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Friday Flash – 30th December 2022

Published 1 January 2023

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

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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

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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

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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”

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Finally Jessica and I and family wish all our Fortuna clients and other subscribers to this update a great New Year – the Galvin family followed their usual Annual Christmas Day tradition of the “Front Door” photo – see below

Friday Flash – 23rd December 2022

Published 23 December 2022

Headline News;

Secondary Market shares for sale from deceased Estate – Sailing Away and Mohawk Brave

Fortuna launches new Breeding Syndicate – Matariki

Frankie Dettori to retire in 2023

Te Akau apprentices Joe Kamaruddin and Niranjan Parmar both attained awards at the recent Northern Apprentice Riders Awards

Jake Bayliss returns to NZ to ride

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Fortuna has two runners this week, one at Matamata, one at Otaki

PRINCE LONHRO makes his race day debut at Matamata 23^rd Dec in the Maiden 1050m event – Race 7 at 4.14 pm. This handsome 3yo son of Lonhro has had 4 trials for a 3^rd and 3 wins – has taken time to mature but now ready to unleash – will be hard to hold out here

MOHAWK BRAVE races in the R74 1400 at Otaki on Boxing Day – race 5 at 2.52 pm – this talented galloper who won three of his first four starts as a 3yo and ran 4^th in the Group One Levin Classic in the Autumn, was a certainty beaten at Hastings 7^th Dec when hampered in the run home – represents a strong each way chance here

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Fortuna Track work – Matamata

Tuesday 12^th December

No timed Fortuna trackwork today

Fortuna Track work – Singapore

No timed Singapore trackwork this week

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Other News

Secondary Market shares for sale from deceased Estate – Sailing Away and Mohawk Brave

Fortuna stalwart, Iain Fletcher, passed away during the year – Iain had been a long time Fortuna client and had shares in nine horses at the time of his passing. His estate has decided to sell those shares, and most of them have been snapped up by fellow syndicate members in each syndicate, but there are a couple of parcels left over which can now be offered to the wider audience.

SAILING AWAY is a 2yo Gelding by the emerging sire, Merchant Navy and out of the Galileo mare, Anchovy, a ¾ sister to Champion European 3yo of 2013, Ruler Of The World – this is a very strong pedigree page. Acquired by Fortuna at the 2022 Karaka Book One Sale, “Salty” as he is nicknamed, initially appealed as a 2yo type, but during the Spring, he went through a real growth spurt and so is in the paddock now until end of December. He has also been gelded and this has assisted in his physical development. He has had 3 trials for a 2^nd at Te Rapa in August and two unplaced performances during October and November – these leading to his gelding and current paddock spell. Syndicated initially for $110k all up, there is 2.5% available at $750 total and $100 per month from 1 January. This 2.5% can be divided up if necessary.

Here is his pedigree page

MOHAWK BRAVE is a 4yo by Australia’s most expensive Stallion, Extreme Choice, out of the USA Stakes winning racemare, Bens Duchess. Acquired by Fortuna as a 2yo from an Inglis Digital Sale, he won three of his first four starts as a 3yo in NZ and ran 4^th in the Group One Levin Stakes at Trentham in March (a race won by Imperatriz). Then spelled, he ran a solid 4^th on resuming at Taupo, before failing at Ruakaka on a shifty track, then finished mid field at Matamata in October off a wide draw and was a certainty beaten when 3^rd at Hastings 7^th December, when held up for racing room in the run home. Runs Boxing Day at Otaki R75 1400m

$3,000 for the 5% share total and $200 per month from 1 Jan and the 5% can be split into 1% parcels.

See the pedigree below and if shares are acquired before Boxing Day race then he will be racing in the amended ownership

Contact John by email response to this update if you wish to be involved in either of these two opportunities

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Fortuna launches new Breeding Syndicate – Matariki

This is our second breeding syndicate – the first one being the Secret Spice Breeding Syndicate which got cracking in 2019 and to date has gone pretty well to plan with Secret Spice foaling down a filly to Xtravagant in 2021 and this Filly will be offered for sale at the Inglis Classic sale in Sydney in February. She has since foaled again to Xtravagant in 2022, this time a Colt and is now in foal to Heroic Valour.

Matariki is a 2yo Filly we bought as a yearling at the 2022, Karaka yearling sale and formed a racing syndicate with her. Unfortunately, she suffered a severe paddock accident in the middle of this year, severely damaging a hind leg – she has been carefully nursed back to health and although a racing career has been ruled out for her, there is absolutely no reason why she cannot be a Broodmare and so that is her future. Some of her existing syndicate members have decided to become part of the new breeding syndicate and so now we are offering additional shares to others who may wish to join.

Matariki is a lovely Grey Filly by Reliable Man out of the Encosta de Lago Mare, Conferre, a 4 time winner in Australia at distances between 1400m and 2400m – so possesses a really nice staying pedigree which would match well with any number of suitable stallions here in NZ.

MATARIKI

Currently agisting in the Waikato, the plan for Mataraki would be to mate her in the spring of 2023 with Stallion choice not being made until May/June of 2023 in order to give us time to assist the market adequately.

Here is her Pedigree Page

Matariki has been transferred for zero consideration to the breeding syndicate and shares are available down to 1% with an initial working capital sum (in total) of $3000 being raised and ongoing payments for each one percent from the 1^st of January at $25 per month.

So, a 10% share is $300 initial and $250 pm from 1 Jan, a 5% share $150 initial and $125 pm from 1 Jan, a 2.5% share $75 initial and $62.50 pm from 1 Jan and a 1% share $30 initial and $25 pm from 1 Jan

Click HERE to read the Disclosure Statement

Shares can be ordered off the Fortuna website at the link HERE

Contact John direct by email response to this Update if you need more infomation

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Frankie Dettori to retire in 2023

Article by Steve Dennis of Thoroughbred Racing Commentary

Frankie Dettori shocked the racing world by saying he intends to retire after at the end of 2023 after a ‘farewell tour’. In this brilliant appreciation of an iconic global talent, Steve Dennis charts the ups and downs of a high-profile career

Frankie Dettori

Never is a small word with big connotations, but perhaps there has never been another jockey quite like Frankie Dettori, 52, who has just announced that he will call time on the most glorious, most lapidary of careers at the end of 2023. There have been many more prolific jockeys, and plenty of riders who have won more major races, and a good many who have been considered his superior. But no-one else has managed the blend of sheer brilliance on the track and high celebrity off the track that has characterised Dettori’s time among us.

He was born in a well-known city in northern Italy but, in the words of the song, he has always been too sexy for Milan. Dettori has been box-office famous, a showman like no other, racing’s laughing, grinning, buoyant cavalier even when – like all the best entertainers – he was dealing with the darkness of his demons.

Racing – all sport – is at heart a numbers game, so let’s take the abacus down from the shelf and set the beads whirring. Dettori rode his first winner at Turin racecourse in November 1986, and has barely let up the pace ever since. He has ridden 3,336 winners in Britain, placing him fifth in the all-time list behind Sir Gordon Richards, Pat Eddery, Lester Piggott and Willie Carson, and hundreds more around the world.

Royal Ascot hero: Dettori records the most recent of his 77 victories at Britain’s most prestigious race meeting on Inspiral in the G1 Coronation Stakes in June. Photo: Francesca Altoft/focusonracing.com

He has ridden 21 British Classic winners – Piggott’s record is 30 – and 282 G1 winners, which includes 14 at the Breeders’ Cup. There have been 77 victories at Royal Ascot, three British jockeys’ championships and one apprentice title, seven wins from seven rides on one indelible day at Ascot, a record six wins in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, four in the Dubai World Cup, three in the Japan Cup, two in the Derby, and for good measure he also bred a winner of the Queen Mother Champion Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.

Public property

The names of the great horses he as partnered are legion. Pick six, perhaps – Dubai Millennium, Daylami, Sakhee, Enable, Stradivarius, Lammtarra – and you leave out many champions and countless household names, and all this untrammelled excelsior of success has come while he has been public property, usually willingly but occasionally unwillingly, the going rate for celebrity in the 21st century. When he rides off into the sunset for the final time, no-one will ever be able to say, “Frankie, we hardly knew ya”

Pedigree is the linchpin of Flat racing, and Dettori was bred to be both a jockey and the centre of attention at the big show – his father Gianfranco was 13-time champion jockey in Italy and his mother Iris Maria was a trapeze artist who also stood on horses’ backs as they cantered around the circus ring. This apple fell right next to the tree.
Dettori’s life and career resembles a sine wave, every up followed rapidly by a down, swiftly followed by an up. He moved to Britain in 1985 and won the apprentice – ‘bugboy’, for a US audience – title four years later, but shot to a prominence he has never relinquished at the age of 19, when winning his first two G1s within the space of 45 minutes at Ascot in September 1990.

In those days press conferences were not the polished, banal affairs they are today. All the journalists crammed into a small room in the bowels of Ascot’s old grandstand and Dettori climbed onto a wooden chair and held forth, running his hands through his impossibly luxurious mop of hair and beaming like, well, like a 19-year-old who had just begun the conquering of the world. We hacks were enchanted, entranced. We knew he’d go far. We never believed he’d go this far.

