Friday Flash – 8th July
Headline News;
Fortuna 3yo Deception tackles the Group 2 Singapore 3yo Classic Saturday 9th July
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Fortuna has three runners this week – all in Singapore
Singapore – Saturday 9th July
ELLIOT NESS contests the Class 5 1100 Polytrack event – Race 1 @ 12 Noon Singapore time (4pm NZT) – two 4th placings after resuming from a long injury break has set this horse up nicely for this race – notable that he is the Singapore track record holder this trip, has a nice draw and a 3kg claim from Stable Apprentice Yusoff, who is riding in great form – been hard to follow of late, but is right in the mix here
Here is what the Singapore Turf Club tipsters say about this race;
1st Pick: FAST AND FEARLESS (1)
Returned to the winners stall under a great ride from Moor last start. Remains at the top of the ratings for this grade and he only rises half a kilogram in weight. A lot lines up for him.
2nd Pick: ELLIOT NESS (3)
Having just his second start in this grade for the in-form Logan stable. Must not forget he was a course record holder when winning his maiden at this distance in April of last year. He has the ability but needs to reproduce it.
3rd Pick: GOLDEN DASH (7)
Drops back in distance to a more suitable trip for this Argentinian bred speedster. Shows plenty of speed from the barrier and should be in a prime position when turning for the judge.
4th Pick: BIZAR WINS (2)
Showed quick speed at his last start to finish fourth over this distance. His best performances in his career have come at this distance. One for the exotics.
TRIDENT runs in the Restricted Maiden 1400m Turf – Race 2 at 12.30 Singapore Time (4.30pm NZT) – made his Singapore debt this grade 1200m two weeks ago for a strong 2nd placing after 2 winning trials – Yusoff rides with a 3kg claim from a slightly tricky draw – looks to be right in this and is a strong each way chance
Here is what the Singapore Turf Club tipsters say about this race;
1st Pick: TRIDENT (1)
Showed quick speed at his last start to finish 2nd this grade 1200m. His best performances in his career have come at this distance. One for the exotics.
2nd Pick: MARIANA TRENCH (3)
Settled just off the speed last start to go down half a length behind Flashfast. Seems to appreciate the distance and holds good form lines for this.
3rd Pick: WATERY (2)
Drops back to maiden grade after contesting a hot group three race last start. Should appreciate racing against maideners and gets his chance in this.
4th Pick: DRAGON TYCOON (4)
Lining up for start number nine and has been hitting the line nicely at his last few starts. With a solid tempo up front he could be one of the runners finishing off strongly.
DECEPTION takes on the best 3yo’s in Singapore in this Group 2 race over 1400m Turf – race 11 at 5pm Singapore time (9pm NZT) – had really good form on the board leading into the 3yo Sprint 1200m 18th June – rider lost an iron at the start and lost all chance as a result although rattled home for a 6th placing, Meets a good field here and has the outside barrier (12) to contend with. Singapore Champion jockey K Hakim takes the mount. Will need a huge amount of luck to feature here, but has run 2 2nds this trip and a 3rd at 1600m – will be running out the 1400 strongly, when much of the opposition will be gasping – will be at healthy odds
Fortuna Track work – Matamata
Tuesday 5th July
No timed Fortuna trackwork today
Thursday 7th July
No timed Fortuna trackwork today
Fortuna Track work – Singapore
Saturday 2nd July
Olympia (Jerlyn) – 800/600 38; King Arthur (Yusoff) – 1000/600 40; Elliot Ness (Yusoff) – 1000/600 40;
Tuesday 5th July
Deception (Aiman) – 800/600 40; Briggs (Yusoff) – 600 39; Trident (Yusoff) – 800/600 41;
Other News
Fortuna acquires a Two Year Old by I Am Invincible for Singapore Racing – Knippenberg
Some key points about this acquisition
- By I Am Invincible – Australia’s current Champion Stallion
- Out of a 3 time winning mare (in Melbourne) who was twice placed at Group 2 level
- Mare has left two winners, both winning as 2yo’s
- Knippenberg was bred by his original racing ownership group and so did not go through the ring as a yearling – if he had done so the mind boggles as to what he would have made – but probably at least 10 times what we paid for him just recently
- Knippenberg showed good trial and raceday form, running 2nd in his 2nd trial and running 3rd on his raceday debut
About The Two Year Old KNIPPENBERG
The 2yo Colt Knippenberg is by Australia’s leading Stallion, I Am Invincible out of the winning and Stakes placed Mare Red Fez – he has been acquired by Fortuna Racing for A$32,500 and will be sent to Singapore to race. He is to be gelded immediately and will agist in New South Wales for eight to ten weeks before flying to Singapore where he will join the other Fortuna Racing runners at the Te Akau Racing training complex at Kranji Racecourse, headed up by Donna Logan, who is currently sitting in the No 2 spot on the Singapore Trainer’s Premiership
As a non winner Knippenberg will be eligible to contest Restricted Maiden Grade events in Singapore, a Grade which carries S$75,000 of prizemoney (approx NZ$83,000). Once winning in that Grade, he will then be eligible to race in Novice Grade, a Grade which also carries S$75,000 of prizemoney (approx NZ$83,000). As a Three Year Old in the 2022/2023 Season Knippenberg will be eligible for the very lucrative Three Year Old Series run during May and June 2023
Pedigree
KNIPPENBERG has an exceptionally strong Pedigree page – bred by his former Owners, Phoenix Thoroughbreds, he is by Australia’s Champion Stallion in I AM INVINCIBLE, the Sire of over 700 winners, including 79 Stakes winners. His Dam RED FEZ (by Red Ransom) won 3 times in Melbourne and was placed twice at Group 2 level – she is the dam of three foals to race (including Knippenberg) and the other two have won in Sydney/NSW. This is the family of the successful Stallions at Stud in Shooting To Win, Deep Field and Zed
Training & Race History
