Friday Flash – 17 June 2022
Headline News;
Fortuna to field six runners in four races at the Singapore meeting 18th June, headlined by the 3yo DECEPTION (I Am Invincible) who tackles the Group 3 Singapore 3yo Sprint , – John will be there hosting around 15 Fortuna clients from Singapore, Malaysia. NZ and Australia
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Fortuna has seven runners this week – one in Australia – six in Singapore
Geelong – Friday 17th June
NO ENVY contests the BM 64 2400m event – Race 6 @ 5.50pm NZT. Slightly disappointing last start at Cranbourne following a dominant winning display at Geelong in April, he was probably ridden too far back – a one paced genuine staying type, he will be ridden closer to the speed this time in the hands of Craig Newitt – Has drawn wide and will need to get away well for him to be on the speed – if he does, then he could be a good each way chance in this
Singapore – Saturday 18th June
ELLIOT NESS races in the Class 5 1200 Polytrack event – Race 1 @ 4pm NZT. A solid 4th placing when resuming after 4 months away from racing due to a foot injury, he drops to Class 5 here, has taken big improvement from his resuming run and gets a 3kg allowance courtesy of Stable apprentice F Yusoff – a Singapore track record holder over 1100m on this surface, he looks to be a strong prospect to win this race
Here is what the Singapore Turf Club tipsters say about this race;
1st Pick: LOVING BABE (9)
Narrow winner last start turning around previous form and received no favors in the run. Expecting a similar performance again.
2nd Pick: FOUNTAIN OF FAME (5)
Wide without cover last start and struggling to finish off. More luck in running sees this horse in the finish this weekend.
3rd Pick: ELLIOT NESS (2)
Yet to run out of the top three in two start to date over the track and distance. Place chance once again.
4th Pick: LIM’S WISH (8)
Early collision cost him a couple lengths at the start of the race. Managed to recover and run fourth, beaten 2.4 lengths. Keep safe.
KING ARTHUR runs in the Class 2 1200 Turf event – Race 10 @ 8.30pm NZT. The winner of 6 races and placed 2nd or 3rd a further 7 times out of his 17 races in Singapore, he has made rapid progress and was a dominant trial winner 7th June – up in Grade, he meets a strong field here, but carries a featherweight with Yusoff’s 3kg claim. All of his wins have been on the Poly and gets Turf here – Needs to handle rise in class, but if so, represents a very good each way chance here
Here is what the Singapore Turf Club tipsters say about this race;
1st Pick: STARLIGHT (5)
Last year’s Group 2 three-year-old classic winner finds himself in an open field with a lightweight of 51.5kgs and at his best with a strong turn of foot. He could round this field up.
2nd Pick: KING ARTHUR (4)
He has been very lightly raced on the turf in his career and flies around the Polytrack. If he can bring that winning form here, he must hold some consideration. Speedy galloper with plenty of ability.
3rd Pick: FAME STAR (1)
Drops back to a distance that will suit him better and if you go back to his win four starts ago in a higher grade, he could throw up another surprise.
4th Pick: SACRED GIFT (3)
Consistent form on the Polytrack surface and needs to transfer that to turf against this field. Only a few starts on the turf but has performed well in the past. Don’t dismiss.
HADEER also runs in the Class 2 1200 Turf – Race 10 @ 8.30pm NZT. Racing with in and out form this 5 career win galloper has not greeted the judge since September 2021 and is racing out of his grade here, but has a featherweight to carry with Hakim aboard – may be stretched to win this, but always gives a sight – place chance, any rain would boost his chances
DECEPTION contests the feature race of the day, the Group 3 Singapore 3yo Sprint over 1200m on the Turf – Race 11 @ 9pm NZT, he has been the model of consistency, his first 6 races in Singapore yielded 3 2nds and 3 thirds, all in Restricted Maiden Grade before finally winning in that grade 14th May. He then ran in the Class 4 1100 4th June and seeking a rails run, was blocked for room and did look to be a certainty beaten. Meets a good field of 3yo’s here and will need to be right on his game to feature, but form hard to fault – good top 3 chance
DECEPTION – winning at Kranji – 14 May 2022
ENTERTAINER races in the Class 3 1100m Poly – Race 12 @ 9.30pm NZT. The winner of seven races in 2021, all at this trip and surface, he has struggled to find his best form at Class 2 and Class 1 level – now back to Class 3, freshened since his last run and with the 3kg claimer F Yusoff aboard, he gets his chance here and if he runs to his best form, he can feature in the first three home
BRUTUS also contests the Class 3 1100 Poly – Race 12 @ 9.30pm NZT.– the winner of 4 of his previous 7 starts, he was average last start when stepping up to Class 3 level – however seems to have taken good benefit from that run – classy at best but does to lift to perform in this grade – if he does, then he can feature here
Here is what the Singapore Turf Club tipsters say about this race;
1st Pick: SUN OPS (4)
Lightly raced five-year-old who has made quite an impact in his runs so far. Course and distance suits with a strong trial win since his last start. Big watch.
2nd Pick: DARC BOUNTY (1)
Drops back sharply in grade after contesting in open class at his last two starts. Holds good form over this distance and will benefit hugely from the drop-in class.
3rd Pick: ENTERTAINER (2)
Looking to bounce back to form after a few disappointing runs. Over the last twelve months he was dominating these races on the Polytrack and at his best can figure here.
4th Pick: ARARAT LADY (9)
Has been costly to date for backers at her last few starts when well supported. She goes well at this trip and if the stable can get her back to her best she could surprise.
Fortuna Track work – Matamata
Tuesday 14th June
No timed Fortuna trackwork today
Thursday 16th June
No timed Fortuna trackwork today
Fortuna Track work – Singapore
Saturday 11th June
Elliot Ness (Yusoff) – 1000/600 38; Brutus (Aslam) – 1000/600 36
Tuesday 14th June
Brutus (Aiman) – 800/600 41; Deception (Aiman) – 1000/600 42; Hadeer (Aiman) – 800/600 43; Entertainer (Yusoff) – 800/600 40; King Arthur (Yusoff) – 800/600 39;
Other News
Guest Selector – Des Coppins
Trentham abandoned last week, so no betting opportunity – here is what Des thinks this week
Sadly we weren’t able to capitalise on what I thought was going to a good multi coup at Trentham
last Saturday with the “scratching” of the Raceday. On the bonus side I received a couple of messages from the Fortuna team who stuck with Kerikeri whose prospects I highly recommended
you may recall a couple of weeks ago at Te Rapa in this segment. He paid $9 when winning at Ruakaka but some of you were astute enough to grab the $14 when odds were first released. Well done!
I’m sticking with Trentham on Saturday and the tough, winter track will sort out a few, I’m sure.
One I don’t mind at the weights and the pending heavy track is Cross Roads, in the Vernon and Vesey Truck Parts Parliamentary Handicap, race 3. His main revival is unquestionably Prince Leo, who beat him on their last visit to Trentham. However, Cross Roads meets Prince Leo 5kgs bettor off and that’s a huge plus in testing ground. At press time Cross Roads was paying $6 and $1.80 and a bet of one unit over two looks a sensible way to go. Cross Roads likes Trentham and was second 12 months ago around this time of the year on the track.
Good punting!
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).
