Fortuna runners this week are RED JAKKAL at Te Aroha on Friday, while HIDDEN PROMISE  and BRUTUS race in Singapore on Saturday 4th and the exciting prospect LEADERBOARD resumes at Matamata Tuesday 7th Jan

RED JAKKAL showed real promise as a 3yo running 2^nd on debut, then winning at his 2^nd start. Unraced to date as a 4yo. he has taken a long time to come to hand and his trials have been ordinary. However his work of late has been good, good draw, blinkers go on, top rider in M McNab – certainly worth following but with caution.

HIDDEN PROMISE has won five times in Singapore – all at 1600m – he resumes at 1200m on Saturday – on paper too short but he has run close up placings at this trip before when fresh – can run into the money from good draw if things go right

3yo BRUTUS has his 2^nd Singapore run in Restricted Maiden Grade – he lost no friends when running 3^rd on debut in the same grade after leading for most of the race. Better for that experience, he has the ace draw and a gun rider in Benny Woodworth – looks very good here

LEADERBOARD – what can we say – two very impressive wins at Riccarton in the late spring  by this Irish bred import stamped him as a quality staying type with a good turn of foot and more than a touch of class. Resuming at 1600 metres, he has weight to carry, but the in form Chelsea Burdan takes 3kgs off his back – on a path to the Auckland Cup, his track gallop Friday 3^rd was first class – he is a very good each way chance here.

NEW YEAR SPECIAL

Talking of Singapore, a reminder about the 7.5% New Year Special Discount for the newly arrived 2yo’s Cassius and Cicero – both now coming to the end of their Singapore Quarantine – being released to Mark Walker 6th January. Click HERE to read more re the horses and the discount. We are expecting these two boys to come to hand very quickly – and Mark Walker hit the ground running with the first day of the 2020 Singapore racing season on New Year’s Day, collecting three winners – I am predicting that Mark and the Fortuna NZ Stable in Singapore are going to have a big year. Not to be outdone, Jamie Richards recorded three winners and a handful of minor placings on New Year’s Day here in NZ as well

Pictures below of Cassius and Cicero were taken 19th December in NSW just prior to them flying to Singapore later that evening

Matamata Track work this week – Fortuna Runners –

 Tuesday 31^st December

 Plough

 Beau Geste (M Roustoby) looked good galloping over 1000 metres in 1.09.4, last 600 in 39.8.

Leaderboard (O Bosson)) galloped over an easy 1200 metres, running the last 1000 in 1.07, home in 39.5.

Melody Belle (J Kamaruddin) looked good having her first piece of three quarter pace work this preparation, running the last 600 in 46. Burgundy Belle (J Kamaruddin) also had her first three quarter since returning, running home in similar time.

Friday 3rd Jan

Plough

Leaderboard (M McNab) working right handed galloped  strongly over 1200 metres, running the last 1000 in 1.05, last 400 in 23.5

“Leaderboard” – Goes Back to Back at Riccarton 12th November 2019