Six in a row – New Zealand based Fortuna Thoroughbred Syndications enjoying amazing winning sequence

Winning streaks are hard to come by in the very competitive world of Thoroughbred racing, but six New Zealand based runners to the races since mid June have produced six wins in succession for Fortuna Thoroughbred Syndications. The streak began on June 18th when 3yo gelding HIGHLY LIKELY (High Chaparral) won a 2100 metre Highweight event at just his second race day start. Then on 20th August, the 3yo Filly, DARCI’S DREAM (Darci Brahma), already a winner as a 2yo, beat a good field of 3yo fillies at Taupo at her first run as a 3yo. HIGHLY LIKELY, who had been freshened after his first victory in June and now a 4yo, then won a Rating 65 event over 1600 metres at Matamata on 27th August. On September 11th the Gelding SIR DARCI (Darci Brahma), already a three win horse as a 3yo and having his first run as a 4yo, won a Rating 75 event over 1200 metres at New Plymouth. Next up was 3yo Gelding PRINCE HENRY (Henrythenavigator), an impressive trial winner in August and now having his first race day start. He duly obliged, producing a strong finish off a wide barrier draw to score at Taupo over 1200 metres on 19th September. The following day at Riccarton, DARCI’S DREAM stepped out in the time honoured Canterbury Belle Stakes, a Listed race for 3yo fillies and produced a withering finish to take out the 1200 metre event.

“ People are asking me what the secret is,” laughs Fortuna Director, John Galvin, “ but really, we are not doing anything different to what we have always done since we started syndicating back in 2007. We have continued to buy athletic, well conformed horses with nice pedigrees; horses that are in a reasonable price range for syndication and then apply a highly professional to handling and training via our Training establishment, Te Akau Racing, under the steady hand of Jason Bridgman.”

Asked how long the streak can continue for, John Galvin replied,”Well, what I have learned from my involvement in racing over a long period of time is that this game is a great leveller; so we will take what we can get now as I am sure we will have some lean streaks in the future. But the pressure is now really on HIGHLY LIKELY to win at Matamata on 24th September and if he does get up to make it seven wins in succession for us, then all the pressure will be SIR DARCI when he races next at Hastings on 4th October.”