Friday Flash – 24th March 2023

The Singapore Racing Annual Awards Evening was held 21^st March

“Everyone should race a grey horse at least once in their lifetime” – Robert Sangster
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Fortuna has just one runner on Saturday 25^th March – in Singapore

Singapore

KING ARTHUR contests the Kranji Stakes A 1200m Turf  event – Race 10 at 4.30pm Singapore time (9.30pm NZT) and will be ridden by Stable Apprentice Fadzli Yusoff, claiming 2kgs, from barrier 3 – this nine time winner is the 2^nd best horse in Singapore and has great stats at this trip and surface – is giving away a lot of weight to most of the field here, but has a lovely draw and in form rider claiming 2kgs – very good each way chance

Here is what the STC tipsters have to say about this race;

1st Pick: GOLDEN MONKEY (4)
Has had two trials since his last run where he was wide without cover and never got on the track. Weighted incredibly well, respect.
2nd Pick: KING ARTHUR (1)
Comes into this event carrying a large weight off a rating of 105. Apprentice takes off some weight here? Top three player.
3rd Pick: GRAND KOONTA (2)
Such a fierce competitor who has struggled to win with such a high rating. Always gives his all and can never be underestimated, place chance.
4th Pick: SKY EYE (3)
Narrowly defeated by a horse with 46kg. Beaten by less than a length and this week gets a 4kg claiming rider back on board who has won on him in the past.

Fortuna Track work – Matamata

No timed Fortuna trackwork this week

Fortuna Track work – Singapore

Saturday 18^th March

KNIPPENBERG(ASLAM)800/600- 37.5; KING ARTHUR(YUSOFF)1000/600- 37; RHETT BUTLER(AWAH)800- 37;

Tuesday 21st March

KINPPENBERG(ASLAM)1000/600– 38; ELLIOT NESS(YUSOFF)800/600- 40 ; BRIGGS(ASLAM)1000/600- 38; KING ARTHUR(YUSOFF)800/600- 40; ENTERTAINER(YUSOFF)800/600- 38;

Other News

The Singapore Racing Annual Awards Evening was held 21^st March

Fortuna Racing was represented on the evening by a small group of our Owners, including two who had travelled up from New Zealand – this because King Arthur had been nominated in the Champion Sprinter of The Year category – Our other connection was with the Te Akau Stable Apprentice Fadzli Yusoff, who was crowned Champion Apprentice – Yusoff rode 22 winners during the 2022 season, 7 of which were on Fortuna runners – here is the story about the evening from the STC website

The Singapore Racing Awards celebrated 2022 racing season’s best at the Derby, Singapore Turf Club on Tuesday, 21 March 2023, with 13 awards given out at the gala dinner.

Singapore Turf Club Chief Racing Officer Dayle Brown said, “We’re pleased to be able to once again host the Singapore Racing Awards ceremony in celebration of the efforts and contributions from key industry players and equine athletes.”
“Our heartiest congratulations to all the winning owners, trainers and jockeys. Our collective passion and love for the sport of horse racing continue to steer us in a new world.
“The new season will be one to look forward to, with the doubling of feature races and the re-introduction of popular race series which will further test the tenacity of our local champion horses, as well as new and talented youngsters.”

Horse of the Year Award
Lim’s Kosciuszko was crowned the Horse of the Year and also bagged awards in the Champion Sprinter and Champion Four-Year-Old categories.
Unbeaten at his first four runs in 2021, the Daniel Meagher-trained Lim’s Kosciuszko picked up where he left off with another four consecutive wins in 2022. He suffered three defeats before bouncing back with a first Group 1 feather in his cap, the Singapore Derby (1800m), which cemented his new status as the Champion Four-Year-Old.
Barely a month later, Lim’s Kosciuszko showed his versatility by scooping up the Group 1 Lion City Cup (1200m), that earned him the gong for the Champion Sprinter award.
Meagher was elated with the son of Kermadec’s achievement.
“I was hopeful before (the award ceremony), but to achieve what he has done, we are all very proud of him,” he said.
“He represented Singapore in Hong Kong, and even if it was disappointing then, the horse has improved and came back to win a Group 3 (Merlion Trophy) this year.
“It’s a wonderful night for the team, the owners and the two horses, and to win six awards (two awards for Lim’s Stable, three awards for Lim’s Kosciuszko and one award for Lim’s Lightning) is great. Well done to the Club for getting everybody back together at the function.”

Other Equine Awards
Stablemate and 2021 Singapore Horse of the Year Lim’s Lightning retained his title as Champion Miler after he outclassed a stellar field in the Group 1 Kranji Mile (1600m) while the Champion Stayer award went to Group 1 Singapore Gold Cup (2000m) winner Hongkong Great.
Thanks to his four wins on the Polytrack, Lucky Jinsha was without much surprise crowned Champion Polytrack Horse.
For sweeping the two legs of the Singapore Three-Year-Old Challenge, the Group 3 Singapore Three-Year-Old Sprint (1200m) and the Group 2 Singapore Three-Year-Old Classic (1400m), rising star Golden Monkey was a hot favourite for the Champion Three-Year-Old title, which he deservedly won.
The winners for the seven equine awards, including the coveted Horse of the Year award were determined by votes from a panel of 10 external and 10 internal judges based on a list of nominees shortlisted for their performances in Group races and Class 1 / Kranji Stakes A races.

