Henry Skinner talks about one of his great pacers "Forto Prontezza" in 1976....

Is it all about the name, if so that is probably why Forto Prontezza was the champion racehorse in 1976.  The name means "courageous colt" in Italian.  A bay standing, with a breeding of Yankee/Glene and owned by Mr and Mrs A. R. McNaught.  At 15.3 hands he is trained and driven by successful reinsman, Henry Skinner at Branxholme. 

From an early age Forto Prontezza showed promise and was driven by Doug McNaught in the early years who advised his brother, Alan to go and breed more from his mare, Glene.

Forto Prontezza qualified at Balfour and won at Winton a week later.  Henry Skinner said Forto has such good condition that he freshens quickly on good grass, which makes it easy to plan for his racing career.  Forto loved running at the front and had a tendancy to pull at times.  Providing the pace is on Forto is prepared to race at any place in the field but he does say that there would be no record broken if he stayed at the front.  

He is basically a lazy trainer and needs a good horse in the front to push the pace.  He is best in his own company and if put with other horses, especially colts, he will be down on his knees scrapping with them.   He had not serious injuries, but it was interesting to note that Henry Skinner was not interested in taking the horse to the Interdominions in Brisbane as he felt that the trip to Australia was too taxing and said many owners had damaged good stock.
He quoted the following horses as great to drive: Hi Foyle, Stella Frost and Parlez Vouz and of course Forto Prontezza.

Henry Skinner (holding lead) at Branxholme with his champion horse, Forto Prontezza and staff, Murray Hamilton (left) Peter Davis and Johnny Bennett.