WA Derby Tilt Looming For Bettor Fortune

Bettor Fortune (NZ) (Bettor’s Delight) continued his golden run in Australia’s golden state when breaking through for his maiden stakes victory in last Friday’s Group Three 3YO Western Gateway (2536m). 

It was Bettor Fortune’s first tilt at Group level, and he had proven he was ready for the challenge after winning all five of his previous starts in Western Australia for trainers Greg and Skye Bond.

Despite drawing three on the second row, punters backed him into $2.50 favouritism and he didn’t disappoint.

Driver Deni Roberts was able to settle Bettor Fortune three back in the running line, where he remained for the majority of the journey, before he was launched four-wide when turning for home and he was able to display a blistering turn of foot in the concluding stages to get his nose in front and score a 2m victory.

“That was really good,” Roberts said. “It was fairly slow early and he probably didn’t have any right to get into it, but he is just so fast.

“He doesn’t really feel like he is going that quick, but he has a massive stride on him and he covers the ground.

“He was really good again tonight. He got a bit keen at stages, but I think he is coming around to be a very nice horse.”

Bred by Paul and Pauline Renwick, Bettor Fortune is out of unraced Artsplace mare Fortune Lover, a daughter of multiple Group One winner Under Cover Lover, and the dam of Group One performers Vampiro and Fortify.

Offered through Renwick Farm’s 2023 NZB Standardbred National Yearling Sale draft at Christchurch, Bettor Fortune failed to meet his $50,000 reserve and was subsequently entrusted to the care of Weedons trainer Darren Keast, for whom he had two starts, including victory at Taupeka in the hands of Jonny Cox.

He was subsequently sold to the Bonds in a deal brokered by Peter Larkin, and he has gone from strength-to-strength, having now won seven of his eight careers starts, and he is now firmly in calculations for the Group One WA Derby (2536m) at Gloucester Park later this month.