Shares for Sale in the Fortuna Racemare HAYATE

NZTR announces next step in its Jumps Racing Review
 

Matamata Friday

COURT OF APPEAL contests the maiden 1400m event – race three at 1.43 pm with Opie Bosson to ride from an outside barrier draw – resumed off a long break nine days ago on this track over 1200m finding it too short and too heavy, however she has taken big improvement from that run, gets another 200m this time and has the services of a great rider. Draw will make it tricky but if she gets luck in the running she is a definite each way chance – TAB says “Senior rider on is the key – can win this for sure” showing $6.50/$2.30 after opening at $12’s

Riccarton – Saturday

VIVACIOUS runs in the R65 1200m event –  race two at 12:53 pm with Wiremu Pinn to ride from an inside barrier – resumed this track two weeks ago, slow away but had the fastest sectionals last 800m. Does tend to be a little tardy out of the barriers, but if she can get away moderately well, she is right in this – TAB says “decent effort fresh up – looks the quinella” – showing $3.80/$1.55

Flemington – Saturday

BELLATRIX STAR contests the (Listed) Cap D’antibes Stakes over 1100m down the Flemington chute from a mid field draw – race three @1.15pm Aus time (3.15pm NZT) with Michael Dee to ride  – a Group 2 winner in NZ as a 2yo, she resumed at Caulfield 17th Aug after 6 months away from the track, beaten 3 lengths off a wide draw in a Group 3 event. A talented sprinter, she meets a very strong field here, but has taken huge improvement from her 1st up run and her training team are expecting a bold performance – set to defy her odds here. TAB says “Not bad fresh and isn’t hopeless at odds”

Matamata –

Tuesday 10th
Court Of Appeal (J Allen)  worked over 1000 metres in 1.05.3, home in 37.0.

Thursday 12th
Malborough Bay (W Pinn) worked over an easy 1000 metres in 1.09.2, home 40.3.

Cranbourne
Our Paramour (C Wilson) worked over 1200 metres at three-quarter pace in 1.28.7, home in 42.6.

No timed Fortuna trackwork this week

Shares for Sale in the Fortuna Racemare HAYATE

An opportunity has arisen for shares to be acquired in the Fortuna six year old racemare Hayate (by Maurice out of half sister to a Caulfield Cup winner) – she has a very strong pedigree – her race day form has been moderate but she has collected four wins and nine places from 28 race day starts and her last two wins have been at 1550m and 2000m  with the win at 2000m being particularly strong. Click HERE to view that race replay. She campaigned at Riccarton during her last preparation but in her only race beyond 1600m she had to carry a big weight in an amateur riders race and simply got too far back to be able to feature

She is now spelling at Te Akau Stud,  but when she resumes shortly, our plan is to get her up in trip as soon as we can because we believe that she is a genuine staying type who will appreciate getting over more ground. Interestingly enough, when she was at Riccarton, Mark and Sam introduced quite a bit of schooling over the good sized hurdles at Riccarton into her routine and she proved to be quite adept at that,  so while she will continue to pursue flat racing options during her next campaign, we plan to give her a hurdles trial in the autumn and maybe a race or two over the jumps during the jumping season just to see how she takes to it.

Recently we had some members who indicated that they would like to exit the syndicate so we went through an exercise where she was listed on Gavelhouse with a decent reserve in place – this in order to establish a market value. There was an opening bid of $5000 and no other bids on top of that, so for the purpose of those who are exiting the syndicate, value had been established at $50 for each one percent share – some of those shares have now been taken up by other syndicate members, but there are still a few left and we are now making those available to our wider ownership group.

So if you have interest in being involved in this lovely racemare on very good incoming terms, the opportunity exists to take up shares at $50 for each one percent share and $50 per month ongoing for each one percent share from the 1st of October – all you need to do participate in this is email me or alternatively call/text me on 021 921460

NZ Thoroughbreds Annual Awards Night

Sunday, the 8th of September saw the usual evening of glitz and glamour at the annual New Zealand Thoroughbreds Horse of the Year event – this year held at Mystery Creek near Hamilton.  The  Fortuna Filly Bellatrix Star was one of four nominations for the Two Year Old of the Year award and while she did not win it (Velocious was the recipient), it was a great thrill for the Syndicate Members to have their Filly nominated. John and Jessica attended the event along with Syndicate Members Mike and Darryean Glendinning and John and Lynn Nixon

Jockeys’ Premiership – sponsored by OnTrack: Warren Kennedy.

