SOPRANO SUPREME (4yo Mare by Contributer out of the Zabeel Mare, Falsetto) was impressive at Matamata 12th January when winning the NZ Bloodstock Pearl Series Maiden 1600 by almost five lengths. A strong finishing run for 2nd over 1400m 23rd December saw punters send her out a $3.90 clear favourite with the very much in form Te Akau apprentice Joe Kamaruddin (claiming 2kgs) in the saddle. The race plan was to go forward from her mid field draw and that was executed perfectly by horse and rider, landing in a nice spot outside the leader. Traveling nicely in the run, Joe gave her a bit more rein approaching the turn and on turning for home, she sprinted away from field to go to the line with a 4.75 length margin in the smart time of 1.35.38

Click HERE to see the race Video replay

Trainer Jamie Richards was on course and expressed a lot of satisfaction with the win “Soprano has been a very slow maturing mare and we have needed to be very patient with her and give her the time she needed – but she was very good last start 2nd here at Matamata before Christmas and the extra trip today was right up her alley. Lovely ride by Joe who rode her to instructions perfectly. Bred to stay, she will have another run at 1600m and then we will get her up to a 2000m trip. Congrats to John Galvin and his Fortuna Team – they have been incredibly patient with this Mare.”

Fortuna Racing’s John Galvin was also on course with a solid representation of Syndicate Members “That was exciting to watch – she always seemed to be going well in the run and certainly was very dominant in  how she finished off the race – in her earlier career starts she was showing us glimpses of her ability, but just needed time to mature and grow into herself. Neat ride by Joe and well done to Jamie for bringing this mare along quietly – and well done to David Ellis for picking this Mare out of the 2019 Sale for us – I had asked him to select a genuine staying type for us and once again he has delivered”

“Soprano Supreme” – Victorious at Matamata 12th January 2021

Soprano Supreme was acquired by David Ellis on behalf of Fortuna 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 and Hong Kong