection criteria

“Of the six starters with handicap ratings lower than Chance to Dance and Amarula, their ratings ranged from 99 down to 90, yet only one was a four-year-old and only one finished in the first six. The first six finishers had ratings ranging from 108 to 99.

“Imagine the reactions of the connections of both Chance to Dance and Amarula, horses with ratings of 101 and 100 respectively. You would certainly think that they would have good reason to feel aggrieved and again I come back the basic principle of ‘best to meet the best.

“As the racing manager of Chance to Dance, I have had great difficulty in trying to explain the reason for these rules to my large group of owners.”

Galvin further states that the scenario around the third and final Group One race of the Hawke’s Bay carnival, the Livamol Classic, paints a similar picture.

“As the Livamol field stands at the moment, the same two horses, Chance to Dance and Amarula are ranked 23rd and 24th on order of entry and I calculate that 13 horses ranked above them are lower rated and only one of those, Charles Road, is a four-year-old.

“Again, I ask if this is fair. I am sure that there will be withdrawals from the field during this coming week, but the point is that these rules seem to be patently wrong and should be reviewed.

“Last Friday I received an email referred to as the NZTR CEO Update, which included the following comments from CEO Bernard Saundry:

“A focus on ownership will be one of NZTR’s priorities over the next 18 months.

Owner participation is the bedrock of our sport. Without owners, there can be no racing.

In the 2017-18 season we will begin a dedicated programme of work, designed to break down the barriers to horse ownership and improve the ownership experience.”

“Exactly Bernard,” responds Galvin, “but let me make my position clear. I am not a breeder, I am not an administrator, but I do represent over 600 people in our various syndications who are “Owners.”

“What I want for these owners is a system of entry into Group races that is fair, transparent and does not seek to advance a certain category of horse up the queue. We should be adopting the basic principle of “the best meeting the best” and applying that principle without fear or favour.”

CHANCE TO DANCE  takes out the Listed Karaka Classic at Pukekohe on his NZ Debut

Now 2nd Favourite for the Livamol Classic at Hastings 7th October

An amazing syndication story – all shares in this horse sold in 8 days – 78 individual Members in the Syndicate

Denied the opportunity to race in the Group One Windsor Park Plate at Hastings on Saturday, the 8yo Irish Bred Gelding, CHANCE TO DANCE (Teofilo-Crystal Ballet) seized the moment  the following day with victory in the Karaka Classic (Listed)  at Pukekohe. Fresh up over 1600 metres and carrying top weight of 60kgs under Handicap conditions on a Heavy 10 track, CHANCE TO DANCE certainly looked vulnerable, as a Fixed Odds Price of $18 on the morning of the race would attest to. Ridden by Opie Bosson, the horse jumped nicely from a good draw and raced mid field, Bosson resisted the option of going wide on the turn, content to stay one out from the rail and wait for openings  to come in the run home. The gaps opened and Bosson urged his willing mount between two horses with just 50 metre to go and prevailed on the line by a neck.

Click HERE to see the race result and replay.

Fortuna Director John Galvin accompanied by more than 30 ecstatic owners was glowing after the race. “This horse has always had a bit of quality about him based on his very good Irish and Australian form – he has thrived here in New Zealand under the new Training Team and we think he has a lot more to give us yet.”

Holding nominations for both the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups, the next race for CHANCE TO DANCE will be the Group One Livamol Classic (2040 metres) at Hastings on 7th October, giving his Trainers, Te Akau Racing’s Stephen Autridge and Jamie Richards a strong hand to play in that event, given that they also train race favourite, Gingernuts.

CHANCE TO DANCE, formerly owned by Lloyd Williams, was acquired by Fortuna on the recommendation of Fortuna’s Singapore Trainer, Mark Walker, at the Inglis Chairmans Sale in Sydney in April 2017 for A$260,000. He had his first start in the first running of the 2017 Sydney Cup finishing 2nd in the race, only to find the the race had been declared a “no race” by the Stewards. He finished 5th in the subsequent re-run two weeks later. He is now the winner of eight races from just 29 starts and has career earnings of close to $500,000. He is raced by the Chance to Dance Syndicate, an ownership group of 78 individuals.

