EMMA TWIGG  contests the 3yo 1400m event – Race 1 @ 11.55am with  Sam Collett to ride from Barrier 5 – won nicely on debut with a 4th and an unlucky 2nd at her next two starts – looks well placed here with nice draw, in form rider and track conditions to suit – TAB says “bounced back into form with a gutsy effort for second at Ōtaki last time out and she should produce another honest effort”  Showing Odds of $9/$2.60

Mornington – Sunday

ZEDWILLDO races in the BM56 event over 2030m with Adam McCabe to ride from barrier 6 – Race 6 @3.45pm AEST – on track to commence a jumps career –  this is a fitness building run on the flat over a trip that will be too short for him – TAB say “Profiles nicely ”  No Odds showing yet

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Other News

A Tale Of Two Snitzels

An interesting story below from Arrowfeld Stud (who stood Snitzel up until his passing away last year. The story revolves around the fact that two sons of Snitzel, The Next Edition and Zafar both won listed races on the same day, the former at Eagle farm and Zafar, of course at Riccarton

Of interest of course is the fact that they paid A$2.8m for The Next Edition at the 2025 Magic Millions sale whereas we paid just NZ $165K for Zafar

Of further interest is the mention of Lara Antipova, being by Russian Revolution who is, of course,  a son of Snitzel, and who also stands at Arrowfield

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Shares in “Max” moving steadily but still some available

At the January Karaka Yearling Sale, we had our sights on acquiring a genuine 3yo type who, with pedigree and physical attributes, could be targeted at the premier 3yo distance races in NZ and subsequently develop into a powerful staying type as an older horse. We had developed a liking tor the progeny of CIRCUS MAXIMUS, a young stallion by Galileo and out of the Fastnet Rock mare, ASAMA BLUE, who had won races in both the UK and NZ – we had a budget of $100k to buy him and managed to secure him for just $60k, so the “value” box was well and truly ticked.

Just 5 weeks later, another son of CIRCUS MAXIMUS, Road To Paris, won the Group One NZ Derby, this a great coup for his young Sire in delivering a Derby winner from his first crop.
“Max” as we had nicknamed our latest acquisition than had a nice paddock spell before being broken in by Dan Miller at Matamata – Dan reported at the end of his breaking in “John and Team, this horse was an absolute pleasure to handle, he was a very quick learner, has a good brain and demonstrated a very smooth action under saddle.”

“Max” has been undergoing his first stable prep at the Matamata Stables under the watchful eye of Sam Bergerson and is impressing his handlers there also – click HERE to see footage of him at the jumpouts on Thursday morning  – comments are by Assistant Trainer, Reece Trumper – as you will hear Reece say, “Max” has done everything right in his initial stable prep and is now on his way for a well deserved paddock break for a month or so, before returning for a more in depth Stable prep which should lead him into a trial in the Spring.

Still shares available 

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Guest Commentator – Des Coppins

Greetings John and Friday Flash readers

ZAFAR AND AWAY THE RUN OF THE DAY

As expected your Snitzel colt won as cosy as he liked in the two year old race at Riccarton. It takes a very special youngster  to win a stakes race on debut but in saying that the win came as no surprise to most of us. It was well documented how impressive the trials win at Avondale was in late March and you’d have to expect that the Riccarton win was simply a stepping stone to much higher honours in next season’s  three year old campaign.

He wasn’t foolproof according to rider Opie Bosson but that in some ways is good to hear because he will naturally build on the experience. When you told me ,John, how much you paid for him, jist $165k, your investment in conjunction with Mark Walker and David Ellis hit the bulls eye. I’m not a bloodstock valuer but I’d be surprised in today’s market if Zafar wasn’t worth 4 times the purchase price if not more.

I vividly  recall viewing the colt at your well received Open Day in February and he looked the part from top to toe. It’s little wonder the syndicate was a sell out in double quick time when you first advertised.Well done to all Fortuna owners involved with him.

I also understand that some of you are also tied up with arguably this season’s top two year old, Lara Antipova. What a season you are having and what’s around the corner for you all in the 1926-27 season with the pair is simply mouth watering. Good luck to you all.

MY THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK – MORE R65,R75 AND MAIDENS PLEASE!

