|
French-bred Fortina was purchased from France in 1946 and ran one race in Great Britain, the Lancashire Chase, before winning the Cheltenham Gold Cup in 1947 by ten lengths. Owned by Lord Grimthorpe and ridden by amateur rider R. Black, it was thought he had a number of gold cups in his future, however, the following year he was beaten by another handsome chestnut, Silver Fame (1951 winner of the Gold Cup), in the Emblem Chase, and failed to place in the King George VI Steeplechase, and was removed from contention in the 1948 Gold Cup. He was retired to stud at the Grange Stud in Co. Cork, Ireland, where he became a top sire of hurdlers and 'chasers, including four winners of the Irish Grand National, two winners of the Cheltenham Gold Cup, and two-time winner of the American Grand National, Bampton Castle. Daughter Last Link (winner, Irish Grand National) later produced 1985 Grand National winner, Last Suspect. He was the son of long-running French flat racer Formor, and grandson of two-time winner of the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, Ksar. His damsire, La Farina, was among the top in his generation, and could go a distance. |