KING SAVINSKY makes it six career wins when leading all the way to win at the Penang Turf Club 24th September

Seven Year Old Gelding KING SAVINSKY (Savabeel-Lynisky) led all the way on his home course of Penang in Malaysia.Beautifully rated in front by S Salee, he held on bravely on very heavy track conditions to score his sixth career win, including successes in New Zealand (one), Singapore (three) and Malaysia (two).

KING SAVINSKY is trained at Penang by ex-pat Kiwi conditioner Sharee Hamilton.

Click HERE to see race replays – (Race 5)

KING SAVINSKY was selected and acquired by David Ellis on behalf of Fortuna Syndicators at the 2012 Karaka yearling sale for the sum of $95,000 and is raced by the Fortuna King Savinsky Syndicate, an ownership group of  29 individuals

YES, it is a Family Business, Joshua Galvin, aged Two and a bit, accepting the Karaka Classic Trophy at Pukekohe on Saturday

Fortuna runners this week

ITS OUR SHOWTIME at Avondale Wednesday 27th, JACKS SECRET resuming from a break in Singapore on Friday night and EATONS GOLD seeks his 10th career win at the Penang Turf Club on Sunday on Saturday, along with OUR RIVER DANCER, READY FORTUNE and last start winner KING SAVINSKY.

Denied the opportunity to race in the Group One Windsor Park Plate at Hastings on Saturday, the 8yo Irish Bred Gelding, CHANCE TO DANCE (Teofilo-Crystal Ballet) seized the moment  the following day with victory in the Karaka Classic (Listed)  at Pukekohe. Fresh up over 1600 metres and carrying top weight of 60kgs under Handicap conditions on a Heavy 10 track, CHANCE TO DANCE certainly looked vulnerable, as a Fixed Odds Price of $18 on the morning of the race would attest to. Ridden by Opie Bosson, the horse jumped nicely from a good draw and raced mid field, Bosson resisted the option of going wide on the turn, content to stay one out from the rail and wait for openings  to come in the run home. The gaps opened and Bosson urged his willing mount between two horses with just 50 metre to go and prevailed on the line by a neck.

Click HERE to see the race replay

CHANCE TO DANCE winning Karaka Classic – Counties Racing Club – September 24th 2017

Fortuna Director John Galvin accompanied by more than 30 ecstatic owners was glowing after the race. “This horse has always had a bit of quality about him based on his very good Irish and Australian form – he has thrived here in New Zealand under the new Training Team and we think he has a lot more to give us yet.”

Holding nominations for both the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups, the next race for CHANCE TO DANCE is likely to be the Group One Livamol Classic (2040 metres) at Hastings on 7th October, giving his Trainers, Te Akau Racing’s Stephen Autridge and Jamie Richards a strong hand to play in that event, given that they also train race favourite, Gingernuts.

CHANCE TO DANCE, formerly owned by Lloyd Williams, was acquired by Fortuna on the recommendation of Fortuna’s Singapore Trainer, Mark Walker, at the Inglis Chairmans Sale in Sydney in April 2017 for A$260,000. He had his first start in the first running of the 2017 Sydney Cup finishing 2nd in the race, only to find the the race had been declared a “no race” by the Stewards. He finished 5th in the subsequent re-run two weeks later. He is now the winner of eight races from just 29 starts and has career earnings of close to $500,000. He is raced by the Chance to Dance Syndicate, an ownership group of 78 individuals.

Seven Year Old Gelding KING SAVINSKY (Savabeel-Lynisky) led all the way on his home course of Penang in Malaysia.Beautifully rated in front by S Salee, he held on bravely on very heavy track conditions to score his sixth career win, including successes in New Zealand (one), Singapore (three) and Malaysia (two).

