A quiet weekend for Fortuna horses with just OUR RIVER DANCER resuming in Singapore after a freshen up. After back to back wins August/September, Trainer Mark Walker gave him some time off with just a walking/swimming regime for a couple of weeks, then back onto the treadmill and normal trackwork from there. He starts in a Class 5 1200 metre event on the Polytrack, Friday 13th November, Race 1 @ 11.20pm NZT. An apprentice riders race, Mark Walker has elected to put on the 4kg claimer, Hasri. Drawn 11 at the barrier, OUR RIVER DANCER may find the distance too sharp for him, but could go a cheeky race fresh up.

The ever consistent 5yo Gelding, KING SAVINSKY (Savabeel-Lynsisky) showed the benefits of a recent freshen up when mounting a strong finishing run down the long Kranji Turf course straight in taking out the Kranji D Stakes event over 1600 metres in Singapore Friday night. Ridden by the evergreen Alan Munro, KING SAVINSKY was ridden patiently from his wide barrier draw, racing at the back of the field and not  covering an extra inch of ground on the running rail. Just prior to the turn Munro eased him off the rail, then went wider again and then kept him going to the outside, where once he was balanced, put in an irresistible finish to go the line half a length clear of his nearest rival.

KING SAVINSKY has now had 23 starts in Singapore for two wins and fourteen other prize money winning placings with total Singapore earnings now approaching $70,000

Acquired by David Ellis on behalf of Fortuna Ltd at the 2012 Karaka Select Sale, KING SAVINSKY is raced by an ownership group consisting of 30 individuals.

Six runners for Fortuna in New Zealand and Singapore, although one of them, OUR RIVER DANCER, does need a scratching to make the field.

Race 1 in Singapore Friday 6th November @ 11.20pm NZ time sees the unusual situation of three Fortuna runners, READY FORTUNE,  DOUBLE JEOPARDY and OUR RIVER DANCER all contesting the Class 5 1100 metre event on the Polytrack. However, all three horses are resuming from a freshen up and this is an ideal race for them all. Distance is probably too short for all three horses, although if OUR RIVER DANCER does get a start and gets his own way in front, he could give his opponents a fright. Apprentice riders have been engaged for all three runners.

Race 8 @ 3.310am NZT Sat morning, sees KING SAVINSKY contest the Kranji D Stakes event over 1600 metres on the Turf. Up to a more suitable distance after two resuming runs over sprint trips, KING SAVINSKY is right in this race and could prove to be very competitive. Drawn Barrier 10, he has the services of the vastly experienced Alan Munro to ride.

In New Zealand on Saturday, the well performed dual Stakes winning 3yo Filly, WINDBORNE, chances her arm against the older horses for the first time in the Pegasus Stakes over 1000 metres at Riccarton. A Listed event, this race has attracted a good field of older horses and WINDBORNE would need to live up to her high reputation as a speedster in order to gain success. She has drawn nicely at Barrier 2, carries the minimum of 53kgs and has the services of Matt Cameron in the saddle.

Finally on Sunday, SIR DARCI, contests the Rating 75 1200 metre event at Hastings. Very unlucky not to get a clear passage in his resuming run at Waipa recently, the roomier Hastings track should be ideal for SIR DARCI, who has drawn four and has the services of Cameron Lammas to ride.

Here is a Betting/Money Management Strategy for the big one, the Melbourne Cup. With 24 runners and many chances, this is a great race to clean up on multiples if you can get the right numbers on your ticket.  Below here is a strategy that the writer has used for a number of years with quite a few solid successes. For an outlay of $100, it gives you a crack at striking what are usually large Trifecta and First 4 dividends, but even if you only manage to get one of your selections home for a Place bet, will still get you back some of your outlay.  If $100 is a bit rich for you, you can always cut down the size of the bets to suit your budget.

Here it is

First Step
Select Nine Horses from the Twenty Four Starters and label these horses in your order of preference  A,B,C,D,E,F,G,H,I
Second Step. Place Bets as follows:

Win and Place Bets.
Bet $10 to Win and $10 to Place on each of Horses A and B. Cost of these bets = $40

Quinella Bets.
Select Horse A as an Anchor Selection and Horses B through to I to run 2nd. Select Horse B as an Anchor and Horses A though to I to run second.  Bet $1 Units. Cost of these bets = $16.

