Headline News;

Fortuna acquires an outstanding Yearling Filly by freshman Sire, Super Seth at Magic Millions Gold Coast Sale

Mark Walker surges to 100 wins for current season in record time

Vale Sir Patrick Hogan
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Fortuna has three runners this coming week, one in New Zealand, two in Singapore

New Zealand

SOPRANO SUPREME contests the Rating 87 Karaka Cup at Pukekohe Park on Karaka Million evening Race 1 @ 4.09pm and will be ridden by Joe Doyle. A strong finishing 3^rdplacing over 1600m at Tauranga Friday 13^thhas set her up nicely for this trip. Will love the trip, gets a nice draw, has a very competent rider here and well suited at the weights – Strong each way chance and can win

Singapore

KING ARTHUR resumes after a stellar year in 2022, with seven wins and an increase in rating from 62 to 106, in the Kranji Stakes A 1200m Turf event for S$100k – Race 11 @5.30 pm Sing time (10.30pm NZT) – will be ridden by Fadzli Yusoff claiming 2kgs from Barrier 11. Meets a field of very good sprinters here, but is the highest rated runner in the field – has had two trials ahead of this event and will strip in great order. Is giving a fair bit of  weight to some up and coming types here and has a tricky draw to contend with, but always goes well fresh. Each way but needs luck

Here is how the STC tipsters see this race;

Golden Monkey
Looks primed to have a big season after a dominant three-year-old season. This is a nice steppingstone towards the Derby later in the year and Nunes jumps aboard. Tricky barrier to overcome but class should get him over the line.
King Arthur
One of our leading sprinters who has been allocated 59.5kgs. That has been eased with Yusoff’s 2kg claim but will need luck from a wide draw. His course and distance stats are great, and he must not be forgotten as a danger to the favourite.
Fame Star
Proven group winner who races well around this mark. He will have his eyes on some feature races this year but with Seow’s claim and nice barrier that allows him to roll forward he will look a danger turning for the judge. Each way claims.
Grand Koonta
He has been one of our highest rated gallopers for some time and although he doesn’t win too often, he does catch the eye in the finish. His C/D record is ultra-impressive with four wins from five starts and a second placing.

ROCKY  races in the Class 4 1200m Poly – Race 6 @ 3pm Sing time (8pm NZT)  and will be ridden by senior rider Mohammed Zaki from Barrier 6 – produced some good performances during his first campaign in 2022, while still showing a degree of immaturity. Seems to have grown up a bit this time in. Carries just 50kgs in this and is a very dangerous lightweight. Very good each way chance and can win – watch tote

Fortuna Track work – Matamata

Tuesday 17th January

Soprano Supreme (A Handley) galloped over 1400 metres, running the last 1000 in 1.04.3, final 600 in 36.2.

Thursday 19th January

Angels Wings (J Kamaruddin) worked in company over 1000 metres in 1.03.5, home in 36.32.

Fortuna Track work – Singapore

Tuesday 17^th Jan
King Arthur (Yusoff) – 1000/600 39;; Briggs (Awah) – 1000/600 40.5; Our Final Offer (Awah) – 1000/600 39;

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Other News

Fortuna acquires an outstanding Yearling Filly by freshman Sire, Super Seth, at Magic Millions Gold Coast Sale

About the Super Seth – Dark Heather Yearling Filly

Fortuna Director John Galvin attended the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, conducting inspections throughout the Sale and on Friday 13th, we got lucky and acquired a lovely Filly from the first crop of the Stallion, Super Seth, out of the unraced Cape Blanco Mare, Dark Heather. Dark Heather is a half sister to Heatherly (by Lonhro), who won 6 times, including the Group 2 VRC Rubiton Stakes, two other Listed races in Melbourne and was 2nd in the Group One VRC Moir Stakes and had three other Group and Listed placings as well.

Sire Super Seth (by Dundeel) who stands at Waikato Stud for a fee of $35k was a super racehorse. His imposing career on the racetrack was headlined by a dazzling victory in the G1 Caulfield Guineas, with the son of Dundeel striking a chord early when winning his first two juvenile starts, including a 6 length victory on debut. He returned as 3-year-old to win the G3 McNeil Stakes before defeating boom Queenslander Alligator Blood in the Caulfield Guineas. Resuming after a spell, he then added the Gr.3 Manfred Stakes to his winning record before finishing runner-up against the older horses in the G1 Futurity Stakes.