Unflinching self-awareness

But what goes up on to the rickety wooden chair must come down flat on its face on the floor, and like so many before him and afterwards Dettori soon fell under the wheels of fame’s relentless bandwagon. In a recent and highly confessional interview for the Big Issue, a British publication, Dettori was unflinching in his self-awareness.
“By the time I was 22 I had turned into a dickhead,” he said. “I lost it, completely lost it. I loved the bright lights, loved the party and loved the drugs. I loved the women. I loved the entourage. I just completely f***ing lost”

Flying dismount: Frankie Dettori performs his trademark leap out of the saddle after winning the G1 Racing Post Trophy on subsequent Derby winner Authorized at Newbury in 2006. Photo: Dan Abraham/focusonracing.com

He was arrested for using cocaine in 1993, and received a police caution. He had been riding for the Queen, and it takes little imagination to conjure up the headlines. His career trajectory wobbled, dipped. Up and down, then up again. The following year he was champion for the first time, retained his crown 12 months later, and then in September 1996 he attained his absolute zenith when he rode all seven winners – the fabled ‘Magnificent Seven’ – on a hugely prestigious day at Ascot, his spiritual racecourse. The importance of that heavenly septet of winners is crucial to the Dettori legend. It made him, forever, defining him as a person as well as a jockey.

After his final victory aboard Fujiyama Crest – who Dettori would later purchase and bless with a life-of-Riley retirement – he performed his flying dismount (stolen from Angel Cordero, who stole it from Avelino Gomez, who may or may not have initiated it) and ran madly around the winner’s enclosure spraying the crowd with champagne, as if they weren’t intoxicated enough by what had just taken place.

Before that day, Dettori was admired and loved by the racing public. After that, he was untouchable, beyond the normal vagaries of affection. Frankie was Frankie, bigger than racing itself. He opened a chain of pizza restaurants, he was a team captain on a TV sports quiz show, he was to the apocryphal man in the street the only embodiment of a sport that had lacked a public figure since the very, very, very different Piggott had retired.

Global phenomenon

It was the beginning of the Godolphin years, during which Dettori became not just a British phenomenon but a global one. Yet his life, like the course of true love, never ran completely smoothly. Up/down/up. In 2000 his light aeroplane crashed in Newmarket, killing the pilot. Dettori was saved from death only by the bravery of fellow jockey and passenger Ray Cochrane, who dragged him from the wreckage, and the mental scars took years to heal.

In 2007 he won the Derby for the first time; in 2012 he fell from grace at Godolphin, losing his retainer, and was banned for six months after testing positive for cocaine when riding in France. He was 42. Surely that was ‘game over’. It looked that way the following year when he participated in the trashy TV show Celebrity Big Brother; Marlon Brando in the jungle, a mighty titan going terribly wrong in plain sight. That year he rode just 16 winners. Yet … two years later he won a second Derby on Golden Horn, escaping like Houdini from the chains of his flaws and failings and returning to his position as the brightest light in racing’s firmament, going on to enjoy a remarkably fruitful second coming as stable jockey to John Gosden.

Immortal sporting career

More than anything else, Dettori is a survivor, a rubber ball of a man who has always bounced back. He has made it through, coming out the other side of a remarkable and immortal sporting career with his talent and his position in the public’s affection largely intact. He rides much less often nowadays, saving himself for the big occasions, and although there has been the inevitable diminishing that comes with age – the reflexes possibly not what they were, the trackcraft less instinctive than before – he is still one of the best jockeys in world.

On top of the world: Frankie Dettori on Country Grammer, aboard whom he landed his fourth Dubai World Cup triumph in March 2022. Photo: Dubai Racing Club

Now for the last and long goodbye, a year that will be spent picking cherries from the fruit bowl of the racing world, every milestone – the last time in Dubai, the last Derby, Royal Ascot, Arc, Champions Day, Breeders’ Cup – cherished and slightly overwrought with emotion on his way to the end of the racing road. He will start the journey at sunny Santa Anita this month and finish it there at the Breeders’ Cup next November, arguably the greatest international jockey we’ve ever seen bestriding the globe one last time.

British racing will miss him terribly. Dettori is literally irreplaceable, as despite the obvious talent of William Buick, Oisin Murphy, Hollie Doyle and all the rest there is no-one with the public profile, no-one with the wider connection, no-one with that irrepressible blend of glamour and genius that has characterised Dettori from almost the very start. British racing is practically at its lowest ebb anyway, and a Dettori-less future is – although completely predictable – another worrying augury for the coming years.

He has said that he has no wish to be a trainer. Not enough spotlight, not the right temperament. Dettori’s future lies in the media, as a racing pundit, as a television personality, a star of stage and screen a little like a modern-day Tod ‘Yankee Doodle’ Sloan, box-office to the end, prime-time funtime Frankie.

“I’ve had an absolutely amazing career and loved every second of it,” he told interviewer Lee Mottershead of the Racing Post. “But you have to know when to let go, and I want to stop at the top.”

Up, down, up, down, up. He’s timed it perfectly. The great entertainer leaves the stage, leaving us wanting more, knowing there’ll never be

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Te Akau apprentices Joe Kamaruddin and Niranjan Parmar both attained awards at the recent Northern Apprentice Awards Evening

Click HERE to read the full story from the Te Akau website – both Joe and Niranjan rode several winners for Fortuna during the 2022 Calendar Year

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Jake Bayliss returns to NZ to ride

Readers may recall the spectacular success that Australian hoop Jake Bayliss had as a much younger rider in the 2018/19 period – since those days, Jake continued his riding career in Australia and over the last 12 months, with a very successful stint in Singapore, where he rode a lot of winners for Donna Logan, including success on the Fortuna Gelding, ROCKY.

Jake Bayliss in action aboard ROCKY when winning at Kranji August 2022

His return to NZ is welcome and he joins the ranks of a number of “new” riders in NZ, such as Warren Kennedy, Craig Zackey, Joe Doyle and Hakim Kamaruddin, all of whom have added much needed depth to the riding ranks here

See story below and note that Jake has his first day of riding in NZ today at Matamata where he has secured a number of rides.

Bayliss hungry for more NZ success

Source
NZ Racing Desk
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A familiar Australian face has re-joined the New Zealand riding ranks with the arrival this week of multiple Group One-winning jockey Jake Bayliss. He will kick off his third stint in New Zealand at Matamata on Friday with the 28-year-old coming off a rewarding 12-month contract in Singapore. Bayliss last rode in New Zealand in the 2018/19 season.

“New Zealand has always been really good to me as far as support goes and I’ve made a lot of nice friends and I’m really looking forward to it and getting on some nice horses,” Bayliss said. “Since I left, I feel like I have grown up and matured a lot from the young boy I was and more of an established rider now. I learned a lot riding in Queensland and in Singapore and have a lot more to bring to the table now.”

Bayliss would have been back here sooner but for attending to a family matter. “I’ve always wanted to get back to New Zealand, but unfortunately I had to look after the family farm back in Australia when my grandfather fell ill,” he said. “I stayed put in Queensland and Singapore was on the radar as well but everything was put on hold so I stayed there to ride. Once that settled down, I thought I’ll follow my dream and go up to Singapore and I was very lucky and grateful to get a 12-month licence.”

Bayliss made the most of his opportunities and exceeded all his expectations with 19 winners and multiple feature race victories. “I pretty much ticked off every goal and won a (Singapore) Group One there, the Queen Elizabeth (1800m), and the Group Two Three-Year-Old Classic (1400m) so I definitely achieved more there than was on my list of goals,” he said.

Jake Bayliss

Bayliss enjoyed a close association with expatriate Kiwi horsewoman Donna Logan in Singapore and sought her advice about a New Zealand return and also received encouragement from another senior Te Akau identity.

“It was always in the back of my mind that I wanted to come back to New Zealand again,” he said. “I was riding for Donna in Singapore and asked her for her thoughts and she gave me a bit of a push to give Mark Walker a call as well and he was very supportive. “After the Singapore season was wrapped up I went back to Queensland for two weeks to be with the family and an early Christmas and arrived here on Tuesday afternoon.”

Bayliss has again joined forces with riding agent Stu Laing after giving him a heads up about his return to New Zealand.

“I gave Stu a call while I was in Singapore to let him know it was on the radar and he thought it was a great idea and gave him the confirmation a week later,” he said. “We had a very good partnership the last time I was here with good success and I’m really hoping to kick off the same way we left off. I rode a bit for Fortuna Racing when I was In Singapore so I am looking forward to renewing my association with John Galvin and his big team of Owners as well”

The lightweight Bayliss will be in action at Matamata and the focus will then turn to the premier meeting at Pukekohe on Boxing Day. “I was pretty harsh on myself and rode 52.5kg in Singapore and over here I think I’ll stick to 53kg, but if any opportunity came up for a nice ride at 52.5kg by all means it would get done,” he said. “The long-term goal for next year is to hopefully follow a few New Zealand horses over to the Brisbane carnival where home is and my next move after that is up in the air, I think I’ll just go with the flow.”

