Joyful Fortune Back in the Game

Tara Madgwick - Saturday March 29

Sparingly raced for an eight year-old gelding, Nicconi sprinter Joyful Fortune has never lacked for talent, but an interrupted career due to injury means we don’t see him very often, but the Lindsay Park team had him ready to rock and roll at Flemington on Saturday and he duly won the Listed VRC ATA Bob Hoysted Stakes (1000m).

Joyful Fortune back in winning form at Flemington - image Grant Courtney

Ridden by Ethan Brown, Joyful Fortune was having his third run for the Hayes boys in his current preparation and proved too good in scoring by half length. He led home a trifecta for Widden sires beating Major Share (Overshare) and Midwest (Zoustar).

Selected to run in the 2022 Everest won by Giga Kick, Joyful Fortune has had several trainers during his career which included a stint in Hong Kong, but now might be finding his best form late in life.

"His straight form is impeccable, he's a highly-talented galloper, it's just an incredible team effort,” said Will Hayes.

"The team is working together. It started with the team at Euroa getting him right. John Russell and our assistant trainer Sarah Fannin have put so much work into this horse and to get him on raceday is really special.

Advertisement

"We just kept him ticking along. We've got a routine that works for him. We did a trial away this time and just gave him the simulation of a raceday experience and that seems to have done the trick, he just ran enormous."

Joyful Fortune and happy connections - image Grant Courtney

Joyful Fortune was a $110,000 purchase for Orbis Bloodstock from the Fairview Park Stud draft at the 2018 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale and has the overall record of five wins from 13 starts  earning a tick over $1million in prizemoney.

He is the best of two winners from smart Tsuimai mare Sneaky Tsu, a metro winning half-sister to the dam of stakes-winner Epic Grey from the family of Group I winner Quick Flick.

Sneaky Tsu produced another filly last spring by Nicconi, who stands at Widden Victoria.