This was Super Seth’s first crop of yearlings being offered at this sale and he was well received by buyers, with seven lots selling for an average of A$230k and a top price of A$450k – notable that leading Stables such as Anthony/Sam Freedman, Chris Waller, Peter/Paul Snowden, Lindsay Park and Busuttin/Young snapped up 5 of the 7 Super Seth Lots on offer

Super Seth – Dark Heather Yearling Filly

Note that since we purchased, our new Filly has had a significant pedigree upgrade – that because in Race 1 at Rosehill on Saturday 14th January, the 2yo Colt, Red Resistance (Russian Revolution – Heatherly), won in impressive fashion on debut – Heatherly, a Group 2 winner, is a half sister to Dark Heather, the dam of our new filly.  If our Filly had gone through the ring at Saturday evening’s session, she would have made a lot more money.

Our new Filly (now given the Stable Name “RUBY”) is an early August foal, is bound to run as a 2yo, but also has the scope to develop into a lovely 3yo – don’t miss this one!!!

• January 2024 – the A$3m Magic Millions Classic for 2yo’s 1200m
• May 2024  – the A$1m National 2yo Classic 1000m
• January 2025 – the A$3m Magic Millions Guineas 1425m
• January 2025 – the A$3m 1100m 3yo Sprint
• Subsequent years she will be eligible for any of the A$1m races for older horses on the Magic Millions Carnival Day

Note that only horses that have been acquired at a MM Sale and have been enrolled for the Race Series are eligible to be nominated for these races. Of course, given the prizemoney on offer, all of these races are well sought after and all runners that wish to accept are graded by ratings points

Click HERE to see this lovely Filly parading

Click HERE to see Ruby’s pedigree.

This Filly was on Mark Walker’s pre sale list – Mark had inspected all of the Parade Videos ahead of the sale and then given that list to David Ellis and Marcus Corban, who conducted physical inspections at the Sales ground, eliminating those that did not meet their physical criteria. Those left on the list then had their X Rays and scopes read by Waikato Equine Vet, Dr Jack O’Brien, which led to further eliminations and those left were then physically inspected by Jack – our Filly passed muster at every step.

New Zealand’s leading Trainer Mark Walker had this to say about this Filly

“John, I picked this Filly out when I was doing Video inspections of the whole catalogue – a lovely Chestnut, she had a great athletic walk – as a really early foal she is of good size and I expect her to be a runner as a Two Year Old but has all the scope in the world to develop into a strong Three Year Old. By the first season Sire, Super Seth, whose progeny have certainly caught the eyes of a number of good judges, she has a strong pedigree on the dam side. I thought she may make north of A$150k, so you have done well  to secure her for just A$110k. I am really looking forward to having her in my barn.”

David Ellis and Marcus Corban were present at the sales and conducted physical inspections. David says;

“I was really taken with the progeny of first season Stallion, Super Seth, at this sale – all of his lots were impressive individuals. This Filly out of Dark Heather really caught my eye during inspections. Of good size, she had a lovely deep girth, a strong flowing walk, a lovely head, is a great colour and exhibited real class. She is from a family that has had significant black type success over at least the last four generations – she will be a great addition to our racing stable and I think she can be up and running as a Christmas – New Year 2yo in the 2023/24 racing season”

Marcus Corban (who comes from a background of 38 years working with the late Sir Patrick Hogan at Cambridge Stud)  and is a great judge of type and pedigree, offered the following comments

“John, David and I looked at this Filly together at the Sales and when we compared notes, we had both given her a big thumbs up. Physically, she ticked all the boxes and boasts a very strong pedigree page, with lots of black type over recent generations – she also has the “magic cross” – that is a double up of Sadlers Wells and Danehill which is highly sought after all over the world. John, you have done well getting this Filly for your budget and she is going to make a great addition to the Fortuna Racing Team.”

As readers may be aware, we always buy to budget and given that the Sales average was close to A$300k, our budget (A$120k) seemed to be a bit “meagre”, but as always, we remained patient – this lovely strong Filly was very much in our sights and we are more than happy to own her. We have had great success out of this Sale over the years with every single one of our purchases to date being winners.