KNIPPENBERG was prepared by Ciarin Maher/David Eustace from their Warwick Farm base in Sydney for his International Owners, Phoenix Thoroughbreds – he had two trials in Sydney, the first April 22nd, where he finished 5th and the second on May 6th finishing 2nd. He then made his race day debut at Bathurst 26th May finishing 3rd beaten 1.9 lengths. He then raced at Goulburn 17th June and was well beaten, but did strike a very “off” track and returned to scale with two black eyes, obviously being hit by a flying clod during the run. At that point his Owners, deciding that he was not up to Stallion making class, decided to sell him
Physical Type
Standing at 16 hands high and tipping the scales at 500kgs, KNIPPENBERG is an impressive physical type – he passed his vetting (conducted by Dr Ramiro Pellegrini) with flying colours – he scoped at Grade One, had no vices and his feet and limbs are in excellent order
KNIPPENBERG – Warwick Farm 30th June
Syndicator’s View
John Galvin comments on this latest acquisition “Knippenberg has a profile that is very typical of virtually all of the horses we have bought off the Inglis Digital platform in the past three years or so. A very well bred 2yo that is owned by a high profile Ownership Group, clearly with a Stallion career in mind, he has not shown the necessary race day form to give his Owners the confidence that he can be a Group One winning horse in Australia and so they moved him on. Horses we have acquired in recent years of this profile are Federation (6 Singapore wins), Brutus (5 Singapore wins), Entertainer (7 Singapore wins), King Arthur (7 Singapore wins), Red Rover (3 Singapore wins) plus Ellis Ness and Deception (1 Singapore win each). He has had two trials and two race day starts and shown us enough from those to indicate he can be a successful racehorse in Singapore. Vetting perfectly with a Grade One scope and sound of limb, he stands at 16 hands, tips the scales at around 500kgs and we are very happy to have acquired him”
Click HERE to see Knippenberg parading 30th June
Trainers Views
Fortuna’s Singapore Trainer, Donna Logan comments about KNIPPENBERG
“This is a lovely horse that John has acquired – I have viewed his trials and races and can see he has a very nice action – I have also obtained rider reports from those who have ridden him and those reports are very positive – to my eye, he is a horse who will benefit from being gelded and also more time to strengthen and mature – he will get that time as he agists in New South Wales before coming to Singapore – I am looking forward to having him in my barn in Singapore”
Former Four Time Champion Singapore Trainer, Mark Walker, now heading up the Te Akau New Zealand operation, assisted John Galvin in analysing KNIPPENBERG – he comments as follows “John and I have had much success in Singapore over the past three seasons buying horses out of the Australian On Line Sales with horses of just this type of profile – types that are by leading Sires, that are lightly raced and that have shown us enough from their Australian trials and races to suggest they can be very good race horses in Singapore. He vetted very well and is an impressive physical type in the mould of KING ARTHUR and DECEPTION, both also by I Am Invincible and impressive winners for Fortuna Racing in Singapore”
Terms
- Shares available right down to 1%.
- 10% share $9,000 – 5% share $4,500 – 2.5% share $2,250 – 1% share $900 (all pricing in NZ$)
- Share price includes all Initial Costs (Purchase price, Promoters Fees, Transport to Singapore, Insurance through to 31st January 2023, and Working Capital of over $13,000 approx
- Monthly ongoing costs from 1st September 2022 – from that date ongoing costs are – 10% share $400 per month – 5% share $200 per month – 2.5% share $100 per month – 1% share $40 per month.
- Monthly ongoing costs can alternatively be paid up to 12 months in advance as an option for subscribers by Bank Payment or Credit Card
Click HERE to view all details of Knippenberg on the Fortuna website – orders can be placed from there also – Email John by return email or call/text 021 921 460 if you require more information
Guest Selector – Des Coppins
A 4th placing was our lot last week– here is what Des has to say this week;
Those of you who called my 0900 line on Saturday will know that my two best bets at the two gallops meetings in NZ were Fernandez at Ruakaka and Cross Roads at Hastings.
However, for the Fortuna readers last week I zigged when I should have zagged with Fernandez managing a battling 4th against Cross Roads impressive all the way win at a generous $5.50 price.
I’m sure some punters here may well have stuck with Cross Roads after I labelled it on top in my summary at its previous start,
but let’s not cry over spilt milk and instead see if we can make amends on Saturday.
I’m warming to Samina Bibi in race 8 at Te Rapa and here is my reasoning:
It’s interesting that her trainers have always elected to kick off her two previous campaigns at Te Rapa.
In November 2020 she won her first start on the track over 1400m on soft 6 footing while last year she resumed in November also a soft track to reel the quickest final sectionals (600m-400m) also over 1400m. She’s in a 1400m this week and she warmed up for the race with a respectable third at a trial over 3 weeks ago. It was of course a catch weight open trial and I reckon her rider was carrying at least 4kgs more than the winner and maybe 8-10kgs more than the third horse if their saddles were of equal weight.
She wasn’t knocked around and hit the line solidly after being caught three wide for a good part of the early and middle stages of the trial. I think she’s ready to go a beauty and the early odds of $11 and $3.40 holds real appeal for me as a genuine each way bet. She’s lightly tried with just 10 runs under belt and I see no reason why this cannot be her best chance to go through the grades on this preparation as a more mature four year old.
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).
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