Friday Flash – 24th June 2022
Headline News;
Fortuna’s KING ARTHUR continues his remarkable progress in Singapore in taking out the Class 2 1200 Turf 0n Saturday 18th July – his 7th career win
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Fortuna has one runner this week in Singapore
Singapore – Sunday 26th June
TRIDENT (formerly Polaris) makes his Singapore debut in the Restricted Maiden 1200m Turf – Race 2 @ 12.30pm – 4.30pm NZT – Hakim will ride from Barrier 3 in an eight horse field. Three starts in NZ in the spring for three minor placings, before heading to Singapore, “Bruno” has matured and strengthened and has won both of his lead up trials in Singapore. Form in this sort of race can often be hidden, but on paper he looks to be a very strong top 3 chance and can win
Fortuna Track work – Matamata
Tuesday 21st June
Milestone (M Grylls) galloped over 1000 metres in 1.10.44, home in 38.66.
Thursday 23rd June
No timed Fortuna trackwork today
Fortuna Track work – Singapore
Saturday 18th June
No timed Fortuna trackwork today
Tuesday 21st June
Trident (Aiman) – 800/600 40;
Other News
Fortuna’s KING ARTHUR continues his remarkable progress in Singapore in taking out the Class 2 1200 Turf on Saturday 18th July – his 7th career win – full story below
KING ARTHUR reigns again in Singapore
KING ARTHUR (I Am Invincible-Pentasia) produced another outstanding performance to take out the Class 2 1200 metre Turf event at Singapore’s Kranji Racecourse Saturday 18th June, making it seven career wins for him since 2nd Oct 2021 and in front of a big crew of Fortuna Racing supporters from NZ, Aus, Singapore and Malaysia. Up in grade since his last win and meeting a strong field on the Turf surface, with all six of his previous wins being on the Polytrack, punters were not sure of his prospects and he started at 8/1 odds. Drawn nicely and with Stable apprentice F Yusoff, claiming 3kgs, King Arthur was away well and got into a nice spot one back on the rail in a race being run at a genuine tempo. Hooked out to make his run on turning for home, he made the lead quickly and was too strong to the line, winning by 3/4 length from a fast finishing SPIRIT OF BIG BANG with his Fortuna Stablemate, HADEER finishing in 3rd place
Click HERE to see race replay
Trainer Donna Logan, recording her 26th Training success in 2022 and her 2nd on the evening, was a very happy handler, “That was an outstanding performance, I know there was doubt in the minds of some about his Turf ability, but look these horses – Turf or Poly– I think the longer they are here and they are always racing on the Poly, they get accustomed to it,” she said on King Arthur’s breakthrough on the turf “but he has raced on the turf before and this horse gave me no indication he wouldn’t like the turf. And what a great result for the Fortuna NZ Racing Stable – they been a huge supporter of Singapore racing since 2010. I’m hugely indebted to Fortuna for being part of our stable. They’re a great team of owners and quite a few of them are on course to witness King Arthur’s win.” Donna continued to give praise for the winning rider. “It was a great ride by young Yusoff – the claim was a major key but he rode him a treat. An eleven-out-of-ten ride!”
“King Arthur” – Singapore Win #7 – 18 June 2022
Fortuna Racing’s John Galvin, visiting from New Zeland and on course hosting a team of around 20 Stable supporters, was an excited man post race “Well that was pretty special wasn’t it – thanks to Covid I have not been able to visit Singapore for a long time – and for Arthur to deliver a result like that for us was very special. Big congratulations to Donna Logan, she is a meticulous and dedicated Trainer, who is doing a great job filling the big shoes of Mark Walker. As for young Yusoff, he has really hit his straps as a rider, he has gained in confidence as we have entrusted him with these sorts of rides and he is delivering. And kudos to King Arthur – so far in 2022, he has had eight starts for five wins, a 2nd, a 3rd and a 4th – and he’s not done with yet”
KING ARTHUR’s connections post race
John Galvin, Yusoff and Syndicate Member Graham Stewart (Wainuiomata New Zealand)
KING ARTHUR was originally raced in Sydney, Australia as Tintagel by clients of the Bjorn Baker Stable, but after not meeting their expectations, they decided to put him on the market and he was purchased by John Galvin on the advice of Fortuna’s former Singapore Trainer, Mark Walker, out of the October 2020 Inglis Digital Sale for A$25,000. He is raced by the Fortuna King Arthur Syndicate, an ownership group of 31 individuals from New Zealand, Australia and Malaysia. He has now accumulated S$276,000 with seven wins, five 2nds and two thirds from 18 starts in Singapore,
Fortuna’s Singapore trainer Donna Logan has surged to 2nd place on the Singapore Trainer’s Premiership with 26 wins, 4 behind Tim Fitzsimmons
Interesting to note that Donna has won over 60 black type races – her CV boasts Group 1 wins in the Rosehill Guineas (Sydney), NZ Derby, NZ Oaks, Herbie Dyke Stakes (2), NZ Stakes, Otaki-Maori WFA & Sistema Stakes and the Kranji Mile (Singapore)
Guest Selector – Des Coppins
With the bookmakers we made a slight profit on Cross Roads last week at Trentham. While it only ran third in a 7-horse field the strategy of one unit over two with the bookies always pays out when running third.
I like a few at Tauranga this weekend but I’ve settled on Cork in race three.
This four year old is lightly tried and will be racing in a fresh state in start number 8.
My spies tell me the horse is working well and what we saw last season in a few starts in testing ground suggests she is in for a good season.
She won twice in heavy ground last season, once over 1600m when she cleared maiden ranks by 9 lengths in a breathless performance at Matamata and she backed that up two starts later at this corresponding meeting at Tauranga over 2100m.
Cork is the type this Saturday to have an one unit over three on the fixed odds and keep on side with her throughout the winter.
Good punting!
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).