Trainers’ Premiership – sponsored by OnTrack: Mark Walker & Sam Bergerson.

Apprentice Jockeys’ Premiership – sponsored by OnTrack: Lily Sutherland.

Owners’ Premiership – sponsored by OnTrack: Brendan & Jo Lindsay.

Newcomer to Training – sponsored by gavelhouse.com: Sam Mynott.

LOVERACING.NZ Award for Contribution to Media, Digital & Content: Trackside Premier. Other finalists: Auckland Thoroughbred Racing, Blow Up! Broadcasting, SENZ’s The Mail Run.

NZB Filly of the Year: Molly Bloom.

Champion Two-Year-Old – sponsored by Race Images NZ: Velocious 52. Other finalists: Captured By Love (1), Move To Strike (1), Bellatrix Star.

Champion Three-Year-Old – sponsored by TAB NZ: Orchestral (54). Other finalists: Crocetti (2), Antrim Coast, Molly Bloom, Pulchritudinous, Quintessa.

Champion Sprinter-Miler (up to 1600m) – sponsored by RACEFORM: Imperatriz (50).Other finalists: Bonny Lass (3), Desert Lightning, La Crique.

Champion Middle Distance Horse (1601m-2200m) – sponsored by Happy Hire: Legarto (33). Other finalists: Campionessa (20), El Vencedor (2), Ladies Man.

Champion Stayer (2201m & further) – sponsored by Entain Australia and New Zealand: Orchestral (31). Other finalists: Mahrajaan (24), Mary Louise (1), Asterix, Mark Twain.

Champion Jumper – sponsored by Sandfield: West Coast (46). Other finalists: The Cossack (7), Berry The Cash (3), Nedwin.

Jockey of the Year – sponsored by betcha: Warren Kennedy (34) Other finalists: Opie Bosson (15), Michael McNab (1), Sam Spratt (1), Joe Doyle, Craig Grylls.

Jumps Jockey of the Year – sponsored by New Zealand Equine Academy: Portia Matthews (29). Other finalists: Shaun Fannin (26), Hamish McNeill.

Trainer of the Year – sponsored by Dunstan Horsefeeds: Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson partnership (49). Other finalist: Robbie Patterson (5).

Owner of the Year – sponsored by TAB: Denise Bassett and John Elstob (17). Other finalists: Brendan & Jo Lindsay (12), Daniel Nakhle (7), Eddie Bourke (4), Waikato Stud (4), Gerry Harvey (2), Ben Kwok (2), Colin & Helen Litt (1), Kelvin & Vanessa Tyler (1), Barneswood Farm, The Oaks Stud.

NZ Stablehand of the Year – sponsored by Saddlery Warehouse, Cambridge & Tauranga: Joanne Pearson (employed by Lisa Latta, Awapuni Central). Other finalists: Jonathon Richardson (Northern), Lexi Porteous (Southern).

NZTR Award for Outstanding Contribution to Racing: Dawn and Peter Williams.

NZTR Award for Outstanding Global Achievement: Imperatriz

SENZ Horse of the Year: Imperatriz (41) Also: Orchestral (9), Legarto (1).

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NZTR announces next step in its Jumps Racing Review
See below the release from NZTR
With the submission date now closed, New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing (NZTR) would like to provide an update on the next steps of the Future of NZ Jumps Racing consultation process. In total, 240 submissions were received with representation across all areas of the racing industry.

“The volume of submissions that we received is testament to the passion of those involved in the racing industry and is further proof of the need for immediate action,” NZTR chief executive Bruce Sharrock said.

While there were differing views, 90 percent of the submissions agreed that the status quo was no longer acceptable.

“In early August we asked for the industry to have their say, and they delivered with well thought out ideas and responses to support the next stage of our process in this important decision,” Sharrock said.

Submissions ranged from owners, trainers, breeders and jockeys and even included racing fans and punters.

“Today, a recommendation panel has been announced that will be responsible in reviewing the current state and putting forward a recommendation to the NZTR Board in October aligned to a decision-making framework,” Sharrock said.