In the meantime, Bayliss is also hungry to add to his tally of prestige victories in New Zealand following his past success aboard the Graham Richardson and Gavin Parker-trained Volpe Veloce in the 2018 Gr.1 Railway (1200m). During his second stint the following year, he won the Gr.1 Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m) with On The Rocks for Michael Moroney and Pam Gerard and the Gr.1 New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m) on Nicoletta for Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman.

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Finally, Jessica and I and family wish all our Fortuna clients and other subscribers to this update, a very Merry Christmas and may Fortuna (i.e the Roman God of good luck and good fortune) smile upon you greatly in 2023, particularly with your runners and any punting exploits you may pursue

HAYATE makes it Two career wins – Tauranga 9th December 2022

Published 10 December 2022

Appreciative of the course at her first attempt, Hayate (4 m Maurice – Vamoose, by Admire Moon) was victorious in the $14,000 Bosson Developments Rating 60 1300 metres on 9 December at Tauranga. Displaying natural ability when winning on debut over 1200 metres in May at Matamata, Hayate had fought well for fourth in the Rating 60 1400 metres last Thursday at New Plymouth. Pleased with the recovery, trainer Mark Walker was happy for Hayate to compete on an eight day turnaround and she was up to the challenge.

Under in form Te Akau apprentice Niranjan Parmar, claiming two-kilos to carry 56kg, Hayate was able to navigate a wider course, that suited on rain-affected Heavy9 footing, and gained a winning advantage 200 metres out. The upshot was a relatively comfortable one and a half length win, running 1:22.0 for the 1300 metres and returning $5.40 & $1.90 on the NZ TAB tote.

Click HERE to see the race replay

HAYATE – 2nd career win – Tauranga 9th December 2022

“It was a lovely ride by Parmar and I think the wet track helped her,” Walker said. “1200 to 1300 metres is probably about her right distance, so we’ll find another suitable race for her.”

HAYATE is by Arrowfield shuttle stallion and first season sire Maurice (Screen Hero), the 2015 Japanese Horse of the Year and both Champion Sprinter and Champion Miler is now one of the hottest young sires in Japan.

Fortuna Racing Director John Galvin was on course to see his charge perform “It was a sigh of relief to see her win again,” he said. “As we know, her form since resuming as a four-year-old hasn’t been that flash given the quality of her debut win as a three-year-old, so it was good to see her come out and get the job done.

“She recovered very well from her run at New Plymouth, which was a bit better than it looked. I think, perhaps, the 1400 metres on a soft track, just the two things together probably combined to see her run out of puff the last little bit. But an eight day back up, 100m shorter, and rock hard fit was just the ticket for her today – it was a great call by Mark Walker to back her up. And a lovely ride by Parma – that was his 6th win for Fortuna Racing from 13 rides for us in 2022”

Hayate and Niranjan Parmar return to Scale

Raced by Fortuna Hayate Syndicate, an Ownership Group of 60 individuals, Hayate was acquired for $80,000 by Te Akau principal David Ellis on behalf of Fortuna Racing at the 2020 Karaka Book 1 Sale, from the draft of Mapperley Stud.

Hayate was strapped by Hunter Durrant.

Friday Flash – 9th December 2022

Published 9 December 2022

Headline News;

Fortuna Annual Owners Day 4^th December – A big success

Paul Goggin named “Fortuna Owner Of The Year”

Donna Logan reflects on her 1^st year at the helm of the Te Akau Singapore Racing Stable

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Fortuna has two runners today at Tauranga

HAYATE contests the R60 1300 – Race 10 @ 6.31pm – Niranjan Parmar to ride – a Maiden winner on debut at Matamata in May, she has fallen into a bit of a hole in her form this season although was a dominant trial winners at Matamata in November – her last start at New Plymouth, finishing 4^th had some merit. Back to R60 grade here with a nice draw and an in form claiming apprentice, she can feature 1^st three here.

ANGEL’S WINGS makes her race day debut in the Maiden 1200 – Race 7 at 4.44, Sam Weatherley to ride from a nice gate. This 3yo daughter of Heroic Valour has had a patient preparation, has trialed nicely, has been showing the team a lot in her work and is ready for a bold showing on debut – represents a top 4 chance in this.

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Fortuna Track work – Matamata

Tuesday 6^th December

No timed Fortuna trackwork today

Fortuna Track work – Singapore

No timed Singapore trackwork this week

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Other News

Fortuna Annual Owners Day 4^th December – A big success

110 attendees, a warm sunny day, 12 Fortuna horses parading in great order, a special guest in Mark Walker, lots of convivial company – yes it was a great day, particularly after the last two years which saw attendee numbers down on previous years.

Attendees were able to relive the highlights of the 2022 year (via a video compilation of the closing stages of each win) which saw 38 wins (to the 4^th December) For Fortuna Racing in NZ, Aus and Singapore, surpassing the 30 wins achieved in 2021.

Click HERE to see that compilation

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Paul Goggin named “Fortuna Owner Of The Year”

Paul, who is based in Queensland, was named our Owner of the Year – this off the back of 15 individual winners producing 28 wins in New Zealand, Australia and Singapore

Paul approaches Syndication in the right way – he takes small shares in almost every syndicate – his winners in 2022 were Dancarina (2), Entertainer (2), Trident (2), Hayate (1), Elliot Ness (1), Navalha (1), King Arthur (7), Malborough Bay (1), Ragamuffin (2), Mohawk Brave (2), Deception (2), Rocky (1), No Envy (1), Olympia (1) and Inca Belle (2)

Paul joined us on one of our Singapore trips in 2022 and was also an attendee at all three days of the Riccarton carnival in November and clearly loves his racing – well done Paul.

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Donna Logan reflects on her 1^st year at the helm the Te Akau Singapore Racing Stable

In her first season as trainer for Te Akau Racing in Singapore, Donna Logan finished second on the Trainer’s Premiership.

With a season running the calendar year, and now finished until recommencing on 7 January, Donna Logan took over from Mark Walker in January 2022 and made a great fist of her new appointment to produce 59 winners, finishing in 2nd place behind winner Tim Fitzsimmons who had 65. Walker had returned to New Zealand to return to the helm of the Te Akau Matamata operation.

Highlights for Donna included: training four winners during a meeting in August to arrest the Premiership lead; having three wins at one race meeting on three occasions; finishing second in the $1 million Singapore Gold Cup (Gr. 1, 2000m) with Super Impact (Real Impact), ridden by visiting jockey Michael Dee and training King Arthur for Fortuna Racing to win seven times during 2022, lifting him from a 61 rating to a 106 rating in the process. Donna was also the Master of Singapore’s Champion apprentice for 2022 in Fadzli Yusoff who topped the Apprentice riders table with 22 wins

In 2021, Donna, when training on her own account, had trained $1 million Kranji Mile (Gr. 1, 1600m) winner Minister (Street Sense).

KING ARTHUR – 7 wins for Donna Logan in 2022 – Fadzli Yusoff aboard

Mark Walker had been Champion Trainer four times in Singapore, including setting a new Singapore training record with 87 wins in 2017, after completing his first stint as Te Akau trainer (1997 – 2010) at Matamata, where he recorded 858 wins, of which 88 were stakes’ level, while winning the Trainers’ Premiership five times. Reinstated at the helm since April in Matamata, Walker has set a torrid pace with over 100 wins, including 18 stakes’ wins, and has a clear hold on the Premiership title this season with 73 victories.

Te Akau principal David Ellis CNZM was recently in Singapore, and made his intentions clear of ongoing support, and when Logan was home for the recent New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale, the Te Akau team bought nine horses of which three are earmarked for Te Akau’s Kranji stable.

Donna had also attended the Inglis Ready 2 Race Sale in early October where she picked out her “buy of the sale” – the Charm Spirit – Thurlow 2yo Gelding for Fortuna Racing. Now given the stable name “Rhett” he is on his way to Singapore 12^th December. Still a few shares available – see details HERE

Training since 2018 in Singapore, Donna Logan was previously a highly regarded trainer at Ruakaka in New Zealand, where she prepared 873 winners including 61 stakes winners. Among her stable stars were quadruple Group One winner Volkstok’n’barrell (Tavistock), Habibi (Ekraar), Rising Romance (Ekraar), Valley Girl (Mastercraftsman), and Vapour Trail (Jetball).

Donna is buoyed by her first year with Te Akau, taking the time to reflect on the season, while also outlining increased incentives for owners, twice the number of feature races (stakes $110,000 – $1 million), and is already gearing up for 2023.

“It was a mammoth first season,” she said. “I think my best ever in New Zealand was 62 wins, with more meetings, so to get 59 here with an average of 48 horses in work was great.
“We also had 65 seconds and 66 thirds, with some very narrow margins, so we were a bit unlucky, really, not to get more wins.
“We are busy planning the races to start off again in January, while horses are having a holiday to freshen-up. We’ve got new horses arriving in December and again in January, which is really encouraging.
“The staff worked hard and really applied themselves and we’ve got a great bunch of loyal owners that support us.
“Our apprentice, Fadzli Yusoff, won Champion Apprentice, and Jerlyn Seow, the only female jockey in Singapore, finished third.
“Fortuna Racing, run by John Galvin, finished third in the owners’ list with 18 wins and just under S$800k in prizemoney – we had a great time hosting John and his wonderful group of Owners when they came over in June and August.”