Personality Awards
Since branching out on his own in 2019, Australian trainer Tim Fitzsimmons bagged his first Champion Trainer title on 65 wins.
On the other hand, Manoel Nunes is a familiar face at such award nights. The Brazilian took the Singapore jockeys’ premiership honours from 2014 to 2016, and his sensational tally of 81 wins last year saw him finish well clear of Wong Chin Chuen. On 43 wins, the Malaysian rider claimed the Champion Resident Jockey award for recording the most number of wins among the resident jockeys.
Penang apprentice jockey Yusoff Fadzli was crowned Champion Apprentice Jockey for the first time thanks to a haul of 22 winners.
Already a multiple-champion owner, the Lim’s Stable, who races both Lim’s Kosciuszko and Lim’s Lightning, won yet another Champion Owner (by Prizemoney) award. They also shared the honours with Buffalo Stable in the Champion Owner (by Wins) category.
Five out of the six personality awards were determined by their number of wins in the season, but the Champion Owner (By Prizemoney) award was determined by the total prizemoney won by the owner’s horses in the races.

The full list of winners is as follows:

“Everyone should race a grey horse at least once in their lifetime” – Robert Sangster

As one of the most successful Owners in racing history, the late Robert Sangster certainly knew a thing or two about racing, so his advice on “greys” is very sage – here is your chance to follow his advice – see below

About The Yearling Filly by Reliable Man out of Scene Queen – “Raquel”

Definite Middle Distance/Staying type of Filly

Lot 979 – the Yearling Filly by the proven Stallion RELIABLE MAN out of SCENE QUEEN (By Redoute’s Choice) has been acquired by the David Ellis/Fortuna Racing combination from the 2023 NZ Bloodstock National Yearling Sale – this after the Te Akau Selection Team of David Ellis, Mark Walker and Marcus Corban had conducted their normal thorough pre sale inspections

Mark Walker, when doing his usual pre sale Video clip inspections, had identified this Filly as a “genuine middle distance/staying type”

Pedigree
Raquel is the beneficiary of a stout pedigree. Her Sire, Reliable Man was a top class Stayer, winning five times from 14 starts at trips from 2000 to 2400m – he won twice at Group One level, firstly at Chantilly in France and then at Royal Randwick in Sydney, where he won the Queen Elizabeth Stakes, defeating Dundeel. He is the Sire of over 370 winners, including 20 Stakes winners. These include the Victorian Oaks winner, Miami Bound, the NZ Oaks winner, Miss Sentimental and the Western Austrian glamour Mare, Inspirational Girl

Raquel’s Dam is Scene Queen, a daughter of the renowned Champion Stallion and Broodmare Sire, Redoute’s Choice. She raced 3 times without winning and is the dam of five foals to race, four of whom have won, including the very smart Steven Autridge trained 3yo, Helly Belly, who has now won 2 races from 6 starts.

Click HERE to view her pedigree

Physical type
A powerful, athletic Filly of good size, “Raquel” is physically correct, has a lovely temperament, has a strong athletic walk and passed her pre sale Vet exam without issue – Click HERE to her parading Pre Sale

Syndicator’s view (John Galvin)
“At the 2022 Sale we had acquired a lovely Reliable Man Filly – given the race name , Matariki, unfortunately she suffered a severe paddock accident and had to be put down – determined to find a suitable replacement, our selection team of David Ellis, Mark Walker and Marcus Corban identified Lot 979, also by Reliable Man and out of a Redoutes Choice Mare, as one of the nicest staying type Grey Fillies out of both Book 1 and Book 2 and, remarkably, we secured her for the same price  as Matariki”

Trainer’s view (Mark Walker)
“Asked by John Galvin to find a nice staying type Grey Filly, there was nothing in Book 1 that appealed, however Lot 979 in Book 2 really caught my eye – an athletic Filly of good size and with plenty of scope, her walk was very fluent and she really appealed to me. She will certainly benefit with a patient approach but I could see her as an Autumn 2yo who will develop and strengthen nicely into her 3yo year and beyond .”

Selectors view (Marcus Corban)
“This Filly is a typical strong Reliable Man type – she has a great athletic walk and plenty of size and scope – Reliable Man is a renowned Sire of stayers and this cross with a Redoute’s Choice mare injects class and speed into her pedigree page – this Filly represents great value at her acquisition price”

Ongoing Preparation
Raquel is now into her 3rd week of being broken in and once broken in, she will then be prepared for racing at Matamata by nine time Premiership winning Trainer, Mark Walker of Te Akau Racing Stables – her first preparation will be short (2 – 3 weeks) – she will then have a further paddock spell to enable further growth and maturity and David and Mark will assess her in the Spring of 2023 in order to map out an ongoing trials/race plan for her.

Disclosure Statement & Agreement
View and/or Download the Disclosure Statement and the Syndicate Agreement for this syndicate

Terms

• Shares available right down to 1%.
• 10% share $8,000– 5% share $4,000 – 2.5% share $2,000 – 1% share $800 (all pricing in NZ$)
• Share price includes all Initial Costs (Purchase price, NZ GST, Promoters Fees, Karaka Million Fee, Insurance through to 31st January 2024, and Working Capital of over$9,500
• Monthly ongoing costs from 1^stApril 2023 – from that date ongoing costs are –10% share $440 per month – 5% share $220 per month – 2.5% share $110 per month – 1% share $44 per month.
• Monthly ongoing costs can alternatively be paid up to 12 months in advance as an option for subscribers by Bank Payment or Credit Card

Guest Selector  – Andrew Castles

“Hi John and the Fortuna Team – I am going to suggest a bet at a price on Saturday at Tauranga. The track continues to dry and I would expect a Soft5 at worst by the time of the last race. I think this will suit the son of Telperion in Tommy (2). All three race day appearances have had merit and I expect him to run out a strong 1600m off a good gate. The price of $7.50 and $2.70 is very appealing and so is the $2.8 on offer from the TAB for a Top 4 finish! Butch