A very early foal (13th August 2021) we think she can be a runner as a 2yo but has plenty of scope to develop into a lovely 3yo. She will be on a plane to NZ at the end of January, she will go to Te Akau Stud for 6 – 8 weeks in the paddock ahead of being broken in and will then have her first stable preparation in the hands of Mark Walker and we would be expecting her to have her first trial in the Spring of 2023

 

Disclosure Statement & Agreement

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

Read the Declaration.

Terms

The all up syndicated cost is NZ$196,000 – this includes purchase price, NZ GST on entry to NZ, Promoters fees, insurance through to January 2024 and just over $12,000 of working capital.

• Shares available right down to 1%.
• 10% share $19,600 – 5% share  $9,800– 2.5% share $4,900 – 1% share $1,960 (all pricing in NZ$)
• Share price includes all Initial Costs (Purchase price, GST, Promoters Fees, Transport to New Zealand, Magic Millions Race Series Fee, Insurance through to 31st January 2024, and Working Capital of $12,000 approx
• Monthly ongoing costs from 1^st April 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

Applications can only be made after Investors have perused and signed the NZ Thoroughbred Racing approved Disclosure Statement. This can be obtained from the Syndicate Promoter, Fortuna Ltd (Director John Galvin)

Fortuna Ltd is an Authorised Syndicator in accordance with the Code of Practice administered by New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing (Inc) established under The Financial Markets Conduct (Equine Bloodstock) Exemption Notice 2016. Details of this Offer are contained in the Disclosure Statement relating to the Offer

Purchase a share in the Super Seth Filly today direct from the Fortuna website link HERE or call /text John direct 021 921 460

Mark Walker surges to 100 wins for current season in record time

Yes, in just 5.5 months, Mark, who already holds 5 NZ Training Premierships from his time as Head Trainer for Te Akau Racing before his 11 year stint in Singapore (where he attained another 4 Training Premierships), has scorched through the 100 win Mark in his first full season as head of the NZ operation – see the story below from NZ Racing Desk

NZ Racing News reports:

Te Akau trainer Mark Walker made history at Tauranga on Friday when recording the fastest ever century of winners in a season. Heading into the meeting with 98 wins to date this season, Walker quickly added to his tally when securing the quinella in the Ray White Tauranga 1200 courtesy of Millefiori and Wairau Cove. One race later, Walker brought up the 100-win milestone with Pure Imagination in the Ray White Greerton 1200.

“It was good to get another win with him today,” Walker said. “He promised quite a bit early on and he’s had a few heart fibrillations and things go wrong. “He’s a lot happier now and it was a deserved win, off a lovely ride by Craig Zackey.”

Ellis was overjoyed by the stable’s record-setting milestone on Friday.

“What a great achievement by Mark (Walker) to reach 100 wins in such quick time this season and it’s hugely rewarding for everyone involved,” Ellis said. “Everyone that works for Te Akau gives 110 percent and without that type of commitment you just can’t get these sorts of results. “He’s included 15 stakes winners within the century and it looks as though there are some nice chances of increasing the black type winners tomorrow at Trentham.”

Te Akau had also established the previous fastest 100 wins in a season when Jamie Richards achieved the feat on 28 January 2021, bettering the previous record by nearly three months, during a record-breaking 160 wins for the season, and Walker has followed suit.

Vale Sir Patrick Hogan

Yes, the great man has left us once and for all – the accolades have flowed from all corners of the globe of course for a man who, along with Lady Justine Hogan, left an indelible stamp on the Thoroughbred World – Click HERE to read the full story

Interestingly enough, while I got to know Sir Patrick very well via racing circles over the past 20 years or so, my first meeting with him back around 1990 had nothing to do with racing. I had a business colleague who was providing financial advice to Sir Patrick and he called upon me to give input to Sir Patrick in my specialty field at that time, which was estate planning. We had a great meeting at Cambridge Stud and as the meeting came to a close, I mentioned to Sir Patrick about my lifelong interest in racing and how over the previous couple of years I had raced my first horse, TempleQuay, who had won five races for me. He picked up on that and said “That’s interesting, let me show Sir Tristram to you” and so without further ado, he took us over to the stallion barn, got the mighty Sir Tristram out of his box, paraded him and told us the Sir Tristram story. Notable that at that time Sir Tristram was not only the leading Stallion in NZ, but also in Australia.