RACING is becoming a big balancing act. While we have a rich tradition and history in the industry we love cracks continue to appear. The foal crops are down; the field sizes aren’t as big as they once were, some tracks aren’t holding up as well as they once did and for clubs trying to get bums on seats outside the major carnivals seems a never ending uphill battle.

Adding to all this is the shrinking economy and the cost of living crisis. High interest rates have constrained household spending. Businesses are facing a tough and hardened economic reality and racing is right in this thick of all this. The fuel costs are a major industry strain, too.

What should those in charge of our business  be doing right now? As most of us realise, the turnovers are the key.
We are more fortunate to today with the technology to be able to bet to the last second and it doesn’t bear thinking about what state we’d be in if the betting arm wasn’t as streamlined as it is.

Are there ways and means where we can at least steady the ship if not grow the turnovers with the cards we’ve been dealt? Of course we can!  I’ve also thought I was a half glass full sort of guy. What is available rather than what is lacking is a good way to remain positive I reckon.

Let’s start with the programming. I would be working with the NZ trainers more than ever and programme the types of racing that suits. Not enough of this happens. Sadly it’s not always happening because the programming is out of kilt.

At this time of the year the maidens and rating 65 gallopers over varying distances from 1200m to 2000m should dominate the programmes nationwide. In comparison two  year old racing should be limited. Clearly we don’t have the numbers for the youers as field sizes consistently are too low. Nor do we have sufficient numbers for open sprinters or open handicap races at this time of the year. The odd two year old race or open sprint and open handicap is okay but the majority of such events currently programmed should  replaced with further maiden, rating 65 and rating 75 events in order to satisfy all needs.

COMMENTATORS CALLS

TONY Lee will always be remembered as the caller who gave us a line at the end of one of many of his excellent calls, “ the dream burst into reality.” Of course he was referring to the magnificent stayer, Castletown when he won his third Wellington Cup in 1994.

Over the years we’ve been drawn into some magical one liners with our race callers.
Along with Tony’s epic call, how could we forget Bill Collins’s Cox Plate in 1982 when he uttered that famous line “Kingston Town can’t win” at the 500m mark at Moonee Valley. Of course, he did win!

Then there was Keith Haub at Ellerslie on June 6, 2001.
It was the Great Northern Steeples and after 6.4kms and fences an almost out of breath “Haubby” declared –
“I can’t split them it’s a deadheat” after Sir Avion and Smart Hunter went tooth and nail from the start, right to the finish. Keith was spot on. It was a deadheat!

I’m highlighting these flashbacks because I heard a call last week from Matt Hill in Victoria  as he emphasised in the running a horse by name of No No No No No! While the horse was unplaced he seemed to enjoy calling this quirky name.
Heaven knows, one of funniest calls  belongs to the “Peter Kelly of USA” Tom Durkin at the Saratoga racecourse in 2008. The horse is called Arrrrgh! Have a listen HERE
Enjoy

 MELBOURNE CUP TOUR WITH LISA ALLPRESS & ME

We would love to have you join us on the Sporting Tours Lexus Melbourne Cup week.
I’m looking forward as is my co host former multiple premiership winning jockey Lisa Allpress who was great at the helm and fully appreciated by the 70 on board last year.
exciting it’s the “add ons” and the wonderful like minded people we continuously attract gives the  a “bucket list big tick”.
Check out the flyer below and if you need further information please drop me a line dcoppins@xtra.co.nz

FROM TE RAPA

TRISTAR: did well on the track that dried out. She needs it wetter. She has weighed in her last 9 starts. She won twice in May last year on heavy 10’s at Trentham and Te Rapa.

GROCERS GIRL: she looked cramped for room inside the last 400 in the two year old. It was only her second start. She’s a tallish filly and will be a better horse in the spring but if the stable elects to go again before the campaign ends stay with her.

TISSE: he was the quickest over the last 800, 400 and 200 at Te Rapa. That was his first run for over 3 months. I’m not sure what the stable has in mind but he’s one to keep close tabs on

Some 30 of you took up the Fortuna  offer for the “free tips” last  weekend. I hope you enjoyed this exclusive  email service. I might do it again later in the year but in the meantime feel free to get in touch if you’d like to join the regulars.

Good punting!

Des Coppins
021 448 052

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