Bona Fortuna
Bona Fortuna is a five-year-old who has finally found some rhythm in recent weeks. After winning at Wolverhampton just this week—his third career victory—he has picked up two places in his last six races, including that recent success. Over 14 races, he has won 3 times and finished in the money on 9 occasions, giving him a win rate of roughly 1 in every 5 races. That is solid but not spectacular form, and it reflects a horse who competes honestly without dominating.Based on TrackLab's analysis
Owner
Value Racing Bona Fortuna
📊 Key numbers
Career totals for this horse
🔍 Full analysis
Our model's view, based on this horse's career and recent runs
The standout feature of his profile is his preference for fast, dry ground. When the going is firm, he has won 2 of his 5 races—a 40% win rate that is markedly better than his overall performance. On slower surfaces, he struggles. This is a useful detail for his trainer Michael Appleby, who runs a prolific yard in Oakham that has sent out 71 winners this season. Appleby will know to target dry-ground fixtures, where Bona Fortuna has shown he can compete effectively.
At Class 4 level—the bread-and-butter category of racing—Bona Fortuna has won just 1 of 7 races, suggesting he may be better suited to slightly easier company. His breakthrough came at Brighton in June 2024, and that Wolverhampton success this week has shown he still has winning opportunities available. With recent form that includes a win and two placings in his last six outings, he looks like a horse worth following in the right conditions: dry ground, a track that suits him, and a race pitched at the right level.
⚡ Strengths and risks
What helps this horse and what to watch out for
✓ What works in their favour
✔ Excellent record on good_to_firm ground: 2 wins from 5 starts (40%)
⚠ What to watch out for
⚠ Poor record on good ground: 0 wins from 5 starts
🎯 Where this horse runs best
Results split by ground, distance, race level and track shape
🌧 Ground
Good to firm (fairly firm)
Loves
Good to soft (some give)
Unknown
Standard (all-weather)
Unknown
Good (a little give)
Avoids
🏅 Race level
Class 2 (high-level)
Unknown
Class 3 (mid-level)
Unknown
Class 5 (entry-level)
Unknown
🏟 Track shape
Left-handed, long straights
Ok
Right-handed, tight turns
Unknown
📅 Recent runs
The last 10 races, most recent first
28 Sep
🏆 Won
Wolverhampton
5f – 6½f · Standard · 8 runners
1 Sep
2nd
Brighton
5f – 6½f · Good · 6 runners
7 Aug
6th
Brighton
5f – 6½f · Good_To_Firm · 10 runners
2 Oct
6th
Nottingham
5f – 6½f · Good_To_Soft · 14 runners
15 Aug
2nd
Epsom Downs
5f – 6½f · Good · 5 runners
26 Jul
2nd
York
5f – 6½f · Good · 21 runners
5 Jul
2nd
Nottingham
5f – 6½f · Good_To_Firm · 5 runners
18 Jun
3rd
Hamilton Park
5f – 6½f · Good · 7 runners
31 May
5th
York
5f – 6½f · Good · 22 runners
29 Aug
5th
Newbury
7f – 1m · Good_To_Firm · 17 runners
🏇 Jockeys
Every jockey who has ridden this horse, most rides first
🏟 Course record
Win rate at each course this horse has visited
| Course | Races | Results | Last run | Win rate |
|---|
| Brighton Undulating |
3 |
1 win, 1 second, 1 other |
1 Sep |
33.3% |
| York Galloping |
3 |
1 second, 2 other |
26 Jul |
0% |
| Nottingham Galloping |
2 |
1 second, 1 other |
2 Oct |
0% |
| Wolverhampton Galloping |
1 |
1 win |
28 Sep |
100% |
| Windsor Sharp |
1 |
1 win |
22 Jul |
100% |
| Epsom Downs Undulating |
1 |
1 second |
15 Aug |
0% |
| Ayr Galloping |
1 |
1 third |
3 Oct |
0% |
| Newbury Galloping |
1 |
1 other |
29 Aug |
0% |
| Hamilton Park Sharp |
1 |
1 third |
18 Jun |
0% |