Headline News;
 
LEADERBOARD wins the time honoured NZ St Leger, a Listed Race, at Trentham 19^thMarch – see full story below
 
Fortuna Racing has now won 13 races so far in 2022 – 
 
Fortuna has five runners this weekend,  two in NZ and three in Singapore

New Zealand

KHAFEEF resumes in the Rating 65 1400m event at Hawera Friday 25^th March – Race 7 @ 3.47 pm. Jeetesh Mudhoo, claiming 3kgs, takes the mount. Unraced since early December due to a slight tendon strain, has made nice recovery with a strong performance at Levin jumpouts last week. A strong staying type, this trip will be too short for him, but he is really fresh and has a light weight too carry – should be storming home at the end

Soprano Supreme races at Tauherenikau in the Masterton Cup, a Rating 74 event over 2050 metres on Sunday 27^th March – Race 7 @ 3.38pm. She has had two very dominant wins in her last 3 starts. To be ridden by Joe Kamaruddin, claiming 1kg, who retains the ride after her last start win – we are on weather watch as significant rain is forecast and she will be scratched if track looks like it will be Heavy. If she does start, she will love the trip, is well weighted and would be a very good each way chance

Singapore

DECEPTION is in the Restricted Maiden 1600m Turf for S$75,000 prizemoney – Saturday 26^th March – Race 2 @ 5.30pm NZ Time and will be ridden by CC Wong from Barrier 7 in an 8 horse field.  Singapore starts to date have yielded 2 3rds and 3 2nds. Gets up to 1600m here which should suit. Has all the form credentials – is poised to break through and win here

Hers is what the Singapore Turf Club team have to say about this race;

1st Pick: DECEPTION (1)
Yet to miss a place in each of his career starts to date. Not far away from some handy winners and this looks his race to kick that maiden status.
2nd Pick: BINGO MASTER (3)
Was a strong runner up on a few occasions and steps up to the mile for the first time. Small field and at his best can be a multiples pick.
3rd Pick: SUNSET (4)
Has run third over the 1400m so you would assume the mile wouldn’t be out of reach. Nothing went right last start and willing to give another chance.
4th Pick: DABBLE (6)
Has the race experience to his name. Can show speed from the barriers but failed to show over shorter distances. Maybe the extra distance will suit.

COSMIC SANDS  races in the Class 4 1800  Race 5  @ 7pm NZT. Oscar Chavez takes the mount – this two time winner in Australia has been very disappointing in his 5 Singapore starts to date – a one paced staying type he gets 1800m here for the first time, blinkers are on and carries a featherweight. Hard to have on form but any rain would work in his favour

HIDDEN PROMISE is in the Class 5 1700m Polytrack – Race 8 @8.30pm NZT but is E1 and will need a scratching to get a start. Disappointed last start this grade 1600m after a good run expected – can make amends this time if he gets a start

Fortuna Track work – Matamata

Tuesday 22nd March

Ragamuffin (H Durrant) worked at three quarter pace over 1000 metres in 1.05.7, home in 38.4.

Soprano Supreme (M Grylls) galloped over 1200 metres in 1.07.4, last 600 in 40.2.

Thursday 24th March

Soprano Supreme (O Bosson) galloped over 1000 metres in 1.13.8, home in 43.7.

Madam Moet (O Bosson) also galloped over 1000 metres in 1.13.8, home in 42.7.

Ragamuffin (A Gujar) over 1000 metres in 1.03.6, home in 38.9.

Fortuna Track work – Singapore

Saturday 19th  March

Kermajack (Jerlyn) – 600 44; Deception (CC Wong) – C, 1200/600 39;

Tuesday 22^nd March

King Arthur (Aslam) – 800/600 38; Entertainer (Jake) – 800/600 38; Hidden Promise (Amirul) – 800/600 37; Hadeer (Nunes) – 1000/600 35; Deception (CC Wong) – C, 1000/600 40;

Other News

LEADERBOARD wins the NZ St Leger at Trentham 19th March 2022

Published 20 March 2022

Relishing the increase in distance up to 2600m, Leaderboard (7 g Street Cry – Flower Fairy, by Dynaformer) was a decisive winner in the $60,000 Barneswood Farm New Zealand St Leger (Listed, 2600m) on Oaks Day at Trentham. Ending his autumn campaign last year with consecutive wins to 2400 metres and a strong winner over 2400 metres in Ireland, before being purchased, Leaderboard  (who carries the stable name “Tiger”) went winless in four starts during spring campaign from his Te Akau base at Riccarton, but included very good third in the New Zealand Cup (Gr. 3, 3200m).