The independent panel is comprised of those with broad industry knowledge and experience. NZTR chief operating officer Darin Balcombe has been appointed Chair, and will be supported by Mark Chitty, Jessica Brosnan, Regan Donnison, Brad Taylor and Tim Mills.

To ensure integrity and robustness of the process Alan Galbraith KC will provide legal overview and endorsement of the decision-making framework.

John comments “as one who presented a strongly worded submission to NZTR supporting the continuation of jump racing, it was pleasing to see that an independent panel has been appointed to consider the issues and make recommendation to the board as to an ongoing plan and I have a good degree of confidence (hopefully not misplaced) that some positive recommendations will come out of this review and be implemented by the full NZTR board”

Racing Journalist “The Optimist” had published a strongly worded article (note this was published ahead of the Independent Panel announcement) – you can read his article below – as always The Optimist pulls no punches!!!

NZTR will harm the thoroughbred industry by banning jump racing

by Brian de Lore
Published 7 September 2024

If New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing CEO Bruce Sharrock goes ahead with his plan to ‘kill off’ hurdle and steeplechase racing in New Zealand, he will inflict immeasurable harm upon the thoroughbred industry. The consultation paper Sharrock released on August 5 to try and soften you up and convince you that jumping needs to go is overwhelmingly slanted against jumping and out of context with the entire thoroughbred industry.

The document is reminiscent of Mark Twain’s saying: “There are three kinds of lies: lies, damn lies, and statistics.” All Sharrock has done with his paper is inappropriately depict a series of graph statistics to give jumping racing a punch below the belt.

Any halfwit could take all the statistics compiled on New Zealand flat racing’s demise over the past 25 years and make a case to close it down. Mark Twain would agree with me on that.

Entain arrived 15 months ago to save New Zealand racing. And it has saved it; stakes went up 25 percent. Had they not partnered with TAB NZ at that time, stakes would have undergone a 20 percent reduction – a differential of 47 percent on what we race for this season.

West Coast led in by part-owner Henry Williamson after winning his third Grand National

The stakes are available to grow jumping racing in the winter months, and this past winter’s exciting racing has come in hurdle and steeplechase events, not the flat horses. The two star horses of the winter, The Cossack, winner of the Waikato and Wellington Steeplechases at his past two starts, and West Coast, winner of the Koral and Grand National Steeplechases at his past two

Nothing on the flat came near these four races for exciting racing, especially in the 18 race meetings on the poly tracks at Cambridge, Awapuni and Riccarton in June, July and August, which more often than not threw up poor quality horses in small fields.

The synthetic tracks have their place in the winter months; some trainers like them, and some don’t. But racing’s future survival will not depend on mediocrity – and what those tracks deliver is precisely that. Racing needs the stars to excite racing people – Imperatriz, Orchestral, Crocetti, The Cossack, West Coast, etc.

We all know there’s a problem with jockey numbers, but this has arisen due to an inactive NZTR administration over many years. They have done nothing to address the jockey issue except shrink the number of Highweight races from almost one each race meeting to a handful for the year, thus disincentivising the jumping jockeys from staying in the game or attracting new ones from overseas.

Trainer John Wheeler summed it up succinctly when he wrote in his submission: “Three years ago, at a meeting in Hawkes Bay attended by jumping enthusiasts and two NZTR representatives, we addressed the shortage of riders. We were assured that NZTR would take action, but nothing has been done.”

John Wheeler advertised for jockeys in UK and Ireland

John continued: “Personally, I took the initiative to advertise in the UK and Ireland for jump riders, resulting in interest from Joshua Parker and Bradley Roberts, though he, unfortunately, returned home soon after arriving.”

Daniel Nakhle also got proactive about the shortage of jockeys and can take the credit for bringing in our current champion jockey of 2023-24, Warren Kennedy. Why should it be left to owners and trainers to bring jockeys into the country, which benefits the whole industry?

NZTR has simply become the registrar of thoroughbred births, deaths and marriages with a strong focus on animal welfare, health & safety and rehoming – commendable stuff, but it won’t be enough to save us. Where’s the vision, the creativity, and addressing the issues at the coalface of racing, such as the absence of jockeys?

Over 100 submissions have reputedly been lodged at NZTR this week in response to the Sharrock consultation paper. John Wheeler is as experienced as anyone currently in racing, and it’s worth quoting more of his submission.

