Friday Flash 12th February

Fortuna has one runner in NZ and four runners in Singapore this Saturday 13thFebruary but one is Ballot 1 and needs a scratching to get a start

NZ

Melody Belle is poised on the edge of history as she attempts to win the Herbie Dyke Stakes (Group One  – 2000m  – $400,000) – Race 8 at Te Rapa – currently  the joint holder of the record for New Zealand trained horses for  Group One wins (13) along with Sunline, if Melody Belle could win on Saturday she would go to 14 G1 wins and be the sole holder of the record. Drawn barrier 8 in a field of 10 runners with Opie Bosson to ride, she is a very short priced fixed odds favourite with the TAB @1.45. She is the highest rated horse in the field in this weight for age event and looks to be very hard to beat

Singapore

Marcus Antonius is in the Open Maiden race 1600m Turf  (race 2) – the three-year-old son of Sepoy has been somewhat of an enigma with his racing in Singapore to date showing really good efforts in track work but being rather ordinary on race day – he was definitely better at his previous start and now gets up on trip to 1600m – Hakim to ride claiming 3kgs – hard to be confident about his chances but the step up in trip will be of benefit to him

Entertainer races in the class 4 1100 event on the Poly (Race 3) – this striking son of Zoustar is a last start winner at maiden level and has a solid record in Singapore date from his five starts there – he does step up in grade in this race in quite a strong field – will be ridden by star apprentice K Kakim who claims 3kg  – this won’t be easy, but with a reasonable draw and with only 49 kg to carry, he can certainly make his showing here and does represent a good place chance\

Here is how the Singapore Turf Club tipsters see this race;

1st Pick: WINNING HOBBY (5)

Ignore last two starts when he was caught wide and could not quite put in inside the last 400m. Has drawn an alley and will be a bigger threat this time.

2nd Pick: HEADHUNTER (1)

Loomed last start but then plodded on for sixth. Will appreciate three-kilo claim. Drawn awkwardly. Each-way claims in this easier affair.

3rd Pick: RADIANT SUCCESS (3)

Badly interfered at start on debut. Made up some late ground. Worth some thought second-up.

4th Pick: ENTERTAINER (8)

Scored nice win at fifth start. Rises in class. Not out of this. Can have a say.

Cassius contests the Maiden 1200 event race on the Poly (Race 5)  – another one who has been quite disappointing in his Singapore starts to date –  will be ridden by Troy See claiming 1kg from barrier 6 – gets the blinkers on this time but needs to show some significant improvement in order to feature

Federation was very strong in winning the Class 4 1200 last Sunday and is on a quick backup in this Class 3 1200m  event on the Turf (Race 7) – a 5 win horse in Singapore, he goes up in grade here,  has won in class three before but does need a scratching to get a start – will jump from barrier seven if he does so and will carry 51.5 kg courtesy of the claim from rider Jerlyn Seow –  can make his presence felt if he gets a start

Fortuna trackwork this week – Matamata

Tuesday 9th February

 Rhapsody In Blue (M Roustoby) galloped over an easy 800 metres in 55.2, home in 40.5.

Melody Belle (O Bosson) galloped over 1200 metres in 1.15.9, last 600 in 36.5.

Polaris (O Bosson) galloped over an easy 600 metres in 41.

Thursday 11th February

Navalha (R Khan) worked nicely at three quarter pace over 1000 metres in 1.14.7.

Melody Belle (O Bosson) looked good galloping over an easy 1200 metres in 1.25, last 600 in 42.

OTHER NEWS

Shares still available in our latest Australian bred “tried horse” the Two Year Old MOHAWK – Singapore bound, he is agisting in NSW ahead of his departure for Singapore late February – $3100 for a 2.5% share –

Click HERE to read more

MOHAWK