Sir Patrick was real gentleman to the end, he will be sorely missed.

Guest Selector  – Andrew Castles

Butch went against the Fortuna runner, Rubicon Crossing, last week, selecting Codigo, to beat her – the two of them fought out the finish and galling though it was for us to see Rubicon Crossing run 2^nd, it was a great result for those who followed Butch’s lead – he is now three wins from four selections – well done Butch – I think we will keep you on!!!

Here is what Butch selects for us this week

“Dear John and Team While all the focus Saturday will be at Pukekohe, it is to Trentham we go in search of a winner. The Alan Sharrock trained Tavattack (Race 7 No 3) looks ready to strike. A very good run resuming at Otaki will have him primed for a big effort up to 1400m, a distance he has won at twice. Kelsy Hannan is riding well at the moment and her 2kg claim will see Tavattack go around with just 54kg. Opened at $3(which didn’t last long) the $2.8 is still well worth a play. Best of luck. Butch”

Headline News;

Magic Millions announce major prizemoney and programme enhancements to their race day Carnival from 2024

Fortuna has two runners this week, both in New Zealand

SOPRANO SUPREME contests the Rating 87 1600 at Tauranga today – Race 8 @ 4.35pm and will be ridden by Michael McNab on what will be a testing track. A fast finishing 3^rd in the Manawatu Cup in December had Soprano on track to race in the Karaka Stayers Cup at Pukekohe 21^st January. However she has done so well since her last start that Mark Walker decided she should have a lead up run over a shorter trip ahead of that race. May well be too short for her today, but she will be rattling home at the finish and is a chance of a top 3 finish

RUBICON CROSSING runs in the (Listed) Wellesley Stakes over 1100m at Trentham on Saturday 14^th – Race 3 @ 1.47 and will be ridden by Craig Grylls from the outside draw in a field of eight runners. She ran a bold 2^ndin a similar event. Meets a smart field of 2yos here and will need some luck from the draw, but has the gate speed to cross and can take a sit if need be. Represents a good top 3 chance here

Fortuna Track work – Matamata

Tuesday 10th January

Navalha (T Harris) galloped over an easy 1000 metres in 1.08.2, home in 37.7.

Wednesday 11^th January

Rubicon Crossing (H Durrant) galloped over an easy 1000 metres, final 600 in 41.2.

Fortuna Track work – Singapore

Saturday 7^th Jan

Elliot Ness (Jerlyn) – 800/600 40; Trident (Jamil) – 1000/600 40;

Other News

Magic Millions announce major prizemoney and programme enhancements to their race day Carnival from 2024

As readers are no doubt aware, The Magic Millions race day run in the middle of January (14^th Jan this year) features a complete card of races for which only horses acquired at the Magic Million Yearling sales are eligible. The Magic Millions Raceday, already the only raceday in the Southern Hemisphere to stage eight million-dollar plus races on one card, will receive additional funds beginning next year. This raceday started seven years ago with A$10 in prizemoney and in 2023 Raceday prizemoney has increased to $11.75 million
In a major press release Monday 9^th Jan the following announcements were made

• 2024 – Total Magic Millions Raceday prizemoney will increase to $14.25 million.
• 2024 – Magic Millions 2YO Classic and 3YO Guineas prizemoney increasing to $3 million each.
• 2024 – The new $1 million Magic Millions National 2YO Classic (1000 metres) to be run on the Gold Coast during the Magic Millions National Sale in May.
• 2025 – The introduction of Friday night racing will include a new $3 million slot race exclusively for 3-year-old sprinters over 1100 metres, to be held the night before the renowned raceday.