KING SAVINSKY is trained at Penang by ex-pat Kiwi conditioner Sharee Hamilton.

Click HERE to see race Video replay 

KING SAVINSKY was selected and acquired by David Ellis on behalf of Fortuna Syndicators at the 2012 Karaka yearling sale for the sum of $95,000 and is raced by the Fortuna King Savinsky Syndicate, an ownership group of  29 individuals

CHANCE TO DANCE  to make his NZ Racing debut this weekend.

The 8yo son of Teofilo, acquired by Fortuna at Sydney’s Chairman’s sale last April will either make his NZ debut in the (Group One) Windsor Park Plate at Hastings on Saturday 23rd or the (Listed) Karaka Classic at Pukekohe Sunday 24th, both races over the 1600 metre trip. Ranked the 8th highest rated horse in the Windsor Park, CHANCE TO DANCE is, due to the Race Entry Conditions, ranked 19th in Order of Entry and would need 5 withdrawals to make the field. “We will accept at both venues and make a decision later in the week” said Fortuna Director, John Galvin. “Either of these races are designed as a lead up race for the Livamol Classic (7th October) and while, under normal circumstances, we would be happy to take the softer option of the Counties race, it looks like it could be a very Heavy Track there on Sunday and that would not be ideal as a lead up race for the 2000 metre event 13 days later.” The winner of 5 races in Ireland and Australia and NZ$455,000 in prize money, CHANCE TO DANCE has a NZ rating of 101

The NZ Racing Board (TAB) continues to Sleepwalk

Item in italics below from the Informant racing publication.

Last week the New Zealand Racing Board learnt that the Australian Parliament had passed legislation banning anyone based in Australia from betting on racing or sports through offshore agencies. It is believed the Interactive Gambling Amendment Act, which was first tabled in Canberra late last year, was aimed at rogue betting platforms in Asia and elsewhere, but perhaps inadvertently the New Zealand TAB was caught up in the same net.

The NZRB, which incorporates our TAB, became aware of the legislation last week and acknowledging that it would be breaking the law, one of its first moves was to notify its Australian-based account holders – said to number around 800 – that they had been locked out of their accounts and any monies therein would be refunded by cheque.

Even so, the situation the TAB now finds itself is far from satisfactory, as agreed by NZRB CEO John Allen when he discussed the matter with www.theinformant.co.nz.

“When the Select Committee in Canberra was working through the proposed legislation they wrote to what they deemed relevant organisations, but as far as I’m aware no New Zealand organisation was invited to make a submission,” Allen said.

“We knew Australia was going to clamp down on illegal gambling operators, but the New Zealand TAB certainly wasn’t seen as one of them. What happened was they came up with a solution and the absolutely unintended consequence was that our Australian account holders have been blocked.”

We can only shake our heads at this – here we have an organisation ( NZ Racing Board) on which the three racing codes are almost completely dependent on their source of income (betting percentages), an organisation which is extremely top heavy with highly paid executives and they seemed to have been completely and utterly unaware of how this situation was unfolding. Talk about getting caught with your pants down!!!! CEO John Allen can put as much spin on it as he likes, but the reality is that TAB income from its Australian based customers will now cease and New Zealanders traveling to Australia will be unable to bet via the NZ TAB on their cell phones or laptops. Just to show how much these highly paid TAB people actually know about racing, one of them came up with a solution to the New Zealanders traveling in Australia problem by suggesting “that a solution would be to place your bets before heading to Australia.”  What a joke!!! This “spokesman” was unnamed of course!!!

Fortuna runners this week

CHANCE TO DANCE either at Hastings on 23rd or Counties 24th, HIDDEN PROMISE  Singapore Friday 22nd while OUR RIVER DANCER, READY FORTUNE and KING SAVINSKY all racing on their home track of Penang Saturday 23rd.

