Fleet Footed arrives in Victoria to commence pre training
More for good news for New Zealand as a further $30 million injection of funding to the racing codes is announced by the TAB:
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Fortuna has three runners Friday and Saturday – two in NZ, one in Singapore
New Zealand
Awapuni Synthetic – Friday
RAGAMUFFUN runs in the R65 1200m event – Race 4 @1.59 with Jonathan Riddell to ride from an inside barrier. Has had 4 runs back off a long break after knee surgery and has been running well but striking very heavy tracks in his last 3 starts. Accordingly he now gets his chance on the better surface of the Awapuni Synthetic. Won 2 of his first 4 race day starts so has ability and represents an each way chance here @$6.50/$2.40
NAVALHA contests the R65 1700m event – Race 8 @ 4.12pm with Michael McNab to ride from a good barrier. Impressed on this surface 16th June 1400m running 2nd off a wide barrier draw. Gets an inside draw here, goes up in distance which will suit and has the services of NZ’s leading rider – has 60kgs to carry but if he does so successfully, he can win here – showing $2.50/$1.30 fixed odds
Singapore – Saturday
ROCKY races in the Class 4 1600 Poly event – Race 6 @2.30pm Singapore time (6.30pm NZ Time) with N Zyrul to ride with a 2kg claim. Has raced this trip and surface in last two starts and been ridden wide each time, beaten just 1.7 lengths last start. Change of rider will see a more groundsaving run and if he gets it will be very competitive – each way
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Fortuna Track work – Matamata
No timed Fortuna trackwork this week
Fortuna Track work – Singapore
Saturday 1st July
KNIPPENBERG(ASLAM)1000/600-38.5; RHETT BUTLER(ASLAM)1000/600-39 ROCKY(YUSOFF)1000/600-38;
Tuesday 4th July
RHETT BUTLER(ASLAM)1000600-38; ROCKY(ZYRUL)800/600-40
Wednesday 5th July
ENTERTAINER (JAMIL)800/600- 39; ELLOT NESS(YUSOFF)800/600- 39;
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Other News
Fleet Footed arrives in Victoria to commence pre training
Fleet Footed has arrived at Widden Stud where he will have a pre training regime in the hands of the very experienced pre training specialist, Matt Upton, based at Widden Stud. Matt will bring Fleet Footed along quietly and he will be one of the first horses to enter Mark Walker/ Te Akau Racing new training facility at Cranbourne when it opens the doors 1st September.
At that point Fleet Footed, all having gone well, will be very close to trial stage fitness, he will trial soon after and we can get him to his race day debut. Fleet Footed was a A$550k yearling acquired by NewGate/China Horse Club as a Stallion prospect, but proving very Colty, he was offered for sale by them after he trialed at Warwick Farm in April and we were able to acquire him for just A$50k. Incidentally, in that April trial, he was beaten just under a length by King Colorado, who a few weeks later won the Group One JJ Atkins Stakes at Eagle Farm.
Click HERE to see Fleet Footed parading for Matt Wednesday 5th July
There are still shares available in Fleet Footed at NZ$1100 per each 1% share and $44 per month from 1 September. Full details can be seen at the link on the Fortuna website HERE
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More good news in New Zealand as a further $30 million injection of funding to the racing codes is announced by the TAB:
TAB New Zealand has announced its direct funding to the domestic racing industry will reach a record-setting $215 million for the upcoming 2023/24 racing season. TAB NZ’s direct funding of racing is made up of a distribution payment to Racing New Zealand, the application of class 4 gaming proceeds to the Racing Authorised Purpose, and funding of the independent Racing Integrity Board. The announcement sees a further $30 million made available to the three racing codes in addition to the increases determined at the time the Minister for Racing, Hon Kieran McAnulty, approved TAB NZ’s strategic partnering arrangement with Entain.
Nick Roberts, Chief Executive Officer of TAB NZ, said the Entain partnership is a revolutionary moment for racing and one that will deliver the ultimate goal of a long-term, sustainable racing industry. “TAB NZ recognises bold funding decisions are required to sustain this storied industry for generations to come,” Mr Roberts says. “Leadership across the industry must own the moment and deliver a right-sized industry, with the best animal welfare standards, and a compelling customer product. This extra injection will deliver the best outcomes if it is targeted towards those types of initiatives that enhance the industry in the long run. Simply increasing the funding of the status quo is not sustainable.”
The increased funding comes from an additional $15 million being added to the TAB NZ distribution to Racing NZ for the 2023/24 racing season, raising it to $185 million – a $60 million increase, almost 50%, on the current season’s distribution of $125 million.
Additionally, TAB NZ has determined that it will no longer fund the Racing Integrity Board from its class 4 gaming operation which will allow a contestable fund of $15 million for applications under TAB NZ’s Racing Authorised Purpose.
“We’re keen to back those that are in relentless pursuit of sustainable outcomes – and we expect that will be a key consideration when determining future funding applications,” Mr Roberts says. “A month into the partnership with Entain, we are deeply encouraged by some of the announcements we have seen out of the industry – especially New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing’s Strategic Funding Document announced two weeks ago.”
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Guest Selector – Craig Carter
Thanks to Warwick Hodder for fulfilling the Guest Selector role thes past 3 weeks – now it is the turn of Craig Carter – Craig lives in the Bay Of Plenty, is a keen analyst of form and currently has shares with us in
Soprano Supreme, Trident, Sailing Away, Rhett Butler and two of our 2023 Yearling Fillies,
“Portia” (Super Seth) and “Raquel” (Reliable Man)
Craig says;
Hi John and the Fortuna Team – Thank you for the opportunity to be the guest selector over the next few weeks.
Is it just me or are you sick of the rain. When looking at tracks around NZ it seems to be how heavy will it be at each meeting which is making punting a bit of a guessing game.With more rain predicted for this Friday and Saturday this weekend will be no different and I tossed up between a horse I have made a few dollars off in the past at Awapuni – She’s So Reliable in Race 6 or a horse at Te Rapa I have been following and believe will handle the very heavy track that Te Rapa will produce.
I have settled on Russian Satire in race 7. This 3 year old daughter of impressive stallion Russian Revolution started this campaign with an emphatic win by 6.5 lengths on this track back in May then has had no luck in its next two starts. One with a slipped saddle then the next racing very wide and pushed back on the turn when she was trying to get closer. Up jumps Michael McNab and I think this combination will be very hard to beat and think Michael will present her with the opportunity to win. Fixed odds are $4.50 / $1.90 which I think are extremely generous but expect them to be shorter closer to the start time.
Good Luck
Craig
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