Just one Singapore runner Friday – 3yo Filly, SECRET SPICE (Sakhees Secret-Caparison) contests Race 3 @ 11.20pm NZ Time. Drawn the Ace barrier in a Class 4 1800 metre event on the Turf and carded to carry 52kgs, the ” Spice Girl” will be ridden by leading Apprentice Shafiq Rusof, who claims 1kg off her back. A winner in Initiation Grade three starts back, SECRET SPICE will relish stepping up in distance, but is the only 3yo  in a good Class 4 field and will find this event a good test of her ability in stronger company.

Queens Birthday Monday sees 4yo Gelding HIGHLY LIKELY (High Chaparral-Starrinka) contest the Rating 75 2200 metre event (race 5 @ 2.25pm). To be ridden by Matt Cameron and fourth up in his current campaign, HIGHLY LIKELY will get track conditions to suit with a heavy track anticipated. Notable that he has won at this trip and on a Heavy 11 track previously ( Te Aroha June 2014).

Te Akau Singapore trackwork highlights – Tuesday, 26 May  

Track 2 – Polytrack (Good)

Secret Spice (Shafiq) – Canter, 800m ¾ /600m 43.1.

Te Akau Matamata track work highlights – Thursday 28 May 

Course proper (Heavy):

Highly Likely (Lammas) worked over ground before clocking the 1200 metres in 1:26, last 600m in 42. Preparing for the Rating 75 2200 metres on Monday at Ellerslie, Highly Likely (High Chaparral) is likely to have another piece of work with a mate on Saturday.

Te Akau track work Saturday 30 May –

Course proper (Heavy):

Preparing for the Rating 75 2200 metres on Monday at Ellerslie, Highly Likely (Lammas) worked in company over a mile, running  the last 1000m in 1:09, last 600m in 39.8.

A busy weekend of racing in Singapore for the Fortuna team, with there runners Friday night and one Sunday.

First away on Friday is 4yo OUR RIVER DANCER, who is resuming after over twelve months away from racing following knee surgery and rehab in Malaysia. He does need a scratching to get a start but is entered in the Class 5 1100 metre Poly track event Race 1 at 10.20pm NZ time with apprentice MM Firdaus to ride from barrier 3. Yet to win in Singapore, OUR RIVER DANCER may need this run to get back to race fitness but did trial nicely for 3rd recently.

Race 5 at 12.20am Sat morning sees the 4yo KING SAVINSKY tackling a Benchmark 67 event over 1800 metres on the Turf track, a surface that should suit this strapping son of Savabeel. He will carry only 48kgs courtesy of the apprentice allowance of rider MM FIRDAUS and has been very unlucky not to finish in the money his last two starts.

5yo READY FORTUNE looks very well placed in the Class 5 1800 Turf track event, Race 8 at 1.50am Sat morning. He will have to lug 59kgs from a wide barrier draw, but he is an honest horse who never gives up and with Champion hoop, Manoel Nunes, aboard, he will be looking for his 3rd win in Singapore. Here is what Singapore based scribes think of his chances “A few closers will be rushing home here. Ready Fortune may finish over the top of them. Shoulders steadier of 59kg but will be a threat when he hits the line.” 

Sunday sees the very well performed 5yo EATONS GOLD aiming for his 6th Singapore win, in the Class 3 event over 1000 metres on the Polytrack. In great form and to be ridden by Apprentice, Shafiq Rusof, who is in white hot form, EATON has drawn nicely at barrier five and is right in this race. The local scribes have this to say about his chances,“Eatons Gold  has been in the mix of late. Will be charging home late. Hard to hold out if he gets a cosy run in transit.”

Fortuna horses track work – Tuesday 19 May –

Sand track:

 Prince Henry (Lammas) had his first bit of faster work over 800m in 60. Singapore bound Lady Iffraaj (Grylls)  went  over 800m in 1:01.

Picture: 2g Sakhee’s Secret/Spin ‘n’ Grin ” Jack” (outside)  & 2g Postponed/Promissory  “Bart” – both Singapore bound staying types– credit Stacey Bridgman

Race 2 @ 11.25 sees the promising 4yo stayer, HIGHLY LIKELY ( High Chaparral-Starrinka) contest the Rating 75 2100 event. A two win horse, this will be his third race back from a spell and gets track conditions to suit with a Dead 6 surface looking likely. Matt Cameron will ride.

