Friday Flash – 10th June 2022
Headline News;
Stakes, Stakes, Stakes – this past week has seen prizemoney increases from NSW, Queensland, Victoria and yes, even “Godzone” has joined the party – Read more below
Hidden Promise retires on a high note – Read More below
Royal Ascot next week – five magnificent days of racing for the Sport of “Queens” – Read More below
John to head to Singapore 16th June to attend the 18th June meeting – Read More below
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Fortuna has one runner this week – in Singapore
Singapore – Saturday 11th June
OLYMPIA contests the Class 5 1000m event – Race 9 @ 8pm NZT. Bold 2nd off a wide draw last start – has another tricky draw this time and will need a touch of luck – Hakim to ride – form hard to fault, loves the trip – very good top 3 chance
Here is what the Singapore Turf Club tipsters say about this race;
1st Pick: OLYMPIA (6)
Wide without cover throughout last start getting zero luck in transit. Racing well at the moment and looks a good chance to bounce back.
2nd Pick: LIM’S SHOT (12)
No weight on its back this weekend after being narrowly denied last start. Yet to break through over 1000m in its career but has placed quite a few times.
3rd Pick: MAGNIFIQUE (3)
Looks the speed influence and the one they will be chasing. Crowded at the turn last start and didn’t handle it well. Hopefully gets clear running this weekend in its third run back in class 5.
4th Pick: SHANGHAI STAR (1)
Has to lug a big weight but was good to the line last start behind Silent Is Gold in a cracking novice. Respect.
“OLYMPIA” – 1st win in Singapore 8th May 2021
Fortuna Track work – Matamata
Tuesday 7th June
No timed Fortuna trackwork today
Thursday 9th June
No timed Fortuna trackwork today
Fortuna Track work – Singapore
Saturday 4th June
Entertainer (Yusoff) – 800/600 40;
Tuesday 7th June
Our Final Offer (Jamil) – C, 400 31.5; Olympia (Aiman) – 800/600 42; Elliot Ness (Aiman) – 1000/600 42;; Brutus (Aslam) – 1000/600 37.5;
Other News
Stakes, Stakes, Stakes – this past week has seen prizemoney increases from NSW, Queensland, Victoria and yes, even “Godzone” has joined the party
NSW has announced that the Golden Eagle, run in October will got to A$10m and Saturday City minimum Stakes will lift to A$150k and midweek City minimums to A$55k
Click HERE to read details on NSW Stakes increases
Big news out of Queensland with a complete overhaul of betting tax structures – featuring a rise in Point of Consumption Tax to be paid by all bookmakers and 80% of the taxation raised to be returned to the Racing sector – up from 35% at the moment – in addition Tabcorp will make a one off A$150m payment to Racing Queensland with A$50m of that to go into infrastructure
Click HERE to read details on Queensland Racing structure revamp
Not to be outdone Racing Victoria announced significant increases matching Saturday and midweek Metro racing prizemoney with NSW, a revamped Champions Stakes Day on the last day of the Melbourne Cup carnival with three races (Darley, Mackinnon and Cantala Stakes all to be increased to A$3m each
Click HERE to read details on Victorian Stakes increases
Meanwhile here in NZ, NZTR made its own announcements, on the face of it, small bikkies compared to our Australian cousins but significant all the same with Group One races going to $300k minimum, Group Two races to $140k minimum and Group Three races to $100k minimum and overall minimum across the calendar increases to $14k (up from $12k). In addition NZTR has committed to a $10m infrastructure fund over a 5 year period to be spent on racetrack infrastructure upgrades
NZ Stakes to increase – Click HERE to read more
Hidden Promise retires on a high note – Yes, having his 87th start and running at a trip short of his best, he was 2nd to last with 300m to go, but then put in his trademark finishing burst and got up for a 3rd placing returning $7.80 on the tote – we could not have been prouder of him – very few retire on their own terms, but “Bart” did just that – he is now to join a riding school in Malaysia where his gentle nature should be a great attribute
Royal Ascot next week – five magnificent days of racing for the Sport of “Queens” – with now 70 years on the British throne, Racing (in Britain at least) has not seen a King At Ascot for a long time – with Her Majesty’s well documented mobility problems, it will be interesting to see if she can make it along – my money is on “yes she will”
Click HERE to read this history from Thoroughbred Racing Commentary of our Queen and her lifelong involvement in Thoroughbred Racing
John to head to Singapore 16th June to attend the 18th June meeting – four years since I was last able to attend a Singapore meeting – Covid of course didn’t help matters, but with the Fortuna Racing 3yo DECEPTION (I am Invincible – Friday Hussy) participating in the Group Three 3yo Sprint, it was an opportune time for me to get back there, attend the race day and inspect the Fortuna Team of 12 horses – I am going to be joined on the race day by Fortuna clients from Singapore, Malaysia, NZ and Australia – remarkably, four other gallopers from the Fortuna Team, ENTERTAINER, KING ARTHUR, BRUTUS and ELLIOT NESS are all set to race that day as well
Lester Piggot – I have received a lot of feedback from clients re Lester’s passing – out of that feedback, Brad Johnson, ex UK, recalls going with his father to see Lester ride at Newmarket and Kempton Park and Barry Lindsay was at Te Rapa in 1972 to see Lester win the International Stakes on the mighty Sailing Home – interestingly enough I have the photograph below of the jockeys in that race on that day – you need to be of a certain vintage to appreciate it, but what a team of riders and as for the field, there are some famous names there aren’t there? Notable also the size of the crowd in the Stand!!!
Guest Selector – Des Coppins
Not much luck last week with just a 3rd placing (Dame Vera) from my multi tip – we will turn the page.
It will be a testing track at Trentham on Saturday as the venue plays host to Awapuni. In saying that, the surface should be loose with any amount of rain that has fallen around the city over the last week. I have two horses I rate highly.
I like Deerfield and Chase marked down for the multi and this week we were able to snare $7.50 on the pair who start in race 3 and race 5 respectively.
Deerfield impressed in the birdcage viewing area at Trentham last time and while he was game in running third he over-raced and kept running on to heels of another runner which saw him change stride. It’s very hard to maintain a perfect rhythm when one gets on heels especially when track conditions are tough. I’m sure that run and a subsequent trial to go with a couple of jump outs over the last 5 or 6 weeks should have Deerfield spot on for Saturday. He’s a sound galloper with 11 wins over sprint journeys and get this, he has lumped 62 or 63kgs in 4 of those wins, three times in wet ground.
Chase is another who is adept in heavy ground. He races well at Trentham and the win in the r74 over 1600m on this track a fortnight ago was downright effortless! He’s had 3 runs on a heavy track at Trentham for 2 wins and a second. The other day he carried 60kgs and drops to 54kgs this weekend.
Fingers crossed it’s back to the winner’s circle on Saturday.
Good punting!
Footnote: Our Melbourne Cup tour has 80 (fully booked) and any future enquiries will be placed on a waiting list. Thanks to those from Team Fortuna who may have booked!
Des runs his very popular phone tipping line (you can access this by calling 0900 45459 – note this incurs a charge of $2.99 per minute) – this service has been active for over 25 years and covers all NZ gallops from 8am each race day).
Re the Melbourne Cup trip, if you have booked to go with Des, please drop me a note so that I can get an overview of those of you who are attending
