Friday Flash – 26th May 2023

KNIPPENBERG wins for us again in Singapore 20^th May

TAB/ENTAIN partnership deal approved by the Minister of Racing
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Fortuna has four runners this Saturday – one in NZ, three in Singapore
 
New Zealand – Trentham

KHAFEEF contests the Maiden Steeplechase – Race 1 @ 11.22am with Shaun Fannin to ride. Dominant last start winner at Hawera in a Hurdles event, he goes to the big fences for the first time on the Trentham figure eight course. Myers stable says he is the best jumper in the stable and the TAB bookies are not taking any risks with a $1.55 quote!!! If he jumps safely will be hard to beat.

Singapore

ROCKY runs in the Class 4 1600 Poly  – race 8  @ 3.30pm Sing time (7.30pm NZT) and will be ridden by Stable Apprentice, Fadzli Yusoff, claiming 2kgs, from Barrier 6. Failed badly last start on a slippery Turf track, but now back to the Poly where he has had 8 starts for 2 wins and 6 minor placings – is stepping up to the 1600m for the first time. Trainer Donna Logan is sure he is ready for the step up in trip but also concedes that it is a bit of an experiment. If he runs out the Mile, he can feature in the finish

ENTERTAINER runs in the Class 3 1200 Turf  – race 10 @ 4.30pm Sing time (8.30pm NZT) and will be ridden by Craig Grylls (who is riding in Singapore for Guineas Day) from barrier 2. Encouraging performance last start after a run of poor form but is an eight time winner in Singapore – now rated on 69 he has got to a dangerous place in the ratings – note that he ran a close up 2^nd this trip and surface in August 2022 off a 75 rating. Needs to be taken on trust, but has a great draw and a busy, talented rider aboard – can feature at odds

ELLIOT NESS contests the Class 4 1200 Poly  – race 12 @ 5.35pm Sing time (9.35pm NZT) and will be ridden by Stable Apprentice, Fadzli Yusoff, claiming 2kgs, from Barrier 6. Slightly disappointing last time when fading closing stages 1100m – previous form was good. Has to run 1200m here, but is a speedy type. Top three chance

Fortuna Track work – Matamata
 
Tuesday 23^rd May

Navalha (T Wenn) galloped over an easy 1200 metres in 1.20.2, final 600 in 38.1.
Angels Wings (J Kamaruddin) galloped over 1000 metres in 1.05.7, home in 37.9.

Fortuna Track work – Singapore

Saturday 20th May

ELLIOT NESS (ASLAM)1000/600-38;; ENTERTAINER (YUSOFF)1000/600-39

Tuesday 23rd May

ROCKY (ASLAM)800/60039-; ENTERTAINER (YUSOFF)800/600-39;

Other News

KNIPPENBERG wins for us again in Singapore 20^th May – John was on track hosting local Singapore based clients

KNIPPENBERG, the three year old gelding by I Am Invincible out of Red Fez, produced an outstanding performance in the Novice 1200 Turf event for prizemoney of S$75,000 in the hands of the regular race day rider Ronnie Stewart. Race day tactics for KNIPPENBERG, given his good barrier, was finish up in the box seat one out from the rail. As it turned out he finished up one back but on the rail. Traveling beautifully in the run, Stewart had a lapful of horse as they turned for home but was stuck in behind the two leaders with nowhere to go. Resisting the temptation to come off heels and go to the outside, Stewart demonstrated the patience of Job, waiting and waiting for the gap to appear. Eventually it did come but paper thin and both horse and rider exhibited great courage to push through the narrow gap on the rails and once through, KNIPPENBERG surged away, going to the line clear by 1.5 lengths in the smart time of 1.09.54 for the 1200m trip.

This victory was a great result for the Gelding’s connections as Fortuna Director John Galvin, who had traveled to Singapore from his home in New Zealand, to watch his charge storm to victory, explains. “Knippenberg won impressively in Restricted Maiden Grade on debut 29th January, then ran an unlucky 2nd in Novice Grade at his next start. He was then set for the 3yo Sprint, the first leg of the 3yo Series over 1200m – drawn the outside barrier, he stormed home for a 4th placing. Stepping up to 14oo in the 3yo Classic, he was sent out favourite, had a beautiful run, went up to win but failed to run out the trip. Donna Logan and I then made the decision to bypass the Singapore Guineas over 1600m, deciding to step him back to the Novice 1200 instead. Donna hardly did anything with him in the intervening two weeks and he was presented in great order for the 1200m and duly obliged, assisted by a heroic ride from Ronnie Stewart. Well done to Donna and her team for getting us this great result.”

Click HERE to see the race replay – Click HERE to see the head on replay  

Knippenberg’s Trainer, Donna Logan of Te Akau Racing Stables, was very pleased with the result. “ I have always thought a bit of this horse, he has a lot of ability. We had to make the decision after his slightly disappointing run in the 3yo Classic as to whether to press onto the Guineas or go back to Novice Grade over 1200om. The latter was my instinct and big kudos to John Galvin of Fortuna Racing for supporting that decision”

KNIPPENBERG had originally raced in Australia for his breeders Phoenix Thoroughbreds and been trained for them by the Ciaren Maher/David Eustace team. Showing just moderate form from two race day starts, his owners decided to offer him for sale at the Inglis Digital Sale (June 2022) – he was acquired by John Galvin for A$32,500 and sent to Singapore to race. John was assisted in his selection process by Mark Walker, the former Singapore based Trainer for Te Akau Racing and now leading Trainer for them in NZ

Knippenberg is owned by the Fortuna Knippenberg Syndicate, an Ownership Group of 46 individuals from New Zealand, Australia, Singapore and Malaysia – he has now won twice and had two minor placings from five race day starts and has accumulated just under S$100k in stakes monies

TAB/ENTAIN partnership deal approved by the Minister of Racing
 
We have been waiting for this for a long time – 1^st June is the start date – can this be a fresh dawn for our beleaguered NZ Racing scene – see the news release below from NZ Racing Desk

Minister for Racing Kieran McAnulty has announced the approval of a 25-year partnership between TAB NZ and UK betting company Entain that delivers at least $900 million in guaranteed funding for the racing industry over the next five years.