John Wheeler: NZTR presented manipulated figures

John said: ”NZTR’s communication on this issue, such as racing statistics, seems designed to undermine jumps racing by presenting manipulated figures that cast the sector in a negative light, without highlighting any positives.

“Despite the lack of support, the jump racing sector has not only survived but thrived. This season has seen strong fields, increased jumpers, more young people involved, and well-attended jump racing events, which is promising for the future. It’s important to remember that many of New Zealand and Australia’s best trainers of staff have come from a jumper or amateur rider background.”

Former journalist and NZTR employee Mary Burgess has submitted a detailed submission. It’s too long to reproduce here, but here’s an excerpt from her post on Facebook this week:

“Last season – 2023-24 – 152 jumpers lined up in 73 jumps races, but just 36 of those horses restricted themselves to jumps races. The other 116 raced 508 times on the flat, an average 4.3 starts each. Add to that their 566 starts in either hurdle or steeplechase races and overall, our “jumpers” averaged 7.06 starts each.

“If you applied the average per horse turnover figure from the 2022-23 NZTR Annual Report (the 2023-24 one not yet available online) then that’s around $17.7m they contribute to the total NZ Turnover.

“How about another stat which might surprise you – 19.83% of our jumpers (23 in total) actually raced on the Awapuni or Cambridge synthetic tracks.

“So, let’s agree that jumpers aren’t just jumpers, and NZTR needs to consider the impact they have across the season.

Mary Burgess: Getting rid of jumpers creates a welfare issue

“To get rid of jumping would be to create a welfare issue with these 152 horses, and the many, many, many more currently going through the process to get their jumping tickets, tipped out of racing and flooding the rehoming market.”

Mary makes an excellent point about the crossover of jumping horses that race on the flat. Getting rid of jumpers will also get rid of people. NZTR needs a plan to retain all its current supporters and find new ones – not downsize and contract the industry.

One of the Sharrock document stats depicts the field size argument. Below the graph, the caption says: “Average field size in jumps races has stayed in a range between 8 and the low 9s (compared to flat size average of 10.54).”

It’s a poor argument when you look at today’s Hastings races. The listed Sir Colin Meads Trophy for three-year-olds is worth $90,000 but has only eight acceptors, and the Group Three Gold Trail Stakes worth $120,000 has only ten acceptors. Since the year 2000, NZTR has reduced the number of races programmed annually from around 3000 to 2300 to keep flat racing field sizes above 10.

New Zealand has 28 hunt clubs, of which 18 once staged race days. Today, only two clubs are still involved, the Pakuranga Hunt and the Rotorua-Bay of Plenty Hunt. Can the hunt clubs be reengaged? Historically, hunting, point-to-point racing, hurdling, and steeplechasing had a strong connection and crossover of participants, but over the years, they appear to have drifted apart.

Finally, NZTR has reportedly received over 100 submissions in response to the Sharrock consultation document on jumping. What are the chances of all the board at NZTR reading all the submissions and taking all the arguments into account, or is this process simply an exercise of going through the motions?

ANGELS WINGS  contests the R65 1200m – Race 2 @1.04 pm  – Ashwin Goindasamy  to ride from Barrier 6. Narrowly beaten this course and trip 7th August. Racing in very good form and will be right in it again at the finish – TAB says “Top tier must in this field”- Showing Fixed Odds of $4.20/$1.65

MITRE PEAK races in the  Rating 75 event over 1400m – Race 6 @ 3.25pm, with Champion Apprentice, Lily Sutherland, to ride from Barrier 9. Has won two of her last three starts on this track in 3yo company and has since won a trial easily at Ashburton since – up in grade here and will need a touch of luck from the draw – improving all the time and is a good each way chance here, TAB says “both her wins have come here and the worst she has run on the track is fourth – huge chance”  – Showing Fixed Odds of $5/$1.75

Hawera – Sunday

KHAFEEF contests the Maiden Steeples over 3900m – Race 3 @ 12.33pm – Joshua Parker to ride. Had the field shot to bits as they turned for home at Rotorua last Sunday, only to get run down in the last stride – ready to make amends this week –TAB says “Racing well – has strong claims” – No Odds posted yet, but will be short

Windsor (UK) Sunday (NZT)