“Trainers and owners, and everyone involved in racing here, have really grown in confidence with what Dayle Brown (Chief Racing Officer of the Singapore Turf Club) has put in place. He’s very on to racing and had a lot of experience and knowledge. It’s a big advantage.
“His working with our President and Chief Executive, Irene Lim, has really improved everything here at the Turf Club.
“Although not out in the press, there is going to be an increase to the owner’s incentive of $600 each time the horse races, for horses finishing second to eighth.
“Also the owners have no transportation costs, no horse covers, and subsidised vets because they are employed by the turf club and veterinary products at virtually cost price.”

Click HERE to see footage of Donna Logan at work

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Guest Selector – Tom Waterhouse

Tom’s selection last week finished out of the money:

Tom says this week

“Dear John and Team – Ascot 8-5 ALASKAN GOD: On the quick backup after a terrific run in much stronger class last week”

Tom’s tipping service is available by subscription (at a cost of course) with a whole range of packages – far too many mention here, but for example, there is a Daily Best Bet, where subscribers receive a daily email (there is also an App), a Weekly Five Best package and for Saturday racing, a Gold Package giving 20 bets for the day and a Silver Package giving 5 bets for the day – all of Tom’s packages provide historical data and, most importantly, a staking strategy and there is a package for every budget

Click HERE to visit Tom’s website

I am a subscriber myself and have enjoyed considerable success with the Silver Package (which has provided an average 18.4% Profit on Turnover and a 419.8% return on investment since inception in 2018) and can thoroughly recommend Tom’s services

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INCA BELLE makes it Two wins from Two starts when winning at Wanganui 26th November

Published 26 November 2022

Fortuna Racing’s debut winner Inca Belle (3 f Per Incanto – Belle Vie, by Darci Brahma) repeated the dose when prevailing in the $30,000 Platinum Homes 3YO 1200 metres on Saturday at Wanganui. After winning the NZB Ready to Run Sale Maiden 1100 metres on 8 November at Pukekohe, Inca Belle was again ridden by Champion Te Akau apprentice Joe Kamaruddin and rose in class with distinction.From a handy spot, Inca Belle ranged into contention turning for home and won a ding-dong battle with Papa Surf (Dalghar).

On footing upgraded to Soft7, Inca Belle ran 1200 metres in 1:13.0 and paid $2.90 & $1.40 on the NZ TAB tote.

She provided Fortuna Racing with their second victory in the space of 20 minutes, after Soprano Supreme (Contributer) had obliged at Te Rapa.

Click HERE to see the race replay

INCA BELLE – makes it two starts – two wins Wanganui 26th November 2022

Trainer Mark Walker was at Te Rapa but watched Inca Belle’s winning performance from afar and commented post race “Lovely progressive Filly this one, still learning the game, but not many win two from two, so very pleased for John Galvin and his Fortuna team of Owners – they seem to have another promiosing 3yo Filly with this one.”

“We’ve had two nose margin victories go our way, and the first nose was a bit bigger than the second,” said Fortuna Racing’s John Galvin, “Inca Belle backed up her first win nicely. Obviously, not many win a Maiden and then win again next time out, but it’s usually the sign of a promising type when it does happen. She looked as though she had the measure of her opponent with a couple of hundred metres to go. The other horse fought back, but I think Inca Belle is still a bit green and still learning the trade. Inca Belle was a Ready to Run Sale purchase for us from the 2021 sale. She’s by a very good stallion in Per Incanto and from the mighty Belle family, so it was very pleasing to get that sort of outcome, right across the board.”

The Belle family, referred to by John Galvin, also produced dual Horse of the Year and Group One record-holder (14) Melody Belle (Commands), owned by a Fortuna Racing Syndicate

Melody Belle, bred by Marie Leicester, purchased by David Ellis CNZM for $57,500 on behalf of Fortuna Racing at the 2016 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Yearling Sale, from the draft of Haunui Farm, retired the winner of 14 Group One races (19 from 41 in total) and $4.3 million prize money, before selling as a broodmare for A$2.6m.

Inca Belle is a filly that could be capable of progressing over longer distances, given impressive winning (1400m – 1800m) grand-dam Our Ella Belle (Encosta de Lago) was a Group Three winner and Group One placed, also trained by Mark Walker.

Inca Belle was strapped by Stephanie Hyde-Richards.

Inca Belle was purchased by David Ellis CNZM and Fortuna Racing for $50,000 at the 2021 NZB Ready To Run Sale, from the draft of Phoenix Park, and is raced by the Fortuna Inca Belle Syndicate, an Ownership Group consisting of 49 individuals, mainly from NZ but also with Australian and Hong Kong based Members,

Soprano Supreme wins in dramatic fashion at Te Rapa 26th November

Published 26 November 2022

Fortuna Racing’s staying mare Soprano Supreme (5 m Contributer – Falsetto, by Zabeel) indicated her readiness for upcoming Cup assignments when winning the $35,000 Rating 75 2400 metres on Saturday at Te Rapa. Good enough to campaign during the autumn in Brisbane, where she finished second in the Gold Coast Cup (2400m), Soprano Supreme had produced the fastest last 600m (34.6) for fourth in the Rating 86 2200 metres on 5 November at Te Rapa, and emulated the feat again in this latest outing

Soprano Supreme was given a patient ride by two-kilo claiming Te Akau apprentice Niranjan Parmar, spotting 11^th of 13 and standing the leader eight lengths 600m out, before unleashing wide on the track and flying home for a nose margin victory.

Click HERE to see the race replay

“Soprano Supreme” (blue cap) – 4th career win Te Rapa 26 November 2022

Niranjan Parmer was a happy rider post race “I was well back like I was last time, but I was pretty confident and thought they were going fast enough from the 800 metres and I pulled her out at the right time,” he said. “She worked really well in morning track work when Opie Bosson rode her and he said she was going well. I was claiming three (kilos), claiming two now and the horses are running for me. I am pretty lucky, working hard, and my boss, Mark Walker, is helping me with my riding.”

In the race sponsored by Dunstan Feeds, Soprano Supreme ran 2400 metres in 2:33.8, last 600m 35.5, and drifted in betting to pay $7.00 & $2.70 on the NZ TAB tote.

“We’ve given her a bit of time, but she’s getting stronger and we took the blinkers off,” said trainer Mark Walker. “Her last run here was good, on a day that favoured horses on speed, and Parmar is riding terrifically. That was his sixth winner for the week, so he’s riding very well. We think she might be an Auckland Cup chance, so we’ll just hope she continues on through the grades and see where we end up.”

Soprano Supreme became the fourth mare fourth mare by Mapperley Stud stallion Contributer (High Chaparral) to win for the stable in November, following Campionessa in the Metropolitan Trophy (Listed, 2500m), and dominant Maiden winners Elounda and Family Ties.

Soprano Supreme is from first crop of Champion Australian Middle Distance Horse of the Year Contributer (High Chaparral), dual Group One winner of the Chipping Norton (Gr. 1, 1600m) and Ranvet Stakes (Gr. 1, 2000m). Dam Falsetto, by legendary stallion Zabeel (Sir Tristram), was an impressive three-time winner from 1600m – 2100m and placed in the NZ Oaks (Gr. 1, 2400m).

John Galvin, the Fortuna Racing Syndicate manager, was on course to watch his charge perform, had this to say afyer the races: “Thank you Dave (Smith) for the sponsorship from your company, Dunstan Feeds. We’ve known each other for a long time through the racing club and your days as former Chairman. Soprano Supreme really showed us a lot through the autumn. She’s had a bit of a stuttering start to the new season, but is a staying mare and her run here last start was encouraging enough to suggest she would run well today and so it proved – although, I thought at the 300m mark we would finish about fifth, she showed an amazing turn of foot closing stages and I would love to see those sectionals. It was a great riding effort by Parmar, who timed his run to perfection – I think he’s been taking lessons from Noel Harris. Congratulations to the group of owners and we seem to have a really nice staying type of mare here. It looks as though she has a bright future in front of her. And well done to Mark Walker – she’s given us a couple of head scratching moments this preparation, but Mark has stuck to his gune with her programme.”

Soprano Supreme was strapped by Shaun Magee.

Bred by Tim Harrison, Soprano Supreme was acquired by David Ellis on behalf of Fortuna Racing at the NZ Bloodstock 2019 Karaka Yearling Sale for $62,500 from the draft of Te Runga Stud.

