Little interest was shown in lot 267 at the New Zealand national yearling sale in Christchurch in February 2023 when Bettor Fortune was passed in after failing to reach his reserve price of $50,000.
Bettor Fortune went on to have two starts for his breeders Paul and Pauline Renwick for a debut last in a field of nine at Addington in May 2024, followed by a strong frontrunning display to win easily at Ascot Park five months later.
He was then purchased by Team Bond and has emerged as one of the best three-year-olds in Australia where he has flourished under the care of champion trainers Greg and Skye Bond and has not been extended in winning at his first six starts in WA and appears virtually unbeatable in the $200,000 WA Derby next Friday week.
Bettor Fortune has earned $75,194 for Team Bond, and a win in the Derby would boost his Australian earnings to $190,034.
Deni Roberts lavished praise on Bettor Fortune after driving the gelding to an effortless victory in the group 3 Western Gateway at Gloucester Park on Friday night when he rated 1.57.8 after the final 400m sections in the 2536m event were covered in 27.3sec. and 28sec.
“He has a fantastic stride on him, and he doesn’t feel like he is going that quickly,” she said after Bettor Fortune, the $2.50 favourite from the outside of the back line, was untouched as he coasted home an easy winner over his stablemate Belly UP ($13) and the pacemaker Chase Me ($5.50).
Bettor Fortune enjoyed a perfect trip in sixth position, one-out and two-back, before he sprinted home fast after Roberts eased him three wide 300m from home.
Roberts and the Bonds are hoping that Bettor Fortune will follow in the footsteps of their runner Christopher Dance, who won the 2024 Western Gateway from stablemate Vegas Strip before winning the Derby two weeks later.
Troubadour, a talented stablemate of Bettor Fortune, was the $3.20 second favourite in Friday night’s race when he was beaten out from the No. 1 barrier by $17 chance Lincoln Lou, who began like a shot from out wide at barrier seven and led for the first 300m before Gary Hall jnr sent Chase Me to the front.
Troubadour was hampered for room in the final stages, and according to reinsman Stuart McDonald the gelding was bolting when he crossed the line in eighth place.
Also blocked for clear runs were Captain Stirling (sixth), Lincoln Lou (seventh) and Elite Fleet (tenth).