The full Press Release can be seen HERE

Guest Selector  – Andrew Castles

Butch made it two from three with Bruno Magile winning the last at Kumara last Saturday, aided by a clever ride from Lily Sutherland and paying $4.80 on the tote

Here is what Butch selects for us this week

“Dear John and Team – this week I am, unfortunately, taking on a Fortuna runner at Trentham. I think Codigo (race three number one)  is a very smart two year old and can make it two from two on Saturday. His debut win from a wide gate at Matamata was very good when narrowly beating the talented Filly, She Turns Heads – they ran nearly 1 second quicker than the other two-year-old race on the card. Aided by the ace draw. I expect this classy son of Ardrossan to be too quick for what is a tidy field. The $2.80 on offer will run through my multiples. Best of luck. Butch”

Headline News;
Mark Walker on fire – 100 winners for the season to date now in close reach

Singapore Racing for the 2023 Season gets under way Saturday 7^th January

John to attend Magic Millions Sale on the Gold Coast commencing 10^th January

Fortuna buying strategy for 2023 takes shape

Fortuna has three runners this weekend, two in NZ and one in Singapore

LEADERBOARD contests the Marton Cup (Listed) 2200m at Trentham Saturday 7^th Race 7 @ 4.48pm – Michael McNab to ride. His last start saw him put in a dogged effort to run 5^th in the NZ Cup at Riccarton, Then freshened, he trialed nicely over 100m at Matamata 23^rd December. On a path toward the Wellington Cup 28^th Jan. This trip is probably too short for him but he enjoys it wet and may strike a wet track on Saturday. Should be rattling home strongly if the rain comes

MOHAWK BRAVE runs in the R75 1500m event at Pukekohe Park Sunday 8^th Jan – Race 7 @ 4.08pm – Opie Bosson to ride. Has struck form of late with an unlucky 3^rd at Hastings and a strong finishing 2^nd off a wide gate at Otaki. Draws well here in gate 4 and has that man in the saddle – represents a very good each way chance here

ENTERTAINER resumes in the Kranji Stakes A event 1100m Polytrack – Race 11 @ 5pm Singapore time (10pm NZT) Stable apprentice Jamil to ride, claiming 4kgs – an eight time winner in Singapore, he has won 7 times at this trip and surface, but not in this grade. On paper he should find this grade a bit rich, but will carry just 48.5kgs with the claim, has an inside draw and loves to lead – if he can get a soft lead, he has a chance of featuring in the finish here

Here is what the Singapore Turf Club tipsters have to say about this race;

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Fortuna Track work – Matamata

No timed Fortuna trackwork this week

Fortuna Track work – Singapore

Saturday 31 Dec

Brutus (Jerlyn) – 800/600 39; Entertainer (Yusoff) – 1000/600 37; Kinppenberg (Yusoff)– 800/600 37; Rocky (Yusoff) – 1000/600 38;

Wednesday 3^rd Jan

Brutus (Jerlyn) – 800/600 39; Trident (Jamil) – 1000/600 39.5; King Arthur (Yusoff) – 1000/600 37.5; Briggs (Awah) – 800/600 40.5; Knippenberg(Aslam) – 800/600 37; Rocky (Aslam) – 800/600 38.5;

Other News

Mark Walker on fire – 100 winners for the season to date now in close reach

Yes, incredible though it sounds, Mark Walker appears to be unstoppable in his quest for a 10^th Training Premiership with 95 winners (including 15 Stakes winners) for the current season to date with still almost 7 months of the season to run. Amazingly, Mark is 56 wins clear of the 2^nd placed Trainer, Stephen Marsh. And to put things in perspective, at the same time last season, Jamie Richards was leading the 2021/22 season premiership with 57 wins.

Mark, as always is very modest about his achievements and will deflect praise to David and Karyn for buying so many talented gallopers and also to his stable staff, who put in a devoted and determined effort and, no doubt these things are true, but there is also no doubt that Mark is completely dedicated to his profession and brings many years of experience and horse knowledge to the task at hand.

We are certainly very lucky to have such a “Master Craftsman” at the Te Akau helm.

Singapore Racing for the 2023 Season gets under way Saturday 7^th January

A gap of 6 weeks since the last race day at Kranji in late November has seen all horses have a freshen up and many have been back in work for the last four weeks or so. There is a real buzz among Trainers, Riders, Stable Staff and Owners as some significant announcements around prizemoney and race scheduling were made toward the end of the season. Singapore Trainers were very active at the three Ready To Run Sales held in Australia and NZ October and November with a significant number of new horses acquired for Singapore racing.