She is raced by the Fortuna Soprano Supreme Syndicate, an Ownership group of 62 individuals from New Zealand, the USA and Hong Kong

Friday Flash – 25th November 2022

Published 25 November 2022

Headline News;

Positive News from the Singapore Turf Club on its Feature Races programming

Two Year Old Filly by Dundeel acquired at the NZ Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale – still shares left

Fortuna Annual Owners Day – Matamata Racecourse – Sunday 4^th December

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Fortuna has four runners this Saturday, two in NZ and two in Singapore

Te Rapa – Saturday 26^th

Soprano Supreme runs in the Rating 75 2400 – Race 1 @ 11.55 and will be ridden again by Stable Apprentice, Parmar Singh, claiming 2kgs – after putting in two average performances on resuming, she was much better last start this track running home strongly over 2200m for a 4^th placing. She will relish the trip and should handle the wet track – is a good each way chance in this

Wanganui – Saturday 26^th
INCA BELLE, a recent winner on debut at Pukekohe Park, contests the 3yo Set Weights and Penalties over 1200 – Race 2 @ 1.15pm and will be ridden again by Joe Kamaruddin, claiming 1kg from a good barrier. Winning debut was strong, she has trained on well, meets four other last start winners here and does need to handle what could be a very testing track – can run in the money here if she handles the conditions

Singapore – Saturday 26^th

OLYMPIA contests the Class 5 1000m Poly event – Race 5 @ 2pm Singapore time (7pm NZT) and will be ridden by Yusoff, claiming 2kgs, from a widish barrier. Racing very well without winning of late, is always in contention – is a top 3 chance in this

BRUTUS contests the Class 3 1200m Turf event – Race 12 @ 5.30pm Singapore time (10.30pm NZT) and will be ridden by Stable Apprentice, Sarwi Jamil claiming 4kgs, from an outside barrier – a five time winner in Singapore he has not greeted the judge since March. Loves to race on the speed and will push forward from the draw – will need a lot of luck but if he gets it, can feature in the finish

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Fortuna Track work – Matamata

No timed Fortuna trackwork this week

Fortuna Track work – Singapore

Saturday 19th November

Brutus (Dennis) – 800/600 37;

Tuesday 22nd November

Brutus (Jamil) – 800/600 38;

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Other News

Positive News from the Singapore Turf Club on its Feature Races programming

The Singapore Racing Fixtures from 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024 have been released, with a total of 20 feature races, 10 more than the current racing season, and the reinstatement of four iconic race series. Developed in close consultation with trainers and the racing community, the fixtures for the new racing season aims to elevate the sport of horse racing in Singapore by offering more feature races for runners.

“In our conversations with trainers, they have asked that we prioritise raising the quality of races and we have answered with the doubling of feature races and the return of popular race series. The revamped racing fixtures is particularly designed to bring greater prestige to the sport when runners have more feature races at their disposal. Race series takes the sport to a higher level by challenging the tenacity of champion horses and offering them additional impetus to excel. The new fixtures ensure a progressive pathway for our racehorses, and I am looking forward to how trainers will be building their racehorse profiles and strategies for the new racing season to take full advantage of the fixtures and series,” said Dayle Brown, Chief Racing Officer of the Singapore Turf Club (STC).

There will be 48 race meetings, slated as 37 Saturday meetings and 11 Sunday meetings, in which two meetings will fall on Public Holidays. The two meetings are held on a Saturday – 22 April 2023 (Group 2 EW Barker Trophy meeting on Hari Raya Puasa) and on a Sunday – 11 February 2024 (Group 3 Fortune Bowl meeting on second day of Chinese New Year) respectively. Among the 48 race meetings, 23 meetings will feature 11 races each while 25 of them will have 12 races each. The 12-race meetings on the cards are all the 18 feature race meetings, the six meetings after the conclusion of Hong Kong’s 2022/2023 season (23 and 30 July, 6, 13, 20 and 27 August) and the penultimate meeting of the year on 25 November.

The last meeting of the year will conclude with the Group 3 Colonial Chief Stakes meeting on 2 December and the industry will then have a four-week break during the festive season, before resuming in 2024 with the Group 3 New Year Cup meeting on 6 January.

Re-introduction of 10 feature races
Ten feature races will be re-introduced and added to the current line-up of 10 feature races. While eight of the current feature races had been run this year, the Group 3 Merlion Trophy (1200m) and the Group 1 Raffles Cup (1600m) are slated to be run on 4 February and 25 March next year. With the release of the new fixtures, both feature races will be run twice in 2023, with the second running of the Raffles Cup on 23 September and the Merlion Trophy on 28 October. The second Raffles Cup will be held as the first leg of the reinstated Singapore Triple Crown series, while the second Merlion Trophy will still be run as a standalone sprint feature race.

Nine of the 10 feature races making a return on the new fixtures were discontinued in 2021 after the COVID-19 pandemic struck, except for the Group 3 Kranji Sprint (1200m), which was renamed the Group 3 Rocket Man Sprint (1200m) in 2017 in a move by STC to name races to honour past greats. The Rocket Man Sprint was last run in 2020 and will now return as another race alongside the Kranji Sprint. Among the six Group 1 races, four Group 2 races and 10 Group 3 races to be held, the Group 1 Kranji Mile (1600m) and the Group 2 Singapore Guineas (1600m) will be run on the same day on 20 May while the Group 1 Singapore Derby (1800m) and the Group 3 Singapore Golden Horseshoe (1200m) will be held on 23 July.

Reinstatement of four race series
Four race series will be brought back in the 23/24 racing season, namely the Singapore Triple Crown series, the Singapore Four-Year-Old Challenge series, the Singapore Three-Year-Old Challenge series and the newly named STC Super Sprint series, which replaces the former Singapore Sprint Series that was discontinued in 2019.

All four race series comprise of three races each. The Singapore Three-Year-Old Challenge series will be the first of the race series to be run in the first half of 2023. It is made up of the Group 3 Singapore Three-Year-Old Sprint (1200m) and the Group 2 Singapore Three-Year-Old Classic (1400m), with both legs held in April, as well as the resumption the Group 2 Singapore Guineas (1600m), which will be run in May as the third and final leg. Next up, the Singapore Four-Year-Old Challenge series will see the Group 3 Silver Bowl (1400m) run in June, followed by the Group 2 Stewards’ Cup (1600m) and culminate with the Group 1 Singapore Derby (1800m). Both races will be run in July.

The STC Super Sprint series will have the Group 3 Kranji Sprint (1200m) run as the first leg in June, the Group 3 Rocket Man Sprint (1200m) as the second leg and the Group 1 Lion City Cup (1200m) as the third leg, both set to be held in August. Towards the later half of the season, the Group 1 Raffles Cup (1600m), the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup (1800m) and the Group 1 Singapore Gold Cup (2000m) that make up the three legs of the Singapore Triple Crown series will be run in September, October and November respectively.

For the STC Super Sprint and the Singapore Triple Crown series, the winning owners of the horses that make a clean sweep of all three legs of each series will be awarded a bonus prizemoney of $100,000 each.

John comments “Clearly this is a great initiative on the part of the STC – to be fair, prizemoney for Restricted Maiden, Novice and Grade races has remained unchanged during the pandemic induced cutback and our runners and Owners have continued to earn excellent levels of prizemoney, however the re-introduction of the Feature races has lifted the spirits of Trainers, Owners and Administrators. While the announcement has only been made this week, it was not a particularly well kept secret and Singapore Trainers, in anticipation of this announcement, have been splashing out at the three recent Two Year Old Sales, Inglis Ready2 Race, Magic Millions 2yo and NZ Bloodstock Ready To Run. In total, Singapore Trainers have acquired 74 2yos at those three sales, compared to just 16 in 2021. These initiatives are bound to increase public attendance at Kranji and subsequent increases in turnover are bound to feed through into increased prizemoney in the medium term.

As readers would be aware Fortuna Racing has been a strong supporter of Singapore Racing since 2010 and we continued to send new horses up there throughout the Covid period. So for us it is “business as usual” but with a heightened sense of anticipation with the re-introduction of the Feature Race programme – notable also that as we struggle here in NZ with difficult weather conditions and trials and race day abandonments, that every single programmed race day at the STC has gone ahead as planned“

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Two Year Old Filly by Dundeel acquired at the NZ Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale – still shares left

75% committed already, shares are moving steadily – $5,500 for each 5% share and we do shares down to 1% – Click HERE to order off our website page

Lot 320, the 2yo Filly by Dundeel out of Vivi Veloce (by More Than Ready) was knocked to the bid of Fortuna Racing/David Ellis 17th November at the NZ Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale. Acquired for New Zealand/Australian racing, this Filly presents as a lovely physical type, and has the pedigree to match.

This Filly was identified initially by Mark Walker out of the breeze ups, demonstrating a lovely action and breezing up in a good time. Subsequent physical examinations by Mark, David Ellis and Marcus Corban had her firmly on the “buy” list and knowing that I wanted to acquire a Middle Distance/Staying type Filly at this sale, she was earmarked for Fortuna Racing provided that we could get her for budget. She vetted perfectly on the morning of the sale, so we were all set.

Being late in the sale, we were taking a bit of a risk, in that if she went over budget, we could walk away from the sale empty handed, however I set a budget of $120k and amazingly, she was knocked down to us for just $60k which I was not expecting – it had been a very strong sale and perhaps being late in the sale was to our advantage as those buyers seeking fillies may well have filled their orders – sometimes you get lucky!!!