At his previous start, Leaderboard finished fifth off handy trip in a Rating 74 2000 metres on 26 February at Matamata but increasing distance and a perfect ride by Michael McNab worked the oracle. From sixth outer, McNab sent Leaderboard into contention from 600m and he never flinched after leading inside final 300m to eventually score comfortably by one and a quarter lengths.

On Dead4 footing, Leaderboard ran the 2600 metres in 2:39.6 and held firm in betting to pay $10.20 & $3.10 on NZ TAB tote.

Click HERE to see the race replay

Leaderboard’s sire Street Cry (Machiavellian) also left Winx, Champion US mare Zenyatta, Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense, and Melbourne Cup winner Shocking, so stamina runs in the blood and Leaderboard has his share.

“Leaderboard” – Victorious NZ St Leger – Trentham 19 March 2022 – Michael McNab

“They went along at a genuine tempo and he outstayed them,” said trainer Jamie Richards after securing his first St Leger. “He was the best looking horse in the birdcage, with the best walk, but has had a bit of trouble with his feet, like some of those European horses can. But the team at home has done a great job with him and he was given a lovely ride by Michael McNab. I thought he may need a bit of easing in the ground, but he’s done it well there today. It’s just a shame we couldn’t get him right for the Wellington Cup (Gr. 1, 3200m) because he would have been a really good chance in a race like that. Congrats to John Galvin and his big team of owners – they have endured a series of setbacks this past few months, but they have been incredibly patient”
Asked whether Leaderboard could be around for Cups races next season, Richards said: “He has a very bright future as a jumper. He’s very good at that, so we’ll see what happens.”

Fortuna Director John Galvin was on course to watch his charge storm home and reported as follows post race “That was a Classic Stayers’s finish – we bought him at a Tattersalls sale to be a stayer – It’s a fantastic result for us as he represents a big syndicate of people from all over New Zealand and while most of the Ownership Group were unable to attend due to Covid restrictions and there was no birdcage cereonny for the same reason, the Wellington Racing Club was very kind to give us a presentation ceremony in the Owners room. It was a pretty good watch. He looked to be travelling well the whole race and very well rated by Michael McNab. When they turned in and he hit the front, I had visions of the New Zealand Cup where he did that and got run down. But this time he was able to hold on, and hold on very well”
“It has been a long time between drinks since his last win and were all very disppointed that he was unable to contest the Wellington Cup due to a stone bruise, however Jamie then set him for this race, and so it is a very nice consolation prize – well done to Jamie and his staff for doing such a nice job with this horse”

John Galvin acquired Leaderboard at the Tattersalls Horses in Training sale in October 2018 for 70,000 Guineas and was ably assisted in this process by the International Bloodstock Agent Hubie DeBurgh. He has started 21 times in NZ for 5 wins and accumulated NZ$125,000 in Stakes for his Ownership Group,  the Fortuna Leaderboard Syndicate comprising 72 individuals.

Leaderboard was strapped at Trentham by Lydia Truesdale

Fortuna Shares for Sale

We have shares in three horses currently on our website – the proven two win Irish bred staying type MILESTONE, whom we have acquired to specifically contest the 2 Mile Cups races in the coming season, the Yearling Merchant Navy Filly “ZOI” whom we acquired at the Inglis Premier Sale in Melbourne and the Karaka Yearling, the Merchant Navy Colt “Salty”

Mark Walker inspected MILESTONE on Tuesday 22^nd March – this was the first time that Mark had actually seen him “in the flesh” – Mark was suitably impressed with what he saw – Click HERE to see MILESTONE parading with voiceover from Mark

All of these offerings can be viewed on the Fortuna website HERE