Our Singapore Trainer, Donna Logan, had an exceptional first season at the helm of the Te Akau operation, finishing in 2^nd place and, as with other Singapore Trainers, Donna was very active at the 2yo sales and has a number of young horses joining her team. Donna kicks off the new season with 6 runners on Saturday

As readers would be well aware, Fortuna Racing has been active in Singapore since 2010 and despite the traumas of Covid, we have had two very good seasons in 2021 (19 wins) and 2022 (18 wins. Our Stable Star, King Arthur, has now won 9 times in Singapore and accumulated around S$450k in prizemoney. Entertainer has won 8 times and also has accumulated well over $300k and they are well supported by Brutus, Deception, Trident, Elliot Ness and Rocky, all Singapore winners. Briggs and Our Final Offer are yet to open their Singapore account, and we have two brand new horses yet to have their first starts, the 3yo Knippenberg and the 2yo “Rhett” by Charm Spirit out of Thurlow.

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John to attend Magic Millions Sale on the Gold Coast commencing 10^th January

This sale has built and built in popularity in recent years, no doubt helped by the hugely successful Magic Millions Race Day run at the same time with over A$11m of prizemoney on offer, with all races being restricted to graduates of previous years sales. Fortuna has not been a been a big buyer at this sale but all of our purchases from this sale over the years have won for us, Handsome Rebel, Meteoric Lass, Dancarina and our acquisition from last year’s sale, Rubicon Crossing

No question that yearlings at this sale are not “easy” to buy, and as you know we always “buy to budget” however, as we proved last year with Rubicon Crossing, it is possible (with no little dedicated research) to fund one or two that sneak under the radar. We are aiming to buy another nicely bred and well conformed Filly this year. My 12 year old son, James, is coming along on this trip as my apprentice – it is certainly time for him to be learning about this most important part of our business – thoroughbred selection and acquisition

Fortuna buying strategy for 2023 takes shape

Given the upcoming Magic Millions Sale, not to mention the NZ Bloodstock Karaka Sale coming up at the end of January, I thought it worthwhile to outline our overall buying strategy for the 2023 calendar year.

As readers are no doubt aware, Fortuna Racing is a “boutique” syndicator, usually restricting our purchases to around 12 per annum and we like to mix these purchases up with yearlings, Ready to Run 2yos, tried horses (aged 2 or 3) from the Digital Sales for Singapore and staying types from the UK sales.

So the physical sales I plan to attend over the next few weeks are as follows;

Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale 10^th to 16^th Jan – target – a Yearling Filly

Karaka Yearling Sale 29^th January to 3^rd February – target – a Yearling Colt or Filly who has the potential to run as a 2yo, plus two other Fillies that have staying type pedigrees.

Inglis Classic Sale – Sydney 12^th to 14^th February – target – a Yearling Filly (this sale will also feature the sale of our very first Breeding Syndicate Yearling – the filly by Xtravagant out of Secret Spice – lot 43)

Then we have the Inglis Digital Sales – these are run twice a month throughout the year and have been a happy hunting ground for us over the last three of four years in buying “tried” horses that go to race in Singapore. We have had significant success with the like of Federation, Red Rover, Brutus, Hadeer, Entertainer, Elliot Ness, Deception and King Arthur, all of whom are multiple winners, each with six figure earnings off relatively low purchase prices. Sure, we have had two or three failures as well, but on balance, it has been a highly successful buying strategy and we are going to continue the process during 2023 with the aim of buying two or three suitable candidates during the year.

UK Sales – traditionally, we have bought at the Tattersalls Horses in Training Sale in October, where we bought Leaderboard (2018), Khafeef (2019), No Envy (2021), all of whom have won for us. The objective here is to buy types with stout UK/Irish pedigrees that we think can make “Cups Type” stayers. We were not successful in making an acquisition at the 2022 sale – we bid on three that we had identified but got outbid by the big spending Australian syndicators/trainers who have incredibly deep pockets.

Last year in May, we acquired an unraced 2yo Colt by Churchill out of a Monsun mare at the Guineas Breeze Up Sale (this is like a Ready To Run Sale). Now named My Finest Hour, we left him in the UK  to be prepared by the young Newmarket Trainer, Harry Eustace. The strategy here was to have Harry prepare him as a UK Derby prospect in the first instance and then, depending on how he went as a 3yo, then look to bring him down to Australia and have him prepared for staying type races in that jurisdiction. Now a 3yo (as of 1 Jan), he is yet to debut, but has shown us a lot of promise in his early preparation.