Mark Walker who will train this Filly for us from the Te Akau Training Stables at Matamata, has this to say about our new acquisition;

“John, once again you have done very well here on price – I was particularly drawn to her breeze up gallop, she had a very strong and correct action and to my eye looked to be a genuine middle distance staying type of Filly with a very strong pedigree page. When I inspected her in the flesh at the sales, I was only more pleased with her – she is a lovely physical type who may well be a contender for the 3yo races in the Spring of 2023, but will certainly come into her own as an Autumn 3yo with races like the NZ Oaks a logical target for her”

Click HERE to go to view her breeze up gallop (outside runner in purple silks)
Click HERE to view her parade Video

This Filly had been prepared for the RTR Sale by master horseman Chad Ormsby at his Riverrock Farm establishment in the Waikato

The Dundeel – Vivi Veloce Two Year Old Filly

Pedigree

By the Group One winning Stallion, DUNDEEL, now the Sire of 225 winners including 18 Stakes winners, this Filly also boasts an extremely strong distaff side being out of the More Than Ready mare, Vivi Veloce, a Group 3 winner in South Australia and the dam of two foals to the races to date – both winners. The grand dam Royal Sash (Royal Academy) won 6 times in Australia including the Mannerism Stakes at Group 3 level – this is a very stout pedigree – Click HERE to see her pedigree

Fortuna Director John Galvin says
“It is always very satisfying to set your sights on a horse you really like, set a budget and then secure it at or under budget – this Filly was the one we wanted and we waited and waited and our patience paid off – she is a lovely physical type who ticked all the boxes during our inspection process and she looks to be a great addition to the Fortuna Racing Team”

This Filly is now agisting at Te Akau Stud for four to six weeks – during this time she will strengthen and mature – Mark Walker will get her into the Stables around the end of December for her first Te Akau Stable preparation which may well lead to a trial in the Autumn and potentially a start or two as a 2yo late Autumn to gain race day experience.
The all up syndicated cost for this Filly is NZ $110,000 – this includes purchase price, GST on Promoters fees, insurance through to January 2024 and over $12,000 of working capital

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

Terms
The all up syndicated cost is NZ $110,000 – this includes purchase price, GST, Promoters fees, insurance through to January 2024 and just over $12,000 of working capital.

Shares available right down to 1%.
10% share $11,000 – 5% share $5,500– 2.5% share $2,750 – 1% share $1,100 (all pricing in NZ$)
Share price includes all Initial Costs (Purchase price, GST, Promoters Fees, , Insurance through to 31st January 2024, and Working Capital of $12,000 approx
Monthly ongoing costs from 1^st January 2022 – 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

Click HERE to order off our website page

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Fortuna Annual Owners Day – Matamata Race Course – Sunday 4^th December

One week to go – if you wish to attend please register your attendance as we need to know for catering purposes

Venue – Epsom Lounge – Matamata Race course
Date – Sunday 4^th December
Time – 1pm to 4pm
Format – Meet and Greet, light refreshments, Review of 2022 Calendar Year, Parade of all of the Fortuna Matamata based horses
Special Guest – Mark Walker

Registration – it is important that you register with your numbers – please do that by emailing jessica@fortuna-nz.comor you can call or text Jessica 021 288 6997

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Guest Selector – Tom Waterhouse

Tom’s selection last week, Detonator Jack, looked all over the winner down the home straight but was run down last few strides, finishing 2nd. Here is what Tom says this week “Ascot Race 8 #2 Vilana – In terrific form this campaign. Fast pace suits.”

Tom’s tipping service is available by subscription (at a cost of course) with a whole range of packages – far too many mention here, but for example, there is a Daily Best Bet, where subscribers receive a daily email (there is also an App), a Weekly Five Best package and for Saturday racing, a Gold Package giving 20 bets for the day and a Silver Package giving 5 bets for the day – all of Tom’s packages provide historical data and, most importantly, a staking strategy and there is a package for every budget

Click HERE to visit Tom’s website

I am a subscriber myself and have enjoyed considerable success with the Silver Package (which has provided an average 18.4% Profit on Turnover and a 419.8% return on investment since inception in 2018) and can thoroughly recommend Tom’s services. Notable that the “Best Bet” from the Silver Package has produced 16 winners from the last 20 selections!!!

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Friday Flash – 18th November 2022

Published 18 November 2022

Headline News;

Fortuna Racing acquires a Two Year Old Filly by Dundeel at the NZ Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale

Fortuna Annual Owners Day – Matamata Racecourse – Sunday 4^th December

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Fortuna has five runners on Saturday, all in Singapore

Singapore – Saturday 19^th

DECEPTION runs in the Class 4 1200 Turf – Race 2 @ 12.30 Singapore time (5.30pm NZT) and will be ridden again by Simon Kok, claiming 1kg, from a handy barrier – last start winner this class and trip, he is well placed here to deliver another good result – is a strong each way chance

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

1st Pick: WIN WIN (1)
Form in behind South Of The River looks strong enough to be winning well here, looks very hard to beat even as the top weight.
2nd Pick: HAPPY MOMENT (2)
Was unlucky early finding no room and when the runs came at the 300m, he had nothing to give. Backing up here but didn’t have a gut busting run last week so he could give a sight here.
3rd Pick: DECEPTION (4)
Solid win last start to burst through and get the money. WH Kok stays on board, draws well, top three player.
4th Pick: FADABOY (5)
Last start was a tad disappointing after the form suggested he wasn’t far from a win. The blinkers have made an obvious difference and he worth giving another shot with Mick Dee booked to ride.

ROCKY contests the Novice 1400 Turf event – Race 7 @ 3pm Singapore time (8pm NZT) and will be ridden by Jake Bayliss from a mid field barrier. Two solid 4ths in Class 4 company after winning his Maiden at just his 4^th raceday start, Rocky has never finished out of the money. Meets some handy types here, but is up to the challenge – can run first three

KING ARTHUR runs in the Kranji Stakes A 1200 Turf – Race 9 @ 4pm Singapore time (9pm NZT) and will be ridden by Fadzli Yusoff, claiming 2kgs from a mid field barrier. The winner of 9 races from 16 starts in a 12 month period, he is now one of the highest rated horses in Singapore. Meets a hot field here, but trialed brilliantly 10 days ago and is right up for this – strong each way chance and can win

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

1st Pick: LIM’S KOSCIUSZKO (3)
Multiple Group One winner who has won from 1200m to 1800m in a dominant season that puts him into Horse of The Year contention. He had a solid trial in preparation for this and the stable knows how to have them spot on for a big day. Should have a nice run from barrier 3.
2nd Pick: GOLDEN MONKEY (8)
Promising up and coming galloper from our leading stable who ran a cracker in the Group One Lion City Cup earlier this year. Has had a freshen up since that run where he was caught wide and finished strongly for third. Craig Williams takes the steer with 50kgs.
3rd Pick: KING ARTHUR (2)
Top sprinter who has had a strong season including a strong second placing in the Group One sprint behind Lim’s Kosciuszko. He was very brave on that occasion, and this looks a nice race for him to be in the finish again.
4th Pick: ROCKET STAR (5)
Talented gelding who has been off the scene since March where he finished second behind Fame Star. He has had his fair share of issues but has had two trials under his belt and look for him late.

ENTERTAINER also runs in the Kranji Stakes A 1200 Turf – Race 9 @ 4pm Singapore time (9pm NZT) and will be ridden by Australian jockey of the moment, Mick Dee from the outside barrier. On paper, he is out of his depth here and wide draw won’t help, but has performed well in this grade before and has a very much in form rider aboard and a featherweight. Can sneak a place at odds

TRIDENT runs in the Class 4 1400 Race 10 @ 4.30pm Singapore time (9.30pm NZT) and will be ridden by Fadzli Yusoff, claiming 2kgs from the outside gate. After winning 2 races in succession Trident has raced well for 2 2nds and a 4^th in this grade without a lot of luck. Yusoff back on will help, but has a tricky draw to contend with. A talented galloper at best, he can feature in the finish here with luck in the running from his wide draw

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

1st Pick: DREAM ALLIANCE (2)
Looking to make it three wins on the bounce for the strong Fitzsimmons stable. Should settle just off the pace and proved he can mix it in this class. Rises in weight but looks a progressive type.
2nd Pick: TRIDENT (1)
Finished runner up last start behind Dream Alliance who he must try and tackle again this weekend. Strong course and distance stats with two wins and a minor placing from three starts. Can go one better with the claim from our leading apprentice.
3rd Pick: EAGLE EYE (4)
He can be a tricky horse to follow but when he brings his best, he can mix it with these class four gallopers. Thrives at this distance and stable should have him fully wound up for a big run.
4th Pick: ON LINE (3)
We haven’t seen him win since October of last season but has caught the eye in a few runs in much higher rated races. Recorded the fastest sectional time when finishing fifth and could surprise.

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Fortuna Track work – Matamata

Tuesday 15^th November

Angels Wings (J Kamaruddin) worked together over an easy 1000 metres in 1.03.5, home in 36.8

Fortuna Track work – Singapore

Saturday 12th November

King Arthur (Yusoff) – 1000/600 37.5; Trident (Yusoff) – 1000/600 39; Brutus (Awah) – 1000/600 39;

Tuesday 15^th November

King Arthur (Ronnie) – 800/600 37.6; Rocky (Jake) – 800/600 38.6; Deception (Simon) – 800/600 40

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Other News

Fortuna acquires a Two-year-old Filly by Dundeel at the NZ Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale

Lot 320, the 2yo Filly by Dundeel out of Vivi Veloce (by More Than Ready) was knocked to the bid of Fortuna Racing/David Ellis 17th November at the NZB Ready To Run Sale. Acquired for New Zealand/Australian racing, this Filly presents as a lovely physical type, and has the pedigree to match.

