Friday Flash – 13th September 2024

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  “Leaderboard” – Warrnambool Steeples Victory –  23rd June 2024

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Headline News

Shares for Sale in the Fortuna Racemare HAYATE

NZ Thoroughbreds Annual Awards Night

NZTR announces next step in its Jumps Racing Review
 

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Fortuna has three runners Friday and Saturday

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”

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Matamata Trackwork – Fortuna runners

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.

Singapore Trackwork 

No timed Fortuna trackwork this week

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 OTHER NEWS

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

HAYATE

                                                                                HAYATE
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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

                                                    Jessica and John at the Awards evening
Our good friends at Te Akau Racing featured strongly again this year with firstly, Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson taking out the Trainers Premiership award as well as the Trainer of the Year award – obviously Mark is an old hand at winning training premierships but what a thrill for Sam in his very first year of being a licensed Trainer to be a Premiership winner – well done Sam

Te Akau superstar Racemare (now retired), Imperatriz, featured strongly, taking out three Awards, Sprinter of the Year and Horse of the Year as well as the NZTR Award for Outstanding Global Achievement

And Te Akau stalwarts John Elstob and Denise Bassett won the Owner of the Year Awards

Here is the full Awards list below

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 after winning his third consecutive Grand National at Riccarton

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.

Three of the greats in NZ jumping history – Eiffel Tower, Teak and Kumai

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.

The Christchurch Hunt Club with their hounds in the birdcage at Riccarton on Grand National Day.

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?

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Guest Selector – Des Coppins

Des certainly delivered for us in style last week and, amazingly, his two best bets of the day, in winning, brought up a run of six successive “best bets” being successful

Here is what Des has to say this week

Greetings John and the Fortuna team

Irrespective of how your punting went last weekend wasn’t it great to see racing return to almost perfect footing at both Ruakaka and Hastings. On the punting front we did well and thanks to our three horses previewed as genuine chances, Witz End and Customised, both winning and one of the biggest certainties beaten on the day, Who Knows (3rd), the profit margin was respectable.
I doubt if true spring-like conditions will be on offer at New Plymouth on Saturday and in all honesty we should be running on a heavy track while, with rain forecast on Friday in Christchurch, I’m anticipating a track reading in the vicinity of an 8 to the better side of 10 at Riccarton.

These early selections are based on such track surfaces.

My solo pick for New Plymouth is Bozo in race 2.
She’s getting ready for the NZ Cup and a peak performance isn’t far away.
While she’s not 100 percent suited to very heavy stuff she’s shown versatility in track variations all throughout her career.
She’s tough as teak.
And she can certainly stay as evidenced by her brave 4th in last seasons NZ Oaks when she was the second quickest to the line from the top of the straight on a soft track.
I liked her run last time where it had a next up look about it  and at this stage of her preparation the step up in distance to 1800m looks perfect; as does the drop in weight from 55kgs to 53kgs.
Here’s a thought for a small nibble, Bozo at $64 and  $16 for the Futures market on the NZ Cup.!

At Riccarton I feel the Te Akau team has the fire power to land three, maybe four winners. Opie, too, will be to the fore but it’ll be one of the “secondary” jockeys to the stable, Wiremu Pinn, who I consider has a winning chance with Alminette in the last race. Both her runs this term on the synthetic have been solid but she’s not a one trick pony when it comes to racing surfaces. She likes the grass just as much and we shouldn’t forget that she’s been placed twice in black type company at Riccarton on the grass.
She will get back but watch her unwind as she often does and the best part of her racing is always over the latter part of the race.
For my third suggested bet let’s be greedy by taking a 3 horse multi, Age of Discovery, race one ( trials form, brilliant); When Stars Align, race two ( definite improver after first up run) and Retail Therapy, race four ( sensational final sectionals last time).

At the odds of all 3 winning at better than 12 to one a “tenner” spent just might work in our favour.
Fingers crossed!

Good punting folks!

Des