This strategy seems to have a lot of merit and so we are looking to repeat it in 2023 at that May sale

Magic Millions National Yearling Sale – Gold Coast – June 2023 – target – a Yearling Filly

Ready To Run Sales – traditionally, there are three of these in Australasia, the Magic Millions 2yo Sale, the Inglis Ready2Race Sale and the NZ Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale – these are all held during October and November and this year we bought a Colt by Charm Spirit for Singapore racing at Inglis and a Filly for NZ Racing at Karaka – and we will probably follow a similar pattern in 2023.

To summarise, there are plenty of options available for our clients – as always, as soon as we buy something, we publish details in an email update to all on our mailing list (in excess of 1200 people) and on our website.

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Guest Selector – Butch Castles

Butch was unable to make it two in a row for us with his New Years Day selection running a competitive 4^th for us although I did note that the first 4 paid a whopping $24k so there may be one or two readers who scored a bit of that.

Here is what Butch selects for us this week

“Dear John and Team – It doesn’t matter where the winner comes from as long as it wins!! I have ventured South to the iconic Kumara Nuggets meeting for this weeks tip. It has been an up and down week on the Coast with the meeting Thursday abandoned after a horses slipped in the first but with rain and a Soft7 track Friday morning it should be all systems go for Saturday at Kumara.

Kevin Myers is synonymous with racing on the Coast circuit and it is to him we turn to invest our hard earned. I did the tapes from Greymouth on Tuesday and found Race 8 No 1 Bruno Magile. Ridden back Tuesday he had no luck in the straight on a track that was probably firmer than what he would prefer. The run resuming at Hawera was very good and with the 3kg claim of Lily Sutherland he will be very hard to beat. I think the bookies got his price wrong at the original quote of $4.8 which has now trimmed up to $3.8 but even that represents good shopping!! Butch”

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In closing, there has been a lot of publicity and a strong stench from the cryptocurrency  sector of late – Readers may be aware of my long background in the Financial Services sector so I sought some input so as to explain to Readers just how Crypto-Currency works … an analogy in layman’s terms.

A merchant found a lot of monkeys that lived near a certain village. He went to the village, saying he wanted to buy these monkeys, at $100 each. The villagers thought that this man must be crazy – How can somebody buy stray monkeys at $100 each ?

Still, some people caught some monkeys, and gave them to this merchant, and he gave $100 for each monkey. This news spread like wildfire, and people caught monkeys, and sold them to the merchant. After a few days, the merchant announced that he would buy monkeys at $200 each. Even the lazy villagers ran around to catch the remaining monkeys ! They sold the monkeys at $200 each.

The merchant then announced that he would buy monkeys for $500 each ! The villagers start to lose sleep !   They caught six or seven monkeys, which was all that was left, and got $500 for each. The villagers were waiting anxiously for the next announcement.

Then the merchant announced that he was going on holiday for a week, but, when he returned, he would buy monkeys at $1000 each ! He also said that his employee would be in charge, and would take care of the monkeys he had bought, pending his return. The merchant went on holiday.

The villagers were frantic and very sad, as there were no more monkeys left for them to sell it at $1000 each, as was promised by the merchant. Then the merchant’s employee contacted them, and told them that he would secretly sell them some monkeys at $700 each. The news spread like wildfire !    As the merchant promised on his return that he would buy monkeys at $1000 each, they would achieve a $300 profit for each monkey.

The next day the villagers queued up near the monkey cage. The employee sold all the monkeys at $700 each.   The wealthy bought monkeys in large lots.   The poor borrowed money from money lenders, and bought the rest of the monkeys.

The villagers took care of their monkeys, and waited for the merchant to return. However, nobody came ….. They ran to find the employee ….. He was not to be found! The villagers then realised that they had been duped, buying the useless stray monkeys at $700 each, and were now unable to sell them !

This Monkey Business is now known as Crypto currency !