This Filly was identified initially by Mark Walker out of the breeze ups, demonstrating a lovely action and breezing up in a good time. Subsequent physical examinations by Mark, David Ellis and Marcus Corban had her firmly on the “buy” list and knowing that I wanted to acquire a Middle Distance/Staying type Filly at this sale, she was earmarked for Fortuna Racing provided that we could get her for budget. She vetted perfectly on Thursday morning, so we were all set

Being late in the sale, we were taking a bit of a risk, in that if she went over budget, we could walk away from the sale empty handed, however I set a budget of $120k and amazingly, she was knocked down to us for just $60k which I was not expecting – it had been a very strong sale and perhaps being late in the sale was to our advantage as those buyers seeking fillies may well have filled their orders – sometimes you get lucky!!!

Mark Walker who will train this Filly for us from the Te Akau Training Stables at Matamata, has this to say about our new acquisition “John, once again you have done very well here on price – I was particularly drawn to her breeze up gallop, she had a very strong and correct action and to my eye looked to be a genuine middle distance staying type of Filly with a very strong pedigree page. When I inspected her in the flesh at the sales, I was only more pleased with her – she is a lovely physical type who may well be a contender for the 3yo races in the Spring of 2023, but will certainly come into her own as an Autumn 3yo with races like the NZ Oaks a logical target for her”

Two Year Old Filly by Dundeel out of Vivi Veloce

Click HERE to go to view her breeze up gallop (outside runner in purple silks)

Click HERE to view her parade Video

This Filly had been prepared for the RTR Sale by master horseman Chad Ormsby at his Riverrock Farm establishment

Pedigree

By the Group One winning Stallion, DUNDEEL, now the Sire of 225 winners including 18 Stakes winners, this Filly also boasts an extremely strong distaff side being out of the More Than Ready mare, Vivi Veloce, a Group 3 winner in South Australia and the dam of two foals to the races to date – both winners. The grand dam Royal Sash (Royal Academy) won 6 times in Australia including the Mannerism Stakes at Group 3 level – this is a very stout pedigree – see pedigree below;

John says “It is always very satisfying to set your sights on a horse you really like, set a budget and then secure it at or under budget – this Filly was the one we wanted and we waited and waited and our patience paid off – she is a lovely physical type who ticked all the boxes during our inspection process and she looks to be a great addition to the Fortuna Racing Team”

This Filly will now go to Te Akau Stud for four to six weeks – during this time she will strengthen and mature and then Mark will get her into the Stables for her first Te Akau Stable preparation which may well lead to a trial in the Autumn and potentially a start or two as a 2yo late Autumn to gain race day experience.

The all up syndicated cost for this Filly is NZ $110,000 – this includes purchase price, GST, Promoters fees, insurance through to January 2024 and over $12,000 of working capital

Syndication paperwork is still being finalised but we are taking Expressions of Interest and you can do that by emailing john@fortuna-nz.com or call/text John 021 921 460 – orders will be allocated as they are received – so if you have interest, please don’t delay – the last time we offered a Filly for NZ/Aus racing, the Lonhro 2yo “Ebony”, all of the shares were snapped up in 3 hours

Terms

Shares available right down to 1%.
10% share $11,000 – 5% share $5,500– 2.5% share $2,750 – 1% share $1,100 (all pricing in NZ$)
Share price includes all Initial Costs (Purchase price, GST, Promoters Fees, Insurance through to 31st January 2024, and Working Capital of $12,000 approx
Monthly ongoing costs from 1^st January 2022 – 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

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Fortuna Annual Owners Day – Matamata Race Course – Sunday 4^th December

Venue – Epsom Lounge – Matamata Race course
Date – Sunday 4^th December
Time – 1pm to 4pm
Format – Meet and Greet, light refreshments, Review of 2022 Calendar Year, Parade of all of the Fortuna Matamata based horses
Special Guest – Mark Walker

Registration – it is important that you register with your numbers – please do that by emailing jessica@fortuna-nz.comor you can call or text Jessica 021 288 6997

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Guest Selector

We have engaged a new guest selector for our weekly Friday Flash – Des Coppins has filled this role for the last few months but is stepping aside in favour of Tom Waterhouse and we thank Des for his services.

Tom Waterhouse is of course, a household name in Australian racing circles, being a scion of the legendary Waterhouse bookmaking family, a connection that goes back to his great grandfather Charles in the late 19^th century and then perpetuated by his grandfather Bill and his father Robbie – Tom carried the bookmakers bag in his own right from 2003, left the bag behind when converting the business to an online one in 2010, before selling his business to William Hill in 2013 and staying on as CEO until 2018. And, of course, we have to mention that Tom has a classic racing pedigree on both sides of the family, with his mother, the effervescent and highly successful Sydney Trainer, Gai Waterhouse – with Gai being the daughter of the legendary Tommy Smith – it does not get much more “blue blooded” than that does it!!

After William Hill was sold to another bookmaking business in 2018, in a classic “poacher becoming gamekeeper” move, Tom then launched an online tipping service with the aim of helping punters beat the bookies

Tom Waterhouse

Click HERE to visit Tom’s website

Tom is going to give us one “Best Bet” for Australian Saturday racing and this week it is;

Ballarat Race 10 #1 DETONATOR JACK: Highly promising type unbeaten on wet ground.

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Friday Flash – 11th November 2022

Published 11 November 2022

Headline News;

Three Year Old Filly INCA BELLE wins strongly on debut at Pukekohe Park

LEADERBOARD to contest the NZ Cup 12^th November, KHAFEEF is in the field but on the ballot

Two Year Old Filly RUBICON CROSSING runs 2^nd in the Listed Welcome Stakes at Riccarton, earning valuable “black type” for her ownership group

NZ Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale to be held at Karaka 16^th/17^th November

Fortuna Annual Owners Day – Matamata Racecourse – Sunday 4^th December

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Fortuna has six runners this weekend, four in NZ and two in Singapore

New Zealand – Saturday 12^th – Riccarton

NAVALHA runs in the R75 1600m – Race 10 @ 4.29pm and will be ridden by visiting Australian rider, Josh Parr. Brings good form into this race with a strong 3^rd placing over 1400m this track 4^th November. Is ready for this trip and looks a good each way chance here

KHAFEEF is dual nominated – he is B3 in the NZ Cup race 11 @ 5.09pm but if he does not get a start in the Cup he will run in the R82 2500m event – Race 8 @ 3.19pm. Form has been up and down but finished strongly for 4^th 2500m this course 9^th November. Beaten 4 lengths in the NZ Cup in 2021 after giving his rider a torrid time, he will have taken big improvement out of Wednesday’s run and will get the 3200 if he gets a start in the Cup, but will also run well in the 2500 if that is his fate. Will be at odds.

LEADERBOARD runs in the NZ Cup – race 11 @ 5.09pm and will be ridden by Josh Parr from a wide barrier. Lead up form is nothing to write home about, although his run in the Metropolitan last week on a very firm track was not without merit. Key to this horse is simple – he needs it to rain – he ran a bold 3^rd last year in this event after morning rain and it looks like he may get a wettish track again. If the rain comes, he will stay the trip and will be a strong contender and good odds

Sunday 13^th – Hastings

HAYATE runs in the R65 1200m – Race 4 @ 2.20pm and will be ridden by Craig Grylls from an inside barrier. After a strong debut win at Matamata in May, she disappointed on resuming in the new season, producing two very average efforts. Freshened briefly, she produced a dominant winning trial at Matamata 3^rd November. Appears to have a lot of class – is set to bounce back to winning form here

Singapore – Sunday 13^th

KERMAJACK runs in the Class 4 2000 Turf – Race 8 @ 3.30pm Singapore time (8.30pm NZT) and will be ridden from a handy draw by Lis Beuzelin. Three Singapore starts for three tail of the field results – he is on notice here but is up in trip to 2000m which is what he needs – hard to have on form

OLYMPIA contests the Class 5 1000m Poly – Race 10 @ 4.30pm Singapore time (9.30pm NZT) – Fadzli Yusoff will ride from a good barrier – doesn’t win out of turn, but very rarely out of the money – loves this trip. Hasn’t had all favours in recent runs and this is a winnable race for him at odds

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Fortuna Track work – Matamata

There was no timed Trackwork for Fortuna runners this week

Fortuna Track work – Singapore

Saturday 5th November

Rocky (Bayliss) – 1000/600 38;

Tuesday 8^th November

King Arthur (Awah) – 800/600 38; Rocky (Jake) – 1000/600 40; Deception (Kok) – 800/600 38.5;

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Other News

Fortuna 3yo Filly INCA BELLE wins on debut at Pukekohe Park 8th November 2022
Published 8 November 2022
Given an economical trip by Champion Te Akau apprentice Joe Kamaruddin, Inca Belle (3 f Per Incanto – Belle Vie, by Darci Brahma)recorded a debut victory in the $14,000 NZB Ready To Run Sale 16 & 17 Nov Maiden 1100 metres on 8 November at Pukekohe.

