Three runners this weekend, two in Singapore Friday night and one at Te Rapa Saturday

First away in Singapore Friday is 4yo KING SAVINSKY who ran a creditable 3rd placing last week after being slow away and now backs up in a Kanji D Stakes event over 2200 metre on the Turf track. To be ridden bt Stable Apprentice, Shafiq Rusof, who is in white hot form, “THE KING” looks very well placed in this event. Race 3 at 11.20pm Friday evening NZ Time.

Race 8 at 1.50am Sat morning NZ Time, see five time winner EATONS GOLD tackle a quality Class 3 field over 1000 metres on the polytrack. Drawn 3 at the barrier, Trainer Mark Walker has elected to go for a claiming rider, CK Ng, and take 4kgs off EATON’s back. The pace will be hot in this race and with a nice run from the draw, EATON has a chance of finishing over the top of them with his light weight of just 49.5kgs.

Te Rapa on Saturday sees 4yo HIGHLY LIKELY, contest the Rating 65 2100 metre event, race 4 @ 1.25pm. Somewhat disappointing in this current campaign, after winning twice in his first campaign, HIGHLY LIKELY is down in grade and will get track conditions to suit. He will be ridden by Craig Grylls.

SECRET SPICE tackles a Kranji D event ove 1800 metre on the Turf track in Singapore Friday 19th June. A winner in Singapore in April, the 3yo daughter of Sakes Secret ran a nice 4th placing at there last start on Class 4. Down in grade tonight, she will be ridden by leading apprentice Shafiq Rusof and will enjoy the 1800 metre trip in Race 8 at 1.50am Sat morning NZ Time.

HIGHLY LIKELY steps out at Tauranga Saturday 20th June in a rating 75 2100 trip. Mildly disappointing his his fresh campaign, connections are optimistic that this 4yo son of High Chaparral can be back to his best at a distance and with track conditions that suit. Matt Cameron to ride race 9 at 4.14pm

“Lady Jasmine” is a rising 2yo Filly by one of NZ’s best Stallions, DARCI BRAHMA, out of the six time winning mare, LADY CLASSIQUE (by Stravinsky). A full sister to the two win Hong Kong based 4yo OSCAR MIRACLE, this filly has been broken in and completed her first stables preparation under the care of the Te Akau Training team of Stephen Autridge and Jamie Richards. She is now spelling until mid to late June, after which she will return to the stables for a further preparation aimed at getting her to the early Spring trials.

This Syndicate is a “Racing Syndicate” also know as a “lease”. This means the Syndicate does not own the filly, but will meet all preparation and racing expenses but receive race winnings. The Syndicate does have a right of purchase of the filly, this can be exercised by giving 14 day’s notice. Costs of participating in this Syndicate are $320 per month per 10% share and $160 per month per 5% share.

Full details are available in the NZTR approved Disclosure Statement which must be perused and signed by any prospective member before shares can be allotted. This can be obtained from Fortuna Director, John Galvin by emailing HERE or calling John (+64) 21 921 460.

Fortuna Ltd is an Authorised Syndicator in accordance with the Code of Practice established under The (New Zealand) Securities Act (Bloodstock) Exemption Notice 2002

Three Fortuna runners this weekend, two in Singapore Friday evening, one at Ruakaka on Saturday.

First away on Friday in Singapore is 4yo KING SAVINSKY. Has been running good races without threatening of late, but this weekend is down in Grade and steps up to the 1800 metre distance and will be ridden by the very in form Apprentice jockey, Shafiq Rusof. In Race 1 at 10.20pm NZT. THE KING has drawn 4 in a field of 10 and does look well placed in this event.

The five time winner in Singapore, EATONS GOLD, contests Race 9 2.20am Saturday morning NZT, a Benchmark 67 event over 1200 metre on the Turf. EATON very rarely runs a bad race and is down a grade in this event, although does carry top weight. Shafiq rides him from barrier 5 in a field of 12 and with luck in the running, he should be very competitive in this event.

Ruakaka on Saturday sees 4yo SIR DARCI contests the Rating 75 1200 metre event, Race 9 at 2.33 pm. Very unlucky in never finding a gap in the straight, same venue, same trip, same grade 20th May, SIR DARCI has drawn 2 at the barrier and although has a carded weight of 60kg’s, he will carry 58kg’s courtesy  of the allowance provided by the very in form Brendan Hutton. Looks to be a strong each way chance with luck in the running.

Tuesday 9 June – Matamata

Course proper (Heavy):

Preparing to race on Saturday at Ruakaka,  Sir Darci (Hercock) worked over 1200 metres in 1.29, last 600m in 40.7. At the same venue 20th May, Sir Darci (Darci Brahma) was blocked for a run in the Rating 75 1200 metres and contests the corresponding event this week.

Wednesday 10th June

Sand track:

Prince Henry (Hercock) went an easy 800m in 52.8, last 600m in 38.4.

All-weather track:

Highly Likely (Roff) went 1600m at three-quarter pace. He covered the 1200m in 1:29, last 600m in 43, and eyes the $25,000 Rating 75 2100 metres on Saturday week at Tauranga.

Three Singapore runners this weekend.

4yo KING SAVINSKY tackles a Graduation 1200 metre event on the Turf; race 3 11.20pm NZT Friday evening. A $75k race, the trip may be a bit short for him. Apprentice MM Firdaus takes the mount and 2kgs off his back from Barrier 1.

Sunday in Singapore sees READY FORTUNE contest the Class 5 event over 1400 metres, Race 1 @ 4.55pm NZT. Drawn out at Barrier 10, he will need some luck, but is a get back type of horse who will be running on strongly at the finish. Apprentice Zawari takes the ride and claims a very helpful 3kgs.

Finally OUR RIVER DANCER seeks to improve on his strong close up finish when resuming after a 13 month absence on 22nd May. This time he contests a Maiden event over 1200 metres on the Turf, Race 6 @ 7.25 pm NZT. Carded to carry just 50kgs from Barrier 8, rider Harry Kasim takes a further 1kg apprentice allowance off his back.

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