Race 2 @ 2.58 see 4yo SIR DARCI ( Darci Brahma-Dominant) contest the R75 1200. This is his second run back after a long spell. Down in grade, SIR DARCI carries a carded weight of 60kgs from the Ace Barrier, but apprentice Josh Oliver will ride and claim 2kgs. Connections expect a strong showing from SIR DARCI.

Matamata track work highlights Tuesday 12 May –

Course proper (Slow):

Preparing to race on Saturday at Te Rapa, Sir Darci (Cameron) worked together  1000m in 1:11.5 and the last 600m in 39.  Matt Cameron very pleased with quality of his mount’s work.

Matamata track work highlights – Thursday 14 May –

Course proper (Heavy):

Fog prevented some timing.

Preparing to race on Saturday at Te Rapa,  Sir Darci (Hercock) worked  over 1000m at three-quarter pace. He worked well, although the ground was more testing than he prefers.

Sand track:

Butch Cassidy (Lammas) worked nicely  over 800m.

Highly Likely (Hercock) worked an easy 1600m. He is scheduled for the Rating 75 2100 metres next Wednesday at Ruakaka.

Singapore trackwork highlights – Tuesday 12 May (Fine & Sunny) – Kranji –

Secret Spice (Shafiq) – Canter, 1000m ¾ /600m 44.2;

SIR DARCI scratched due to track conditions – now nominated Ruakaka Wed 20th May 

SIR DARCI contests the Rating 85 1200 metre event at Te Rapa (Race 3 @11.35), this being the same class, distance and track as his resuming run, after a long break, two weeks ago. On that occasion, he raced near the tail of the field, made a promising run along the rails before peaking on his run with 100 metres to go. Fitter for that, he has been working well and has drawn nicely at Barrier One for this assignment. There is a question mark over track conditions, with a Slow track looking likely, but provided he cops conditions on the day, he should give a bold showing. Senior Rider, Craig Grylls, takes the mount with regular rider, Matt Cameron, riding in Australia this Saturday.

Matamata – Thursday 

Coure proper (Dead)

Butch Cassidy (Roff) worked  over 600m in 37.6.

 Its Showtime (Lammas)  worked a over 600m at three-quarter pace.

Sand track:

 Our Drahma Queen (Roff) went an easy 800m.

Singapore

Tuesday 5 May (Fine & Sunny)

Polytracks – Good

Track 2 –

King Savinsky (Shafiq) – Canter, 1000m ¾ /600m 43.4;

Track 6 –

Our River Dancer (Matthias) – 800m/600m 37.9;

Three runners in Singapore Friday 8th May

Race 4 @ 11.50pm NZ Time. KING SAVINSKY steps up the 1900 metre trip in this Class 4 event on the Polytrack. The strapping 4yo son of Savabeel will relish this trip. Yet to win in Singapore, he finished just 2.4 lengths from the winner in his last outing over 1700 metres. Carrying just 51.5kgs and to be ridden by Singapore’s No 2 jockey, Alan Munro, he is shaping as a good place chance in this race.

Race 6 @ 12.50 am Saturday morning. READY FORTUNE contests this Class 5 event over 1700 metres, a distance that will suit him perfectly. Drawn nicely at barrier 3 and with top hoop, Manoel Nunes, in the saddle, he will get an economical trip and looks to be very well placed in this event.

Race 7 @1.20am Saturday morning. EATONS GOLD won as he liked fresh up after a twelve month absence from the track on  24th April in a Class 4 event over 1100 metres.  Up in grade to Class 3, back in trip to 1000 metres and drawn 10 at the barrier, he won’t find this easy. To be ridden by regular rider Shafiq Rusof, EATON will most likely settle back from his wide draw and be doing his best work at the finish.

The well performed staying type, the 4yo Gelding HIGHLY LIKELY (High Chaparral-Starrinka), steps to the 2000 metre trip ( R75) at Matamata Wed 6th May ( Race 7 @ 3.27pm) in his 2nd race in his current campaign, Somewhat outpaced in the early running of his resuming race at Ellerslie over the 1600 metre trip on a Good 3 track, HIGHLY LIKELY will relish the greater distance and more forgiving  track conditions on offer. Carrying top weight of 58.5kgs, he will be ridden by Matt Cameron.