John Galvin wondered for a while if he'd bitten off too much when he got involved in horse syndication.
When his first two horses made winning appearances at yesterday's Te Teko trials, he knew he was on the right path.
The Hamilton financial adviser set up Fortuna Ltdin January and the company's first two owner groups had their initial thrill when He's Licarocket and an unnamed Invincible Spirit colt showed stylish ability.
Racing is suddenly going through a resurgence, but it won't be sustained without the involvement of new owners.
Fortuna has fully syndicated four horses and is syndicating a fifth.
"We have 42 owners in the five horses and 36 of them are newcomers to racing," said Galvin, clearly delighted with the two winners produced by Mark Walker.
Galvin, who had a share in Darci Brahma, said he sold his syndicates for the Walker stable on the positives of increased stakemoney, professional management and the right stable.
"David Ellis and Mark Walker bought the horses and we floated the syndicates."
He's Licarocket, a racy type by Easy Rocking, cost $86,000 and the Invincible Spirit colt was the sale-topper of the carnival session at Karaka at $120,000.
Mark Walker won four of the five 2-year-old heats yesterday. His other winners were a compact grey filly by Hussonet named La Mersonet and a Volksraad-Chianina filly.
Walker said he was unsure of the programmes of his babies. He's Licarocket and the Invincible Spirit colt would be kept in work, but the others were likely to have short breaks.
"As long as everything is okay I might take one to the Wanganui meeting and one to Ruakaka."
The final heat was won with a strong run by a Peter McKay-trained Stravinsky-Belleville gelding.
