Six yearlings for Fortuna at Karaka

Fortuna Ltd, the Waikato-based Thoroughbred Syndicator, played a strong hand at the recent Karaka Yearling Sales, acquiring six yearlings in total.

‘‘Things went very well for us at the sales,’’ Fortuna director John Galvin said.

‘‘We had 15 yearlings on our short list with the aim of buying five to six and in the end finished up with six, five of them below our budget and one right on budget.’’

Fortuna acquired four yearlings from the Premier Sales.

A Bachelor Duke filly out of Multiple Group Winner, Keepa Crusin, a half-sister to Seachange was bought for $100,000. Later in the day another filly, this one by Iffraaj out of the Matamata Breeders Stakes winner Naturo, was knocked down to Fortuna for just $27,500, and then a Sakhees Secret colt out of the Eight Carat Classic winner Spin N Grin was bought for $25,000.

‘‘We were rapt to get the Bachelor Duke filly,’’ Mr Galvin said.

"With her pedigree she could have excellent residual valuable as a broodmare. The Iffraaj filly and The Sakhees Secret colt will both go to Singapore to race in Mark Walker’s care and they were wonderful buying given their type and pedigrees.’’

Fortuna wrapped up its Premier Sale purchases by paying $ 30,000 for a colt by Darci Brahma out of Twelve Carat.

At the Select Sale Fortuna bought two more fillies, the first for $90,000, by Savabeel out of the Stravinsky mare Lynisky, making her a full sister to Fortuna’s wellperformed and NZ Derby aspirant, the 3-year old-gelding King Savinsky.

Finally, Fortuna bought a filly by Darci Brahma out of Sweet Dreams Baby for $100,000.

‘‘We had identified this filly as the nicest Darci Brahma filly in the sale and we were very determined to buy her. She is a full sister to Fortuna 2- year- old, Darci’s Dream, who is a dual trial winner and showing a lot of promise,’’ Mr Galvin said.