Good through trials stage and having finished strongly for second in a trial on 4 August at Te Rapa, the placement and timing by trainer Mark Walker was exemplary and the race set up perfectly.

Slightly slow away from a mid field gate (9), Inca Belle improved on the inner while a five-wide rush in front passing the 700 metres helped matters. On straightening, she accelerated quickly into contention at the 400m and saw the race out like a filly capable of further, despite drifting out very wide in the run home

Click HERE to see the race replay

Trainer, Mark Walker, down at Riccarton ahead of Coupland Mile day was very pleased with what he saw, “It was a lovely ride by Joe, saved all the ground and then came out and it was a good effort on debut,” he said “She hadn’t trialled since August but did go to the jumpouts last Friday, which shows the benefit of our jumpout system at Matamata. It’s great when you can use them on the home track like trials. I think she’ll improve for both the experience and the run and gain confidence as well.”

INCA BELLE – wins on debut – Pukekohe Park 8th November – Joe Kamaruddin aboard

On Good 4 footing, Inca Belle ran 1100 metres in 1:03.8, last 600m in 33, and paid generously ($11.10 & $2.80) on the NZ TAB tote.

The win also continued a rich vein for Little Avondale Stud leading stallion Per Incanto (Street Cry) whose mare Roch ‘N’ Horse became his higher earner after winning the $3m VRC Classic (Gr. 1, 1200m) last Saturday at Flemington. Inca Belle’s dam Belle Vie is a descendent of the famous “Belle” family, founded by James and Annie Sarten and perpetuated by their daughter, Marie Leicester, with the most famous Members of the family being the 14 time Group One winner, Melody Belle.

The family has been nurtured by Pencarrow Stud since (Sir) Peter and the late Philip Vela bought her fourth dam, Heidi Belle (Copenhagen 11).
Fortuna Director, John Galvin, was on course with a few syndicate Members and was very pleased with the outcome, “She was slightly fractious in the barriers and jumped a bit slow, but Joe didn’t panic and gave her a lovely soft run,” he said “He got her out to the middle of the track and I was sure she was going to finish second, but she responded to urging over the last 50 metres and got the job done. She’s a neat, tidy, filly and she’s very athletic. Congrats to Mark Walker, who took the punt that she was ready to race despite just having the jumpout last Friday”

“Smiling” Joe Kamaruddin salutes on returning to scale

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LEADERBOARD to contest the NZ Cup 12^th November, KHAFEEF is in the field but on the ballot

A real sense of “deja vue” hangs over the Fortuna runners in the 2022 running of the NZ Cup – firstly, our two runners from last year are in the field (but Khafeef needs 3 scratchings to get a run). Secondly, Leaderboard is out of form, but then again he was in 2021 also and lastly (and certainly not leastly), rain is being forecast late Friday and early Saturday – an important consideration for supporters of Leaderboard as rain will improve his chances significantly. For the record, Leaderboard ran 3^rd last year, after hitting the front in the run home and then run down closing stages, while Khafeef finished 7^th, beaten 4 lengths, after a topsy turvy run. Both horses have significant cross ownership amongst their syndicate Members and each are trained by different trainers. Khafeef Members will be praying for the 3 scratchings while Leaderboard Members are already down on their knees praying for a bit of rain

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Two Year Old Filly RUBICON CROSSING runs 2^nd in the Listed Welcome Stakes at Riccarton, earning valuable “black type” for her ownership group

Victory was denied to this classy daughter of Rubick at Riccarton on 9^th November but lost no admirers going down by ¾ length to her equally classy Stable mate, Sky On Fire. Drawn Barrier 8 whereas Sky On Fire had drawn closer to the rail, “Cube” as she is nicknamed, flew the gates in the hands of Lisa Allpress and crossed most of the field, eyeballing Sky On Fire as they screamed down the Riccarton chute. She briefly headed the Te Akau syndicated filly but had to concede closing stages.

Rubicon Crossing was picked out of the Magic Millions yearling sale in January 2022 by Mark Walker and was a A$120k purchase by David Ellis/Fortuna Racing. Interestingly enough Sky On Fire was also purchased at the same sale by David Ellis for A$400k, again picked out by Mark.

Both fillies are on their way back to Matamata where they will have a freshen up and may meet again in the Matamata Breeders Stakes at the end of February

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NZ Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale to be held at Karaka 16^th/17^th November

Yes, it’s that time of the year again and after the 2020 and 2021 editions were impacted by Covid, Vendors and NZ Bloodstock will be overjoyed to welcome back a full International buying bench. David and Mark with the usual assistance of Joe Walls and Marcus Corban have been conducting inspections and have drawn up a short list, which be trimmed down by sales day with final inspections and vetting. Fortuna will “in the market” trying to buy another Inca Belle – watch this space!!!

Incidentally, Donna Logan and Peter Woods will be attending this sale

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Fortuna Annual Owners Day – Matamata Race Course – Sunday 4^th December

Yes, it is that time of the year again and after two Covid affected years with attendances affected due to lockdowns, the powers that be have been kind enough to give us our freedoms back!!! and we are looking forward to hosting our usual 100 plus attendees.

Venue – Epsom Lounge – Matamata Race course
Date – Sunday 4^th December
Time – 1pm to 4pm
Format – Meet and Greet, light refreshments, Review of 2022 Calendar Year, Parade of all of the Fortuna Matamata based horses
Special Guest – Mark Walker

Registration – it is important that you register with your numbers for catering reasons – please do that by emailing jessica@fortuna-nz.com or you can call or text Jessica 021 288 6997

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Guest Selector – Des Coppins

Greetings John and Fortuna team.

Back from Melbourne and apologies for not getting my selection to you last week.
I blame the omission on the wonderful hospitality and the great friendships we endured with our 80 strong tour party members; some of whom are shareholders in Fortuna managed horses.

It’s all been about Cup week in Christchurch for us all this week and Saturday’s tip is a horse we are all familiar with, Duke of Plumpton. He’s in race 10 at Riccarton. You may recall he was our pick last time he raced when unplaced into 6th at Trentham over Labour weekend. However, his first up run since campaigning with some success in Melbourne, was huge.He left the stalls slowly and sat last until the home straight where at one stage he was a conservative 20 lengths from the pace. Watching him make ground without being over exerted over the final 450m left me with little doubt that he was a “next up” proposition. The sectionals made interesting reading with the last 800m, 400 and 200 being the quickest in the race. On Saturday he has the promising apprentice Lily Sutherland on board and she’ll gain a 3kgs allowance.

While DOP has won on dry ground he’s far better off with some cut in the ground. The weather forecast will favour him with on and off showers over the next 72 hours in Christchurch according to the weather radar. The price of $7 and $2.50 has me ready to go hard each way. If he’s out of the money I’ll be hoping the Fortuna horse, Navalha, who gets back to a mile, does the job. His consistency will soon be rewarded. Why don’t we do the quinella as well?

Good punting!

Des

Des runs his very popular phone tipping line (you can access this by calling 0900 45459 – note this incurs a charge of $2.99 per minute) – this service has been active for over 25 years and covers all NZ gallops from 8am each race day).

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Fortuna 3yo Filly INCA BELLE wins on debut at Pukekohe Park 8th November 2022

Published 8 November 2022

Given an economical trip by Champion Te Akau apprentice Joe Kamaruddin, Inca Belle (3 f Per Incanto – Belle Vie, by Darci Brahma) recorded a debut victory in the $14,000 NZB Ready To Run Sale 16 & 17 Nov Maiden 1100 metres on 8 November at Pukekohe.

Good through trials stage and having finished strongly for second in a trial on 4 August at Te Rapa, the placement and timing by trainer Mark Walker was exemplary and the race set up perfectly.

Click HERE to see the race replay

Trainer, Mark Walker, down at Riccarton ahead of Coupland Mile day was very please with what he saw, “It was a lovely ride by Joe, saved all the ground and then came out and it was a good effort on debut,” he said “She hadn’t trialled since August but did go to the jumpouts last Friday, which shows the benefit of our jumpout system at Matamata. It’s great when you can use them on the home track like trials. I think she’ll improve for both the experience and the run and gain confidence as well.”

INCA BELLE – wins on debut – Pukekohe Park 8th November – Joe Kamaruddin aboard

On Good 4 footing, Inca Belle ran 1100 metres in 1:03.8, last 600m in 33, and paid generously ($11.10 & $2.80) on the NZ TAB tote.

The family has been nurtured by Pencarrow Stud since (Sir) Peter and the late Philip Vela bought her fourth dam, Heidi Belle (Copenhagen 11).

Fortuna Director, John Galvin, was on course with a few syndicate Members and was very pleased with the outcome, “She was slightly fractious in the barriers and jumped a bit slow, but Joe didn’t panic and gave her a lovely soft run,” he said “He got her out to the middle of the track and I was sure she was going to finish second, but she responded to urging over the last 50 metres and got the job done. She’s a neat, tidy, filly and she’s very athletic. Congrats to Mark Walker, who took the punt that she was ready to race despite just having the jumpout last Friday”

“Smiling” Joe Kamaruddin salutes on returning to scale