Trifecta Bet.
Select horses ABC to run 1st, ABCDE to run 2nd and ABCDEFG to run 3rd. Total Units=60, Take a 25% Percentage bet.  Cost of bet @ 25% = $15

First Four Bet. 
Select ABC to run 1st, ABCDE to run 2nd, ABCDEFG to run 3rd and ABCDEFGHI to run fourth.  Total Units=360. Take an 8% percentage bet.  Cost of Bet @ 8% = $29.

Total Cost of Bets = $100

And to help you further, Click HERE for the race field and Form Guide courtesy of the Herald Sun newspaper

This writer fancies GUST OF WIND, WHO SHOT THE BARMAN, TRIP TO PARIS, FAME GAME, RED CADEAUX

Any queries, just email John Galvin HERE

Friday night in Singapore sees five time Singapore winner, EATONS GOLD contest a Class 3 1100 metre event on the Polytrack. While yet to win at Class 3 Level, EATON has always been competitive and from  the nice barrier draw of five, top apprentice Shafiq Rusof aboard and just 52 kgs to carry, he is bound the be in the mix as they cross the line. 3yo Filly, LADY IFFRAAJ gets a chance to improve on her impressive 2nd placing on debut, when she contests the Initiation 1000 metre event on the Polytrack. Unfortunately, she has drawn the outside barrier, so will need plenty of luck to go her way. She carries just 50.5kgs and rider Tim Bell, a recent arrival in Singapore, has already made him mark as a rider of some quality.

In New Zealand on Saturday, 5yo stayer HIGHLY LIKELY journeys to Awapuni to contest the Rating 75 2300 metre event. A gutsy performance saw him win at Te Rapa two starts back and he followed that up with another strong performance in this grade at Matamata, just going down in the last stride. Danielle Johnson takes the ride from barrier 5 in what is a good quality stayers event.

Finally, in Singapore on Sunday 4yo DURAN, who has run three 3rd placings from his three starts to date in Singapore, tackles an Initiation event over 1200 metres on the Polytrack, Drawn out a bit at 10, he will be ridden quietly by Shafiq Rusof, but is a definite top four chance in what he has shown to date in Singapore.

What a weekend for Te Akau Racing Stables New Zealand with the Autridge/Richards Team scoring five wins on Saturday, four at Riccarton and one at Trentham. The Riccarton results featured a strong win by 3yo Filly RISQUE ( By Darci Brahma) in the Listed Armadillo Stakes over 1600 metres an d she has now thrust herself right into contention for the 1000 Guineas at Riccarton.on 14th November, Equally dominant at Trentham was 3yo Colt EXTRAVAGANT  (by Pentire) who won the Guineas Trial in a canter and is now also right in the mix for the 2000 Guineas at Riccarton 7th November. The five win haul propelled the Training Team to first on the Trainers Premiership table with 24 wins. In Singapore of course, Te Akau Racing’s Mark Walker also leads that premiership table so the Teams are firing all round.

First away on Friday 23rd October is SIR DARCI, who has his first start as a 5yo in the Rating 75 1200 metre event at Waipa. This four win Gelding had a strong 3yo year, but a number of health issues curtailed his performances as a 4yo. However, a recent strong trials performance at Te Teko, where he won by two lengths, gives some indication that he may be over his issues and ready for a strong season. Matt Cameron to ride in Race 7 at 4.05 pm.

Friday evening in Singapore, the well performed five time winner, EATONS GOLD, runs from barrier 4 in a Benchmark 67 1200 metre event on the Poly track. To be ridden by leading Apprentice, Shafiq Rusof, who is riding in white hot form, EATON is bound to be his usual competitive self in this event. Race time 3.20am Saturday morning NZ Time.

Singapore on Sunday sees the consistent performer, KING SAVINSKY, start in a Class 4 1200 metre event on the Turf track. A staying type, this trip is well short of his best distance, however he flew home over 1100 metres when resuming 1o days ago and he may give a sight in this event, particularly given that with the 4kg claimer, CK Ng, aboard, he will only carry 46.5kgs. Race 3 at 7.10pm NZ Time.