Weather Conditions making it hard for Trainers

A few more grey hairs and furrowed brows are apparent among the ranks of NZ Trainers at the moment as they struggle with sodden training tracks, postponed and canceled trials and the need to prepare their equine charges adequately ahead of their upcoming Spring and Summer racing targets. The need for an all-weather  racing/training facility is very apparent, but until implementation of such a project, Trainers (and Owners) just have to suck up the conditions as best they can. Te Akau Training Stables will soon take delivery of a mechanical walker, a device which would certainly be useful for helping horses  get fit when weather conditions are difficult. Ironically, the bad weather is not over all of NZ, Hasting track as at 9am this morning is a Good 3!!!!

Fortuna’s MELODY BELLE crowned Champion Two Year Old of the Year

Sunday evening 10th September saw an expectant crowd of 500 people plus at Auckland’s Langham Hotel for the 2017 NZ Thoroughbred Horse of The Year Awards. Included amongst those present were 30 guests of Fortuna Ltd, there to support the Fortuna Filly, MELODY BELLE who was one of three nominees (Gold Fever and Summer Passage were the other two) for the prestigious Two Year Old of The Year Award. Melody Belle and Summer Passage had finished their stellar 2yo seasons on equal ratings points, so while Fortuna Director, John Galvin, was reasonably confident that his charge would get the nod, it certainly wasn’t a done deal in his mind. Voting for these awards is done by a panel of 57 individuals associated with racing, comprising Racing writers and other media, Industry Office holders and other relevant parties. In the end, John need not have worried with 46 votes going to MELODY BELLE and 11 to SUMMER PASSAGE. Observing their Filly’s name pulled from the envelope brought a few tears of joy to the eyes of her Members present. John Galvin accepted the Award on behalf of the Fortuna Melody Belle Syndicate, an ownership Group of 34 people. For the record, Melody Belle, who was a $57,500 purchase at the 2016 Karaka Premier Sale, started seven times, for four wins and a third during her 2yo season and amassed prizempney of $865,000. Her wins included the Karaka Million (Listed), the Manawatu Sires Produce Stakes (Group One) and the Queensland Sires Produce Stakes (Group Two)

Of significant note also from the evening was the award to Te Akau Principal, David Ellis, of the very prestigious “Outstanding Contribution to Racing” Award. John Galvin comments “this award to David is long overdue – he is literally a giant of our industry and has made a huge contribution to Thoroughbred racing in New Zealand – I am very proud to have David as a very good friend and a wonderful business associate.”

CHANCE TO DANCE Taupo Track Gallop

Canceled trials at Cambridge last Thursday and again Tuesday 12th (due to rain sodden track) led the Te Akau Training Team to float a few of their horses with upcoming assignments to Taupo Tuesday 12th to gallop under reasonable track conditions. Fortuna 8yo CHANCE TO DANCE  was one of those and in the hands of Opie Bosson and galloping with stable mate HUSHED, he ran 1200 metres in 1.18, the last 600 in 38.4, solid work on a track rated as a Slow 7. CHANCE TO DANCE, who ran 5th for the Fortuna team in the 2017 Sydney Cup, has his main NZ Spring target as the 2000 Metre Livamol Classic (Group One) at Hastings on 7th October and a strong performance there could see him contest the Caulfield Cup on 21st October.

Fortuna Singapore runners this week.

Friday night in Singapore sees last start winner, the 5yo gelding, HIDDEN PROMISE, race in a Class 4 event over 1600 metres. Now the winner of three races in Singapore, “Bart” as he is nicknamed, has proven to be a very progressive type and his performance in Friday’s race, his first time in Class 4 company, should provide a good guide as to his future prospects in Singapore. Sunday evening in Singapore sees 4yo Gelding, MAJOR TOM, race in the Class 3 event over 1200 metres. The impressive winner of three races in Singapore in the 2017 season, he disappointed in his last two starts, striking very firm tracks not to his liking. Freshened and back to 1200 metres with blinkers on for the first time, he is being given his chance to atone.