DAIDALOS resumes off a long  break in the Class 6 3yo Handicap event over 2300m – Race 6 @ 7.45pm UK time (6.45am Sunday NZT) with George Wood  to ride  – has been ordinary in his three starts to date, but has had treatment for a wind issue and has been working well  – needs to be taken on trust –  showing 33-1 with UK Bookies

Ballarat – Victoria – Sunday

LEADERBOARD aims for the stars in Australia’s most prestigious jumping race, the Grand National Steeples over 4500m for A$400k in Stakes – Victoria’s Champion Jumps jockey, Aaron Kuru, sticks – has been in grand form – 3rd last start in the Grand National Hurdles three weeks ago, gets back to Steeples here with 300m more to run and the likelihood of a wet track – very strong field as you would expect, but Mark Walker has him in super condition and he is ready to run the race of his life in this – TAB says “capable of a bold showing here” –  Showing Fixed Odds of $9.50/2.35 (3rd fave – Stern Idol is $1.60)

Matamata Trackwork – Fortuna runners

Matamata – Tuesday 20th

Star Shadow (T Melvin) worked over 800 metres at three-quarter pace in 57.7, home in 42.7 on the all weather
Vivacious (N Parmar) worked over an easy 800 metres in 55.9, home in 41.8 on the course proper

Riccarton Synthetic

Mitre Peak (A Goindasamy) worked over 1100 metres in 1.15.4, home in 37.2.

Angels Wings (B Dew) worked over 1000 metres in 1.04.5, home in 36.7.

Cranbourne – Turf

Leaderboard (L Winks) worked his first round over 1200 metres in 1.22.7, home in 37.4. He worked a second round over 1200 metres  in 1.23.4, home in 36.8.

Our Paramour (C Wilson) worked over 1000 metres in 1.08.4, home in 37.6

Singapore Trackwork 

No timed Fortuna trackwork this week

 OTHER NEWS

LEADERBOARD seeks Jumping Glory in the A$400k Grand National Steeples at Ballarat Sunday 25th September

The Fortuna syndicated/ Mark Walker trained veteran 10-year-old Galloper Leaderboard (Street Cry – Flower Fairy), seeks to add another significant scalp to his CV when he contests the time honoured Grand National Steeplechase over 4500 m at Ballarat this coming Sunday. Leaderboard, the winner of the Wellington Cup in 2023 and the NZ St Leger in 2022, has fashioned an exemplary record across the Tasman in his first full season of jumps racing, with six starts over the fences producing two wins (one hurdles, one steeples), two seconds and two thirds, racing on most occasions in the very best of company, finishing 2nd in the Australian Hurdles at Sandown in June and three weeks ago finishing 3rd in the Grand National Hurdles at the same venue. Now a very stern challenge presents itself for Leaderboard this coming Sunday as he takes on the very best jumpers in Australia, including the mighty Stern Idol, the winner of 10 of his 19 races over the jumps.

Trainer Mark Walker, who has been at the Te Akau Racing Cranbourne base this week overseeing Leaderboard’s preparation, has no doubts that his charge is well and truly ready for the task. He says “I’ve just watched Leaderboard come back in from working over a mile this morning(Thursday). Everything has gone right this preparation, his work has been fantastic, he is in tiptop physical condition, trotting out 100% sound, eating his head off, he has Victoria’s champion jumps jockey, Aaron Kuru, aboard, he gets to race off the minimum, so we are very pleased – and it looks like he is going to get track conditions on Sunday to suit – we can’t wait”

Fortuna Director, John Galvin, who will be attending Ballarat this Sunday along with Jessica Galvin and six syndicate Members is fulsome in his praise of what Leaderboard has achieved this season. “I’ve had the good fortune to attend four of Leaderboard’s races in Victoria this season and the jumping scene over there is amazing to experience firsthand. There are so many good quality jumpers, some really dedicated trainers and a great ownership base that really love their jumping events and so it’s been a privilege to not only experience that, but also to witness Leaderboard competing with distinction – it certainly won’t be easy on Sunday but Mark Walker, with great assistance from Assistant Trainer Ben Gleeson, has conducted a magnificent preparation on our horse and we are expecting him to run extremely well“