Entain, a UK based group that operates multiple sports betting providers globally, will use their economies of scale and significant technology and capital capabilities to deliver TAB NZ’s betting, wagering and broadcast operations”

“This is one of the most significant days in New Zealand racing history. This deal will reverse falling revenues for racing and provides certainty over the coming years,” Kieran McAnulty said. “I’m confident this agreement will help secure a solid future for the racing industry and sports in New Zealand through increased financial distributions to national sports organisations. TAB NZ has been facing increasing financial challenges over recent years and was facing an uncertain future, largely due to competition from offshore gambling websites”

“The Agreement provides an upfront payment of $150 million upon approval of the agreement. In addition to this there will be a 50% revenue share from day-1 with guaranteed payments of at least $150 million per year for the first five years. This partnership will also allow TAB NZ to use Entain’s expertise and economies of scale to make necessary upgrades and invest extensively in infrastructure and technology. It will be an improved offering for customers.

“Our racing industry is worth $1.6 billion to the economy and directly employs 14,000 New Zealanders. It’s reliant on TAB NZ distributions, and if they were allowed to fall that would hit the industry hard and jobs and revenue lost. It’s important this deal assists in reducing gambling harm. As such I’ve received confirmation from TAB NZ of a $5 million allocation for harm minimisation measures upon approval of the agreement.

“Entain has better harm minimisation technologies, such as facial recognition tools that can be rolled out in TAB venues. The partnership between TAB NZ and Entain does not prevent the Government from putting in place further harm minimisation regulation, and I have been clear with TAB NZ that I intend to do so.

“I am also pleased to announce that Cabinet has decided an in-principle agreement to extend TAB NZ’s monopoly for sports and racing betting to the online environment, subject to further work being done. The TAB was set up as a monopoly to fund New Zealand racing and sports. But the onset of unregulated online gambling changed the game and our racing and sports industry has been losing money ever since. Regulating this environment offers a significant new revenue source for local racing and sport, while also addressing the inherent risks in unregulated online gambling. By prohibiting online gambling outside of the TAB the Government can place greater controls over the betting environment. We would expect to also see much more money allocated to harm minimisation, a fairer deal for Kiwi punters and sports codes and a greater focus on animal welfare,” McAnulty said. – NZ Racing Desk

Shares For Sale

The Karaka Sale Yearling Fillies

Still a few shares left in each of these three lovely Fillies – all have been broken in and completed their first stable prep. Click HERE to read details from the Fortuna website on these three Fillies

The Star Witness – Alana’s Party filly, “Ali”, who is very forward, is now back in work in her 2nd Stable Prep and is being aimed at one of the early season trials and looks like being an early 2yo runner

Secondary Market Sale – ENTERTAINER

A 3% share in the 6yo Singapore based galloper, ENTERTAINER, has become available for the sum of NZ$432 and $108 per month from 1 June. Note that Entertainer runs this Saturday 27^th May and if you confirm a purchase and make payment by close of business Friday, you will be on the Ownership register for that race.

ENTERTAINER (Zoustar-Laughing) is an eight time winner  in Singapore from 32 race day starts with over S$300k of stakes winnings in the bin. “Joker” has paid the price of a rapid ascent in the ratings, getting rated so high that he found it difficult to win and has not greeted the judge since Sept 2022. However, now back to a rating 69, he put in a solid performance at his most recent start in Class 3 Grade and is only two points away from getting back to Class 4. An 1100m Poly track specialist (7 of his 8 wins have come at that trip and surface), he is set to race next on 27^th May. Just contact John by email or call/text 021 921 460 if you wish to take up this opportunity – the 3% can be broken down into 1% parcels @ $144 and $36 per month from 1 June

Guest Selector  – Mayne Bax
 
Yes, under our new “in house selector” initiative, Mayne Bax is the first to step up to the plate for a three week stint. Mayne is a long standing Cambridge farming identity who has been in several horses with us over the years, including Trident, who now races in Singapore. Mayne really fancied Khafeef’s chances in the Maiden Steeples at Trentham on Saturday, but after seeing the $1.55 Fixed Odds, he has switched to the 2yo event at Pukekohe – Race 3 Horse 2 – Paragon. Racing in the Cambridge Stud Silks, trained by James/Wellwood and to be ridden by Warren Kennedy, the beautifully bred Paragon was nosed into 2^nd at Hastings on debut 1200m after a winning trial previously. Bound to take natural improvement from that run, note this is a Stakes event, so does meet some nice types here, but has an astute training team at the helm with an in form jockey aboard and a good draw – track was a Heavy 10 Wednesday afternoon, but mild sunny conditions could see it come back into the soft range – Mayne says 1 unit the win – 3 units the place – showing fixed odds of $8/2.40