Fortuna has five runners next three days – three in NZ – one in Victoria and one in Singapore
Woodville – Friday
RAGAMUFFIN contests the R60 1400m event – Race 6 @ 3.41pm and will be ridden by Joe Doyle from a mid field draw from his first up outing in the hands of his new trainer, Robbie Patterson – produced a very good performance second up at Matamata last start finishing second in R65 grade – back to R60 here – strong work during the week – up to 1400 and this race looks tailor made for him @ $5/$2 fixed odds
Otaki – Saturday
STAR SHADOW makes her race day debut in the 2yo 1300m event – Race 2 @ 3.41pm and will be ridden by Joe Doyle from the ace draw in a five horse field – has not put a foot wrong in her preparation – has had five trials to prepare – with a very strong performance at her most recent – right in this @$2.30 Fixed Odds
MALBOROUGH BAY races in the R65 1400 event – Race 8 @5.09pm and will be ridden by Jess Allen, claiming 3kgs, from a widish draw – was very good 2nd up at Matamata this class and trip 27th March on a Heavy 9 track carrying 60kgs – can go one better here @ $10/$3.30 Fixed Odds
Pakenham (Victoria) – Sunday
LEADERBOARD makes his Victorian debut in the Maiden Hurdles over 3200m at Pakenham – Race 2 @ 12.55pm Aus time (2.55pm NZT) – Aaron Kuru to ride in a field of nine runners – he has not had a run over hurdles since June of last year – he ran well but was hampered by a runner that fell – he is a very confident jumper and trialed well at Yarra Valley recently over 3200m – expecting bold run – watch the market – online bookmaker Neds says “will take beating”
Singapore – Saturday
RHETT BUTLER is in the Class 5 1200m Poly event – Race 1 @ 12.30pm (4.30 NZT) – eight time Champion Jocker in Macau, Luis Corrales, will ride from Barrier 2 – won brilliantly on debut late April 2023, but has not greeted the judge since – Poly will suite, blinkers go on and Corrales is a strong rider – take on trust but could be at good odds
Here is what the tipsters at the STC have to say about this race
1st Pick: WINDFALL (3)
Put in a great performance last start when dropping down in class finishing second behind Summer Wind. He has good stats on the Poly track and looks like a nice 3yo for the in-form trainer Ricardo Le Grange. Carlos Henrique gets the ride from a perfect draw.
2nd Pick: BENBO (4)
He has mixed form in class 5 and can be hit or miss. Ran well three starts back behind Ciango over 1200m on the turf and has won on the Poly track in the past. Nunes is aboard which is a plus and can play apart in this.
3rd Pick: LIM’S ZOOM (8)
He has run well in this grade but keeps battling for a veteran. Ran a much-improved race last start behind Otahuhu and Lerner is aboard. Wide draw doesn’t help his chances.
4th Pick: RHETT BUTLER (9)
He could be a sneaky chance considering the weaker class 5 field. He is yet to produce a solid performance but has continued to mature with each run. Can surprise. Draws well.
Matamata Trackwork – Fortuna runners
Tuesday 9th April
Star Shadow (N Parmar) galloped over 1000 metres in 1.05.5, las 600 in 37.1.
Thursday 11th April
Malborough Bay (A Goindasamy) galloped over an easy 1000 metres in 1.09.5, home in 38.6.
Star Shadow (N Parmar) aworked at three quarter pace over 1000 metres in 1.14.7, final 600 in 44.9.
Singapore Trackwork
Saturday 6th April
RHETT BUTLER(ASLWM)800/600-36
OTHER NEWS
Winx Yearling Filly sells for A$10m
It was pure theatre at the Riverside complex at the Inglis Easter sale during the week when the Yearling Filly by Pierro out of Winx sold for a record breaking and mind-boggling A$10 million – knocked down to Debbie Kepitis, who is a part owner of Winx and her progeny. At first blush paying 10 million for a yearling Filly makes no economic sense but there were special circumstances here with the key points being as follows.
- Winx won 25 Group One races and over A$26m in Stakes – she had a small ownership group with Debbie Kepitis having a 33% share
- Debbie is a daughter of the late Bob Ingham who with his late brother Jack, became billionaires via their Ingham Chicken business and during the 80’s and 90’s created a thoroughbred empire as well
- Debbie before the sale said she had not made her mind up to buy the Filly however after she took into consideration her family history and the fact that Winx was a much loved horse she became determined in the days ahead of the Sale to keep this Filly in Australia
- Additional background to that that was that a well known American, John Stewart, who has built a significant Thoroughbred Empire in the USA and has now spread his tentacles into Australia, had indicated that he would be endeavouring to get this Filly
- And so it proved with Stewart going head to head with Debbie during the sale and bidding up to A$9 million before it was knocked down to Debbie for A$10 million
- Of course given that Debbie owns a third of the Filly anyway, the net cost to her was A$6.66 million, certainly not an insignificant sum, however I’m sure that Ms capitis is not short of a quid given her family background and notable that her homebred 3yo Riff Rocket had on the previous Saturday wne the Australian Derby at Randwick, this after taking out the Victorian Derby in November and has now won A$3.5m on the race track
- So the summarise it was definitely a case of the heart coming before the head but isn’t that the great thing about the racing industry and the individuals were they like who have a strong love of the thoroughbred
- The Filly will be trained by Chris Waller
Finally the news of the sale was featured in mainstream media right across Australia and New Zealand and also global media as well so there was certainly a lot of Bible focused on racing during this past week
Champion Te Akau Mare, Imperatriz, has been retired
And hot on the heels of the Winx news was the shock announcement yesterday that the mighty Imperatriz has been retired from racing. She had returned to New Zealand for a paddock spell but after giving her a Vet examination on her return, the team at Te Akau decided that she should be retired and offered for sale at an upcoming broodmare sale. Here are comments from David Ellis.“Te Akau always puts the well-being of our horses first. The indications are that another high-level racing preparation would not be in her best interests, so whilst sad, the decision is very straightforward. Her welfare is our top priority, and she will retire a happy and sound horse.”
Imperatriz won 19 of her 27 starts, including 10 of 13 since 1 January last year, she won 10 Group Ones in her career, most of those in Australia and collected nearly NZ$7.6 million in prize money for her Owners – at retirement she was rated the 2nd best horse in the world behind Hong Kong galloper Golden Sixty