Leaderboard is booked to fly home to New Zealand on 28th of August in order to have a good late spring/early summer spell at Te Akau Stud, but along the way, subject to him coming through Sunday’s race in good order, he will look to contest the Great Northern Steeple at Te Rapa on Sunday 15th of September

Guest Selector – Des Coppins

Gee, Des has been having a great run of success in recent weeks with his full tipping service, with a host of winners tipped out, some at pretty good odds also and I have had some nice feedback from Fortuna clients who are subscribers to his punting service – Des can be contacted @ dcoppins@xtra.co.nz if you would like to get detail on how to subscribe

Here is what Des has to say this week

Hi John and the Fortuna Team

After watching Berry the Cash and West Coast carry on their winning way in the Nationals last week it’s hard not to realise that jumps racing is a captivating time honoured pursuit that forms a vital part of NZ racing’s rich heritage. We should never forget this in light of what both equine heroes last Saturday at Riccarton gave us and what The Cossack did at Trentham a month earlier on the Figure 8.

While on and off course punters may often shy away from betting regularly on decent  jumps races and are more likely to have a dabble on the flat races the awareness these jumps stars bring to the race day may well motivate punters to bet even more on the undercard. A bit of reverse psychology you might say.

In reality here’s a good example that may back up that theory. A coach load of punters came to Trentham at the recent winter meeting to watch The Cossack race. They are slightly less than regular punters who enjoy a day out at Trentham around carnival time. They played the exotics on both races but were more open and betting freely with the undercard. Two of the group told me they probably wouldn’t have bothered with the day if the jumps racing – Wellington Hurdles/ Wellington Steeples  and especially The Cossack  wasn’t  there!

Let’s get to this Saturday.

There are some nice horses resuming at Ruakaka on Saturday where the track reading should be in the soft 5-6 range but the weather looks “iffy” at New Plymouth and it’ll be heavy  I’d imagine if the weather forecasters are close to the mark.
I’ll give you three horses at Ruakaka to have a slight nibble on but understand that while all three are capable of paying a dividend on Saturday they’ll reward you in due course.
In race 6 I liked the way When Stars Align trialled at Te Rapa.
He hit the front without too much stress and held his ground to the line to finish second to Karaka Millions star, Velocious.
He looked the part last season and time was always going to be his friend.
He’s an early Guineas type.

Also keep a close watch on The Odyssey and Nereus in race 5.
Nereus was in hot form over the last 12 months, especially in the summer. He won 4 times in 6 starts and coincidentally ran second to The Odyssey in the inaugural $350,000 Remutaka Classic  at Trentham over the Cup carnival.
Connections of both will be looking for early form and both hold a nomination for the Livamol Classic on October 12.
Good punting!

Des

Headline NewsSummer Thoroughbred Stakes Boost – an additional $2.2m across 13 Group One Races and a further $2.185m over selected Group 2, Group 3 and other feature races

Race Day abandonments – time for a programming rethink?

Fortuna has two runners over the weekend, both on Sunday, one at Waverley and one in Singapore Waverley

KHAFEEF contests the Open Hurdles 3000m event – Race 3 @ 11.48pm with Stephan Karnicnik to ride. 3rd in the Steeples at Wanganui 9th May, he then fibrillated in a similar race at Hawera 19th May – freshened he then resumed on the Awapuni synthetic 21 June and is now resuming over the jumps – is a very capable jumper but needs to be taken on trust here   – TAB says “Happy to avoid” – No Odds posted yet

Singapore

RHETT BUTLER races in the Class 5 1400m Turf event – Race 1 @ 12.30pm Sing time (4.30pm NZT) with Daren Danis, claiming 1kg, to ride from Barrier 4 – a brilliant winner at his Singapore debut April 2023, his form has been very ordinary since and would need to lift to feature here – TAB says “Not on recent form” –  No Odds posted yet

Matamata Trackwork – Fortuna runners

Thursday 25th July

Vivacious (C Barnes) worked over an easy 800 metres in 55.1, home in 39.6.

Singapore Trackwork 

Saturday 20th July
ROCKY(ASLAM)800/600-39; ELLIOT NESS(AWAH)800/600-38;  RHETT BUTLER(ASLAM)1000/600-38;

Tuesday 23rd July

ROCKY(ASLAM)1000/600-39; ELLIOT NESS(AWAH)1000/600-38;