Fortunato steps up for hometown Guineas
Unbeaten three-year-old Fortunato will face the biggest test of his short career when he steps out in Saturday’s Gr.2 Hawke’s Bay Guineas (1400m) at Hastings.
The Guy Lowry and Leah Zydenbos-trained gelding created a strong impression on debut at Taupō last month, coming from last to defeat a field containing several proven black-type performers over 1100m.
Fortunato is rated a $4.80 second favourite for Saturday’s feature, with the market headed by the Roger James and Robert Wellwood-trained Excite at $3.60.
That performance followed victories in both of his trials, and Lowry has long held a high opinion of the son of Per Incanto.
“He’s a horse who’s always shown us a huge amount of ability at home,” Lowry said.
“He’s won every trial and jumpout, and we’ve had a lot of time for him since the very beginning.
“Craig Grylls rode him first-up and quickly told us that he was keen to stick with him, so that gives us a bit of confidence.”
Fortunato has been given time to develop since his August 16 debut and pleased his trainers when galloping between races recently.
“We think he’s going alright leading into Saturday,” Lowry said. “He galloped between races the other day and went nicely. He seems to be where we want him to be.”
Saturday will present two new challenges for Fortunato, with the gelding stepping straight from maiden company into Group Two company and stretching from 1100m to 1400m.
Lowry is realistic about the task, particularly with several of Fortunato’s Taupō rivals having had the opportunity to progress since their first-up meeting.
“He won pretty nicely that day,” he said.
“He was perhaps a bit more ready than some of the others in that field, and they may have caught up with him a little bit through the few weeks since then.
“So all we can do is line him up in a race like this on Saturday and see whether he still measures up with some of the better ones of his age.”
The additional 300m is another unknown, although Fortunato’s racing manners give Lowry confidence he will give himself every opportunity to see out the distance.
“The step up from 1100m to 1400m is a bit of a query, and I can’t guarantee that he’ll handle it,” he said.
“But he’s shown in his trials and that first start that he can relax quite nicely, so I think there’s a good chance he’ll manage it.”
Co-bred by Little Avondale Stud, Fortunato is by the stud’s headline stallion Per Incanto.
Victory on Saturday would carry extra significance for the locally based Lowry and Zydenbos stable, with Hastings hosting its first Group One raceday since September 2024 following extensive work on the track.
Fortunato will also attempt to become the first locally-trained winner of the Hawke’s Bay Guineas since Jimmy Choux won the race for John Bary in 2010.
“It’ll be really good to have a big day like this in Hawke’s Bay again,” Lowry said.
“We’ve been waiting a while through the track renovations. The track’s looking in great order, so it should be good racing. We’re all looking forward to it.”