Headline News;

Fortuna Racing Celebrates a record year in 2022 with 40 individual wins – a new record

History to be made at Te Rapa New Year’s Day

Fortuna has three runners over the New Year period, one at Te Rapa and two at Matamata

MALBOROUGH BAY resumes at Te Rapa on New Years Day – he contests the Rating 65 1200m event – Race 6 @ 3.30 pm with Opie Bosson aboard from Barrier 10. This lovely 3yo by Darci Brahma won on debut at Matamata in May – he then raced well at Riccarton placing in 3 starts before getting no luck in the 2000 Guineas. Freshened since, he now steps back in grade – slightly tricky draw and will need some luck, but has right man in the saddle for that – good each way chance

HAYATE  contests the R65 1200m event at Matamata 3^rd Jan – a strong last start winner at Tauranga 9^th December, she turned around some previous very average form. Up in grade here and will face quite different track conditions to the Heavy track she got at Tauranga – talented at best, she can feature here if she copes with the firm track conditions

ANGELS WINGS contests the Maiden 3yo 1200m event at Matamata 3^rd Jan  – a solid 3^rd placing at Tauranga 9^thDecember where she looked beaten on the turn, but kept on coming, she has benefited from that run and we can look forward to her racing on a better track – can break through here

(Note the Matamata runners are nominations only at this stage – hence no race nos or times and no rider details)

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Fortuna Track work – Matamata

No timed Fortuna trackwork this week

Fortuna Track work – Singapore

Saturday 24th December

Elliot Ness (Jamil) – 800/600 40; Trident (Jamil) – 800/600 42; King Arthur (Awah) – 1000/600 39; Knippenberg(Aslam) – 800/600 39.5; Deception (Aslam) – 800/600 39; Entertainer (Aslam) – 800/600 38.5; Rocky (Aslam) – 800/600 38.5

Other News

Fortuna Racing Celebrates a record year is 2022 with 40 individual wins – a new record

Yes, 21 wins in NZ, 1 in Australia and 18 in Singapore all contributed to a very successful 2022 calendar year for our racing team – these 40 victories being produced by 19 individual runners – 2021 saw 30 wins, which was a record, so we have surpassed that again – a huge thank you to all of our Owners who give us great support across the board, win, lose or draw

A few highlights from the year:

King Arthur with seven wins in 2022 from 13 starts (giving him 9 career wins in total) and collecting S$368k in stakes for the year (making S$444k career total). He wasn’t able to get past arguably the best horse in Singapore, Lim’s Kosciuszko, but was certainly the best horse in the Te Akau/Logan Stable and gave his ownership group many thrills

Soprano Supreme winning 4 times during the course of 2022 and gaining black type when 3rd at her last start in the Manawatu Cup. A very promising stayer in the making she is nominated to run in the Avondale and Auckland Cups in the coming weeks

Leaderboard winning the time honoured St Leger Stakes, a Listed event, at Trentham in March and putting in a dogged finish to run 5th in the NZ Cup on track conditions (very firm) which were not to his liking. He will run in the Wellington Cup 28th Jan

Rubicon Crossing winning the very first 2yo event of the year at Wanganui in September and then running a brave 2nd in the Welcome Stakes at Riccarton in November, earning valuable black type in the process – she will now contest the (Listed) Wellesley Stakes at Trentham 14th Jan

Malborough Bay, Hayate and Inca Belle all winning on debut with Inca Belle then winning again at her 2nd race day start

History to be made at Te Rapa New Year’s Day

New Years Day in 2023 sees Te Rapa hosting the traditional meeting normally run at Ellerslie, but with Ellerslie out of action due to its massive track renovation project, the Waikato Racing Club steps into the breach to host this day, a raceday which is one of the highlights of the NZ Racing Calendar featuring the Group One Railway Stakes, the Group 3 Queen Elizabeth Cup (formerly the City of Auckland Cup), the Group 2 Auckland Guineas plus other feature races. It is sure to be a grand occasion

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Guest Selector  – Andrew Castles

Butch got us off to a great start with his first selection last week – Ladies Man  certainly took no prisoners in the run home

Here is what Butch selects for us this week

“New Year’s day is shaping up as a massive day of racing at Te Rapa and we will wait until the last for my best of the day. No 2 Astron was very impressive winning when resuming at HB and the run at Trentham subsequently was huge from a wide gate. He is drawn to get a much softer run from barrier 3 on Sunday and Craig Grylls should be able to settle him handier than last time. This 4yo son of Redwood shapes as a top line stayer in the making but I don’t see the 1600m on Sunday posing any issues. The TAB put up $3.2 about his chances which has been snapped up but the $2.8 he is currently at is still fine by me! Butch”