NZ RACING DESK reports

Melody Belle is back in work with trainers Stephen Autridge and Jamie Richards ahead of another Group One campaign.

Last season’s Gr. 1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes and Karaka Million winner enjoyed a good break after a Queensland campaign that netted a victory in the Gr. 2 Queensland Sires’ Produce Stakes.

“She had an eight-week spell after returning from Brisbane and has now just finished three weeks’ pre-training on the walker,” Fortuna Syndications director John Galvin said.

“Jamie and Steve will now get her ready for a trial later in the spring, and race plans at this stage are to have her resuming over 1200 metres in early December, then into the Sistema Railway at Ellerslie on New Year’s day before tackling the Karaka 3YO Classic at the end of January.”

Expectations were high for the Fortuna 5yo Mare, ITS OUR SHOWTIME resuming at Ruakaka last Saturday – her work had been first class and she had won a trial at Te Teko in early August, however victory was not to be with her not getting all favours in the run and finishing 7th.

Last Start winner, the seven year old KING SAVINSKY tried hard at the Perak Turf Club (Malaysia) on a heavy track, but 4th was his lot

Three Year old BEAU GESTE trialed at Te Teko last Thursday under very heavy track conditions – many  trainers that were there on the day commented that the track was the heaviest they had ever seen. BEAU GESTE, a staying type was having his first trial as a 3yo over 850 metres, didn’t really handle the track and finished back in the field under no pressure – he will trial over more ground next time.

More sobering news for the Fortuna Team during the week was the fact that our very promising 4yo High Chaparral Mare, DAME MARGO FONTEYN, would need to be retired due to a back issue. Stakes placed and the winner of two races as a 3yo “Cilla” had also run with merit, finishing 7th without luck, in the Group One NZ Oaks. The Team had high hopes for her this season, thinking that as a genuine staying type, she could have had Cups potential. With her pedigree however and her race track performance, she will realise a good price for her Syndicate Members as a broodmare prospect.

On  a brighter note, Fortuna 2yo Superstar , MELODY BELLE, has returned to work to prepare for her 3yo season. This news item below from the NZ Racing Desk.

Top filly building toward 3YO season

Melody Belle is back in work with trainers Stephen Autridge and Jamie Richards ahead of another Group One campaign.

Last season’s Gr.1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes and Karaka Million winner enjoyed a good break after her Queensland campaign that netted a victory in the Gr.2 Queensland Sires’ Produce Stakes.

“She had an eight-week spell after returning from Brisbane and has now just finished three weeks pre training on the walker,” Fortuna Syndications director John Galvin said.

“Jamie and Steve will now get her ready for a trial later in the spring and race plans at this stage are to have her resuming over 1200 metres in early December, then into the Sistema Railway at Ellerslie on New Year’s day before tackling the Karaka 3YO Classic at the end of January.”

Talking of MELODY BELLE, Sunday 10th September sees the occasion of the Annual Thoroughbred Awards and the filly is one of three nominees for Two Year Old of The Year Award. Fortuna have booked three tables with 30 attendees, so all are looking forward to having a great evening and hoping that Melody Belle’s name comes out of the envelope.

Trials at Cambridge on Thursday 7th sees the Fortuna 8yo CHANCE TO DANCE have his final trial before his NZ Race day debut. The winner of 7  races in Ireland and Australia, boasting prizemoney earnings of $455,000, a rating of 101 and twice placed over the Two Mile trip, “Ted” as he is known, adds some real depth to the quality of the NZ Staying ranks – the Group One Livamol Classic over 2000 metres on 7th October at Hastings is his first primary target in NZ this season.

Finally, one Fortuna runner this weekend and an exciting one as well- 3yo SHAMROCK makes his 2nd career start in Singapore Sunday 10th in the $75,000 Restricted Maiden event  over 1200 metres. Desperately unlucky on debut when squeezed for a run and finishing 2nd, he is sure to give a sight this weekend.