Fortuna Racing’s staying mare Soprano Supreme (5 m Contributer – Falsetto, by Zabeel) indicated her readiness for upcoming Cup assignments when winning the $35,000 Rating 75 2400 metres on Saturday at Te Rapa. Good enough to campaign during the autumn in Brisbane, where she finished second in the Gold Coast Cup (2400m), Soprano Supreme had produced the fastest last 600m (34.6) for fourth in the Rating 86 2200 metres on 5 November at Te Rapa, and emulated the feat again in this latest outing

Soprano Supreme was given a patient ride by two-kilo claiming Te Akau apprentice Niranjan Parmar, spotting 11^th of 13 and standing the leader eight lengths 600m out, before unleashing wide on the track and flying home for a nose margin victory.

Click HERE to see the race replay

“Soprano Supreme” (blue cap) – 4th career win Te Rapa 26 November 2022

Niranjan Parmer was a happy rider post race “I was well back like I was last time, but I was pretty confident and thought they were going fast enough from the 800 metres and I pulled her out at the right time,” he said. “She worked really well in morning track work when Opie Bosson rode her and he said she was going well. I was claiming three (kilos), claiming two now and the horses are running for me. I am pretty lucky, working hard, and my boss, Mark Walker, is helping me with my riding.”

In the race sponsored by Dunstan Feeds, Soprano Supreme ran 2400 metres in 2:33.8, last 600m 35.5, and drifted in betting to pay $7.00 & $2.70 on the NZ TAB tote.

“We’ve given her a bit of time, but she’s getting stronger and we took the blinkers off,” said trainer Mark Walker. “Her last run here was good, on a day that favoured horses on speed, and Parmar is riding terrifically. That was his sixth winner for the week, so he’s riding very well. We think she might be an Auckland Cup chance, so we’ll just hope she continues on through the grades and see where we end up.”

Soprano Supreme became the fourth mare fourth mare by Mapperley Stud stallion Contributer (High Chaparral) to win for the stable in November, following Campionessa in the Metropolitan Trophy (Listed, 2500m), and dominant Maiden winners Elounda and Family Ties. 

Soprano Supreme is from first crop of Champion Australian Middle Distance Horse of the Year Contributer (High Chaparral), dual Group One winner of the Chipping Norton (Gr. 1, 1600m) and Ranvet Stakes (Gr. 1, 2000m). Dam Falsetto, by legendary stallion Zabeel (Sir Tristram), was an impressive three-time winner from 1600m – 2100m and placed in the NZ Oaks (Gr. 1, 2400m).

John Galvin, the Fortuna Racing Syndicate manager, was on course to watch his charge perform, had this to say afyer the races: “Thank you Dave (Smith) for the  sponsorship from your company, Dunstan Feeds. We’ve known each other for a long time through the racing club and your days as former Chairman. Soprano Supreme really showed us a lot through the autumn. She’s had a bit of a stuttering start to the new season, but is a staying mare and her run here last start was encouraging enough to suggest she would run well today and so it proved – although, I thought at the 300m mark we would finish about fifth, she showed an amazing turn of foot closing stages and I would love to see those sectionals. It was a great riding effort by Parmar, who timed his run to perfection – I think he’s been taking lessons from Noel Harris. Congratulations to the group of owners and we seem to have a really nice staying type of mare here. It looks as though she has a bright future in front of her. And well done to Mark Walker – she’s given us a couple of head scratching moments this preparation, but Mark has stuck to his gune with her programme.”

Soprano Supreme was strapped by Shaun Magee.

Bred by Tim Harrison, Soprano Supreme was acquired by David Ellis on behalf of Fortuna Racing 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, the USA  and Hong Kong