Our debut 2yo winner Marokopa Falls in the news
LOVERACING.NZ News Desk
Marokopa Falls shines on debut
Te Akau Racing and Fortuna Racing have a remarkable association with two-year-old fillies and they unveiled another exciting prospect at Trentham on Saturday in the form of Marokopa Falls.
The daughter of Hellbent was not fully tested in her sole trial appearance at Taupo on November 26, and in a compact four-horse juvenile field on debut, she closed a $3.50 second-favourite behind race-winner Too Sweet ($1.80).
Each of the quartet jumped positively and with plenty of early speed, Too Sweet found the rail and the lead as they descended down the TAB chute. Marokopa Falls shadowed the filly throughout and got on even terms as they straightened, and after breaking away from Abbakiss and Ferrari, the pair set to fight out the finish with Marokopa Falls finding an extra kick under Craig Grylls to score by a half-length at the post.
Grylls, who currently leads the national jockey’s premiership narrowly over Sam Spratt, was complimentary of the filly’s first-up effort.
“She was well prepared for today,” he said. “She hopped away nice to sit outside the leader, was little bit green coming across the junction, as they quite often can be, but once balanced she let down really nicely.
“She was very professional, a nice mover, and for her first go after only one trial it was pretty impressive.”
Mark Walker, who prepares the Te Akau contingent alongside Sam Bergerson, indicated Marokopa Falls would return to Trentham at short notice, with the Gr.2 Happy Hire Wakefield Challenge Stakes (1100m) her next assignment.
“She has a lot of natural ability and will take further improvement from the trip away and the win,” Walker said.
“Her next start will be in the Group Two Wakefield Stakes and it would be great to get some black type at just her second start.”
The stable won last year’s edition of the Wakefield with subsequent Group One-winning filly Captured By Love, who like Marokopa Falls, was purchased out of the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. The latter was secured by David Ellis and Fortuna Racing’s John Galvin for $57,500, the exact figure the pair outlaid to buy their 14-time Group One winner Melody Belle.
In the early stages of her illustrious career, Melody Belle won the $1 million Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m), a race Marokopa Falls is ineligible for as an Australian-bought filly.
Galvin was on course to witness the victory, alongside several members of the Fortuna Marokopa Falls Syndicate.
“It was a lovely win from a lovely filly that the team obviously have a lot of time for,” Galvin said.
“It’s not usual for us to send a two-year-old to the races off the back of one trial, so going there today gave us an indication of what the trainers think of her. She was very professional and relaxed in the birdcage and she showed those same attributes during the race.
“She was bought for the same price as Melody Belle, so if she could be half as good as her then we’d have to be very happy, wouldn’t we?.”
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Guest Selector – Des Coppins
Gee Dez is having a great run with his full service best bet selections – every race day he selects one “best bet” and remarkably 12 of the last 16 have come in – we have a number of Fortuna clients who are subscribers to Des full service and I know they are filling their boots at the present time
Greetings John and Fortuna Team
Wasn’t your two year old Marokopa Falls impressive on Saturday?
She may have only beaten three others but there were two last start winners in the field including an odds on favourite but her professionalism was the key to her performance.
She strode out like one that was having her 4th or 5th start, not just her first!
There should be a lot more to come on that display!
Our three horses from last week, Arby ( unlucky again!); Beast of Burden ( powered into 3rd with the quickest sectionals) and Gee Cee ( the jury’s out!).
We’ve had some great collects for the subscribers to the email service including 19 to one Dua Dance on Sunday as the Value Bet of the day as one of the highlights matched only by the Best Bets with 12 wins from the last 16 meetings!
It’s never too late to join.
Drop me an email: dcoppins@xtra.co.nz and at $200 ( gst inclusive)which takes you right up until the last race day in February and who knows, it may turn out to be the Xmas present you’ve always wanted????
The great racing continues this weekend including Waikato Cup Day at Te Rapa.
Here are my three to follow not only on Saturday but throughout the summer.
Karman Line, race 6
She’s a class act who ran a pearler first up at Pukekohe three weeks ago.
The wet ground didn’t suit so early in her preparation and in 6th place she finished just over one length from second after copping a slight check inside the last 200.
It was the run of a definite improver.
Let’s not forget she beat La Crique in stakes company last season and she has performed well at Te Rapa in the past.
She should go close.
Yaldi, race 5
It’s great to see this three year old back and he’s not far off from the very best!
He rates highly in this race after a comfortable trial win at Pukekohe two weeks ago.
For the record, he’s unbeaten in NZ and his two other starts were in Melbourne, running third in stakes company at Flemington in April and missing out completely in a group three in Caulfield. The latter effort was no disgrace when you consider the winner, Growing Empire subsequently ran third to Bella Nipotina and Giga Kick in The Everest.
Testify Me, Waikato Cup, r8
You’ll know now that I’m a big fan of this horse. I’ve already singled him out as a leading Cups contender in this column and after his strong run into third in the Wanganui Cup a couple of weeks ago there’ll be a number of punters keen to follow the lead.
He likes Te Rapa.
He paid a visit here 13 months to win over 1600m.
My confidence levels are high for all three runners mentioned this week.
Ps the multi – it might be asking too much – at time of writing sits at 90 to one!
Good punting!
Des Coppins
021 448 052