Finally at Woodville on Monday, 4yo mare OUR DRAHMA QUEEN has her third race day start. After disappointing when favourite on debut at Matamata, she atoned with a strong 3rd placing over 1200 metres at Taupo recently and the 1400 metre trip will be right up the alley of this half sister to the Australian Group One performer,  Suavito. Cameron Lammas to ride.

A run of four second placings in a row and then a a very unlucky 7th last start placing came to an end in Singapore Sunday 18th October when 4yo Mare SECRET SPICE won her Class 5 event over 1600 metres on the Turf by two and a half lengths, her 2nd win in Singapore.  Ridden by Singapore Champion Jockey, Manoel Nunes, SECRET SPICE had drawn wide which presented some challenges given that the running rail was right out, however Nunes settled his mount slightly worse than mid field, worked her closer prior to the turn and then on straightening the mare maintained a strong irresistible run to the line. Click HERE to see the race replay.

Fortuna Director John Galvin was very happy with the outcome; ” Secret Spice is proving a lovely horse in  Singapore; she is still maturing as a racehorse, but is as honest as the day is long and has now won close to S$100,000 for her owners from eighteen race day starts,” he said.

SECRET SPICE is by Sahkees Secret out of the very good race mare Caparison and is raced by the Fortuna Secret Spice Syndicate , an ownership group comprising 26 individuals and was acquired by David Ellis on behalf of Fortuna at the 2013 Karaka Yearling Sales for the sum of $47,500.

The Barrier Gods have smiled kindly on the Fortuna 3yo Filly WINDBORNE (Darci Brahma-Sweet Dreams Baby) in the Listed John Grigg Stakes over 1400 metres on Saturday 17th October at Ashburton. The last start winner of another Listed event, the Canterbury Belle Stakes at Riccarton on 19th September, WINDBORNE will be chasing her third black type success, having also won the Murdock Newell Stakes at Avondale as a 2yo. A very speedy filly, WINDBORNE is using Saturdays race over the 1400 metre trip as a final lead in to the Group One NZ Bloodstock 1000 Guineas at Riccarton on 14th November. She will be ridden again by Rosie Myers, who was successful on her at her last start win.

A solid week of performances by Fortuna runners. At Taupo on Wednesday, there was a lot of interest in the debut run of  3yo Filly, ITS OUR SHOWTIME (Showcasing-Be Inspired), who tackled the 1000 metre sprint without the benefit of having ever been to the trials. From the Ace draw, we were expecting a bold run, but she did race a bit greenly and gave up some ground when trying to go straight ahead at the first bend instead of around it, but regathered and came home strongly to finish 1 nice 3rd; she seems to be a filly with a lot of ability.

Also at Taupo, we saw the 2nd race day effort of 4yo mare, OUR DRAHMA QUEEN (Darci Brahma-Queen Cha Cha). A tad disappointing when favourite on debut at Matamata, but striking better track conditions this time, she was pushed wide on the one turn, but once balanced, rattled home strongly for 3rd placing; 1400 metres next time will be right up her alley.

Saturday at Matamata saw last start winner HIGHLY LIKELY, the 5yo gelding by High Chaparral, contest the rating 75 2000 metre event on an eight day backup. Employing the same front running tactics that he had used to effect when winning at Te Rapa, he had the race won everywhere but the last two strides, going down by a neck. A genuine one paced staying type, he is still maturing and the further ho goes, the better he will get.

Singapore on Sunday saw 4to Mare SECRET SPICE (Sahkees Secret-Caparison) attempt to break a sequence of four race day seconds in a row by winning, however despite a nice run on the rails in transit, rider Manoel Nunes could not find a split for her between runners in the straight and she finished in 7th place, just 2.3 lengths from the winner. She will back up over 1600 metre this coming Sunday 18th October. In the nest race anticipation was high for the debut run of the very promising 3yo Filly, LADY IFFRAAJ ( Iffraaj-Naturo). She had shown a lot in her trackwork and trials and was primed to run a big race from the ace draw. Worked up a bit before the race, she missed the jump slightly in the 1000 metre event and finished up racing further back in the field than was ideal, but nevertheless, showed a great turn of foot to finish the race off strongly in 2nd place, an excellent debut effort.

At the Te Teko trials on Monday, the talented 5yo Gelding SIR DARCI (Darci Brahma-Dominant), a four time race day winner,  put on a lovely display, racing on the speed and drawing away to win his trial by two lengths, He will head to the races very shortly.