FORTUNA Director, John Galvin, as been his custom for the past few years, will be spending the next few days at the annual New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Yearling Sales, looking for further additions to the FORTUNA team of thoroughbreds.

“My expectation of this year’s sale is that prices will be solid, rather than spectacular, the well presented lots with top pedigrees will sell very well as usual, but there will be excellent buying opportunities for buyers such as FORTUNA,” says John Galvin. ” In particular, I think there will be great buying at the Select Sale, especially with Fillies.”

John’s strategy at this Sales will be to acquire two nicely bred, athletic Colts that have the potential to be competitive in the Classic 3yo Guineas and Derby events plus a nicely bred filly by a top Sire to be aimed at the 2014 Karaka Million event.

A further option this year is to acquire a filly that will go to Singapore to race under the care of Mark Walker. ” This is an idea that Mark Walker has been promoting to me for a while. Not many fillies race in Singapore, but those that do have performed very well as they are well suited by the weight allowance they obtain there. The plan is to buy a nice type at the Karaka Sales, take advantage of the excellent growing and climatic conditions that NZ provides for young horses by breaking her in and giving her a preparation through to trial level, and then transport her to Singapore with the initial aim of contesting the very rich 2yo events run in Singapore from April through to July 2104.”

Readers who wish to register interest with FORTUNA for any purchases he may make at the Sales can contact John directly by cellphone 021 921 460 or email john@fortuna-nz.com

Typically a 5% share in a FORTUNA acquired yearling will be in a price range of NZ$5,000 to NZ$9,000; this initial cost includes ALL initial costs such as purchase of the horse, GST, 12 months insurance costs, Promoters fees plus a healthy amount of working capital. Monthly ongoing costs (commencing April 2013) will be  NZ$150 per month per 5% share.

LORD ROBERTO, the 4yo Gelding raced by the Fortuna (No 15) Syndicate, races at Singapore’s Kranji racecourse over 1400 metres on the Turf track Friday 25th January. LORD ROBERTO (Encosta de Lago-Prized Glory), put in a very bold run on January 6th, when resuming after a four month layoff, running a strong second placing over the 1200 metre trip, one far too short for him.

Highly regarded by his connections, LORD ROBERTO is a strong, dour staying type, who is on a path to the Singapore Derby, run in July 2013. He will be ridden again by Singapore’s Champion Jockey, Joao Moreira, who rode him at his last start.

LORD ROBERTO is fashioning a consistent record in Singapore to date, having a win, two seconds and a third from just four starts and over $57,000 in the bank from prizemoney to date.

Race Details Here:
·        RACE DATE:  Friday 25 January at Singapore Racecourse.
·        RACE NUMBER & TIME: Race 9 at 10.20pm (3.20am NZ time)
·        HORSE NUMBER: 3
·        RACE DETAILS: Class 4 Handicap of $55,000
·        DISTANCE & TRACK: 1400m on the Turf Long Course C
·        JOCKEY: J Moreira
·        WEIGHT: 56kgs
·       BARRIER: 4 of 14

KAYLEEN has been impressive without winning at her three previous starts, finishing 2nd twice and third once. Her last start 3rd was a resuming run after a spell over the 1150 metre distance which was probably a little short for her and she should relish the extra 200 metres of  Thursday’s race.

Syndicate Manager, John Galvin, is very pleased with his charge, ” Trainer Jason Bridgman has been very pleased with the quality of her work since her resuming run and she should run very boldly on Thursday.”

KAYLEEN will be ridden by the experienced Kylie Williams.

Race Details Here:

Course: Gore
Track:  currently dead 4 & fine
Date:    Thursday 24 January
Race:    4
Time:    2:55 pm
Event:  Maiden 1335m
Draw:  8 of 15
Weight:  55 kg
Jockey: Kylie Williams

KAYLEEN ( Inner) at trackwork

The promising 4yo LORD ROBERTO ( Encosta de Lag0-Prized Glory), already a winner in Singapore, resumes from a spell following his impressive last start win in Singapore last August. LORD ROBERTO has had just three Singapore starts and has already accumulated S$47,000 for his ownership group, the Fortuna (No 15) Syndicate.

A real staying type, LORD ROBERTO is being aimed at the Singapore Derby in July 2013.

Drawn 3 at the barrier on Sunday, LORD ROBERTO will be ridden by Singapore Champion jockey, Joao Moreira.

Race Details Here:

RACE DATE:  Sunday 6 January at Singapore Racecourse.
·        RACE NUMBER & TIME: Race 3 at 1.50pm (6.50pm NZ time)
·        HORSE NUMBER: 4
·        RACE DETAILS: Class 4 Division 3 Handicap of $55,000
·        DISTANCE & TRACK: 1200m on the Polytrack
·        JOCKEY: J Moreira
·        WEIGHT: 55.5kgs
·       BARRIER: 3 of 12

Trainer Mark Walker comments here:

LORD ROBERTO worked very strongly this morning ahead of his start this coming Sunday 6th in the Class 4 event on the Polytrack. He has come along very nicely this preparation and I could not be more pleased with him. Three weeks ago, I regarded this coming start as merely a lead up run, but given the quality of his trackwork, his excellent barrier draw and having the Singapore Champion jockey aboard, I think that with luck in the running and a good tempo up front, he will be a very strong each way chance. The race plan will be to let him jump nicely, get a nice position in behind the speed and then try and finish over them in the straight.

Lord Roberto winning in Singapore August 2012

3yo Filly, KAYLEEN, narrowly defeated at her last start at Motukarara on 2nd November makes her resumption after a spell this coming Saturday in a Maiden event over 1100 metres at Greymouth. Desperately unlucky at her last start, being severely checked by the eventual winner, Sir Singo, in the run home, KAYLEEN ( Towkay-Indomitable), has developed and matured during her time away from the track and is poised to put in a strong showing over her coming campaign.

KAYLEEN is raced by the Fortuna (N0 26) Syndicate and will be ridden this Saturday by the vastly experienced David Walsh.

Race Details Here:

Course: Greymouth
Track:  currently slow 9
Date:    Saturday 5 January
Race:    7
Time:    3:56 pm
Event:  Maiden 1100m
Draw:  4 of 10
Weight:  55 kg
Jockey: David Walsh

Trainer Jason Bridgman Comments Here:

Kayleen returns to the races Saturday after a freshen up. Her first two runs were very good and she was unlucky not to win her second start. After ten days off she comes into this race without a trial and has put on a lot of condition and really strengthened in that time. It has been a blessing for her and her work has been first rate. While we expect natural improvement out of this race, with her experience and residual fitness, I expect a bold run fresh over 1100m. She should get a suitable track, handles a tight-turning track well, and has drawn nicely with leading West Coast rider David Walsh aboard. She can put herself handy with her barrier speed and provided she is fit enough, she will be a very strong each way chance.

KAYLEEN