Advertisment

Race Result - ATA/ Bob Hoysted Hcp LR 1000m

Flemington Track: Good(4) Time: 0:57.29
1
Joyful Fortune
- 8g Nicconi (AUS) x Sneaky Tsu (AUS) (Tsuimai (AUS))
Tnr: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes Rdr: Ethan Brown 56.5
Nicconi
Inglis Classic Yearling Sale $100,000
Seller: Fairview Park Stud, Grose Wold
Buyer: Orbis Bloodstock
2
0.4
Major Share
- 4g Overshare (AUS) x Sweet Talk (AUS) (Northern Meteor (AUS))
Tnr: Adam Chambers Rdr: Tom Madden 54
MM Adelaide Yearling Sale $75,000
Seller: Two Bays Farm, Flinders, Vic (As Agent)
Buyer: Adam Chambers
3
1.2
Midwest
- 6g Zoustar (AUS) x Umgeton (AUS) (Stratum (AUS))
Tnr: A & S Freedman Rdr: Craig Williams 54
Zoustar
Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale Book 1 $200,000
Seller: Noorilim Park, Arcadia
Buyer: William Johnson Bloodstock / Blue Sky Bloodstock (FBAA) / Rosemont Stud
4
2.2
Spacewalk
- 5g Exosphere (AUS) x Benenden (AUS) (Dubawi (IRE))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: B Shinn 58
5
2.2
Sans Doute
- 5m Not A Single Doubt (AUS) x My Prerogative (AUS) (I Am Invincible (AUS))
Tnr: M W Walker Rdr: M J Dee 54
6
2.9
She Dances
- 5m Street Boss (USA) x Charleston Dancer (AUS) (Lonhro (AUS))
Tnr: P G Moody & Katherine Coleman Rdr: Ms L J Meech 54
7
3
Pisanello
- 4g Ribchester (IRE) x Medaille (AUS) (Medaglia D'oro (USA))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: Jamie Melham 54
8
3.2
Oak Hill
- 4g Per Incanto (USA) x Isstoora (AUS) (High Chaparral (IRE))
Tnr: Glen Thompson Rdr: D W Stackhouse 54.5
9
3.5
Oscar's Fortune
- 4g Rich Enuff (AUS) x Oscar Award (AUS) (Sebring (AUS))
Tnr: Gavin Bedggood Rdr: M Zahra 59.5
10
4.2
Extremely Lucky
- 6g Extreme Choice (AUS) x Tamarind Lane (AUS) (Stratum (AUS))
Tnr: W Clarken & N O'Shea Rdr: Beau Mertens 54.5
11
6.5
Home Rule
- 7g Rebel Raider (AUS) x Spiriticity (AUS) (Invincible Spirit (IRE))
Tnr: Maddie Raymond & Patrick Bell Rdr: Jye McNeil 54
12
6.9
Acromantula
- 7g Written Tycoon (AUS) x For Your Eyes Only (AUS) (Bletchley Park (IRE))
Tnr: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes Rdr: L Currie 56
More Reading...
Another Aussie SW Sourced from Aga Khan Studs
When Australian investors buy tried horses out of Europe from Aga Khan Studs they know they are getting quality, but the good ones don’t come cheap with Elamaz (IRE) sourced from their draft at the Arqana Arc Sale last year for €480,000.
Tattersall’s Mile For The Inflictor - Under The Louvre’s Second SW
Third at Listed level before winning at Doomben, the Craig Cousins-trained The Inflictor (Under The Louvre) then tackled the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap, and while not in the same league as winner War Wachine (Harry Angel), the 4yo gelding showed his class on Saturday to win the Listed BRC Tattersall’s Mile (1600m) at Eagle Farm.
Super Seth 3YO Salutes for Baker
A tenacious front-running performance in Saturday’s A$160,000 Captivant @ Kia Ora Handicap (1400m) at Rosehill added a first city victory to Puntin’s burgeoning record.
Miss Joelene Achieves Millionaire Status
This time last year, Miss Joelene was highlighting herself as one to watch for the future, having placed in the Group 2 The Roses and the Group 1 Queensland Oaks, and after a few runs behind the outstanding Antino (Redwood) this time in, a class drop on Saturday saw her record victory in the $200,000 Listed BRC Tattersall’s Gold Crown (2100m) at Eagle Farm.
Almanzor Stayer wins G3 Tattersalls Cup
It's been a long time since the  2022 Victoria Derby and some may have wondered whether the winner Manzoice was ever going to win again!
Better Than Ready’s Metalart Wins Group 3 W J Healy Stakes
Improving off a third in the Listed Lightning Handicap at Eagle Farm recently, 4yo Better Than Ready gelding Metalart stepped up to 1200m to record his first black type success, winning the Group 3 W J Healy Stakes.
Aussie 2YO SW for Tivaci
New Zealand-bred colt Matahga stamped himself as an exciting spring three-year-old prospect with a hard-fought victory in the A$120,000 Listed David Peacock Oaklands Plate (1400m) at Morphettville on Saturday.
Corumbene Stud Homebred Tashi Wins G1 Tatts Tiara
From the last crop of foals sired by Widden Stud’s much missed Golden Slipper winning sire Sebring, five year-old mare Tashi may also be his final Group I winner as she produced a career best performance at Eagle Farm on Saturday to win the $700,000 Group I Tatts Tiara (1400m).
Private Eye’s Half-Brother King’s Secret Wins Again
Although he may never reach the heights of his older half-brother Private Eye, a Group 1 winner and earner of more than $12m to date, connections of King’s Secret (Shalaa) are sure to have plenty of their own fun with the 3yo gelding winning at Rosehill on Saturday.
Joyful Fortune Another Slick Sprinter for Nicconi
Beaten out of a place in The Everest, though far from disgraced, former Hong Kong sprinter Joyful Fortune showed his appreciation for the Flemington straight with a dominant performance in the Listed GH Mumm Century Stakes (1000m).