Friday Flash 15th April
Headline News;
SOPRANO SUPREME goes back to back at Rotorua giving Fortuna Racing its 16th win for 2022 – 9 in NZ, 6 in Singapore and 1 in Aus
SOPRANO SUPREME to campaign at Queensland Carnival
Fortuna has a busy weekend with four runners in New Zealand and three in Singapore
New Zealand – Saturday 16th
KHAFEEF races at Hastings – he contests the Rating 74 2500m event – the Poverty Bay Cup – Race 5 at 2.47pm – Apprentice Temyia Taiaroa will ride claiming 2kgs will ride. Two lead up runs over sprint trips have prepared him for this race – wet track won’t bother him – he is very fit – query on the big step in distance, but is proven at this sort of trip – Good place chance
LEADERBOARD will race in the Hawkes Bay Cup (Listed) – Race 7 at 4.03pm and will be ridden by Lisa Allpress. An impressive last start winner at Trentham in the NZ St Leger (2600m) he meets a higher grade of runners here, but has not put a foot wrong since his victory. A genuine staying type who loves to get his toe in the ground and will certainly appreciate the soft track conditions – is right in this and represents a strong each way chance
RAGAMUFFIN contests the 3yo Set Weights and Penalties 1200m event – Race 6 at 3.04pm – this talented 3yo Gelding has carried all before him last two starts with good wins at Hastings and Matamata. Up to Saturday company here and this 3yo event will test him, but successful rider last two starts, Te Akau Apprentice, Parmar Singh, claiming 4kgs, rides again from barrier 2. Not many can win 3 in a row coming through the grades, but “Harry” is as game as they come – can feature in the prizemoney here
NAVALHA races at Te Rapa in the Rating 65 1400m event – Race 9 at 4.52pm and will be ridden by Opie Bosson from Barrier 6 – A strong 2nd placing this trip in R74 Grade at Avondale 2nd April is good form for this race – inclined to be tardy away, but down in grade and if Opie can get him away well, he will be right in the thick of this at the finish
Singapore – Sunday 17th
OLYMPIA races in the Class 5 1100 Polytrack – Race 6 @ 6.30pm (NZT) – Ronnie Stewart retains the mount from a good draw. Still a Maiden, but running consistently in the money – has top weight to carry here but has found Division 2 – can take this out
Here is what the Singapore Turf Club tipsters have to say about this race;
1st Pick: OLYMPIA (1)
Has been in the frame three of his last four attempts. Wouldn’t shock me to see him jump in this field at a very short quote. Looks the one on paper.
2nd Pick: DECRETO (4)
Rarely puts it all together but is a six-time winner in Singapore and is third up this weekend, could improve here.
3rd Pick: HIGH LIMIT (6)
Out of form but has a light wright this weekend in his third run since the blinkers were reapplied.
4th Pick: SAMURAI EXPRESS (2)
Last start was wide without cover and as a result, raced very keen and never got an opportunity to put his best foot forward. Strikes his easiest contest so far this year and he should be beating quite a few of these home.
ENTERTAINER contests the Kranji A Stakes 1200 Polytrack – Race 10 @ 8.30pm NZT – Singapore 2021 Champion rider K Hakim, claiming 1kg, takes the mount. A seven time winner, all at 1100m trips, in Singapore, he meets elite company here at a trip he has never won at. Has a featherweight to carry and gets the ace draw – will need to lift to feature here, but a clever ride could see him run in the money
KING ARTHUR races in the Class 3 1100 Polytrack – Race 11 @ 9pm NZT – Hakim in the saddle – the winner of 5 racers since Oct 2021, including 4 in a row, he was slightly disappointing last start when running 4th – back to 1100, ace draw and a top rider aboard, he can redeem himself here
Here is what the Singapore Turf Club tipsters have to say about this race;
1st Pick: ARARAT LADY (3)
Classy mare who races well at this level and distance. We haven’t seen her win since the middle of last season but has caught the eye in her last runs and today could be her day.
2nd Pick: KING ARTHUR (1)
Arrives in this event carrying topweight and has had a profitable season under the Logan banner. With a comfortable run he will be there in the finish.
3rd Pick: SKY EYE (6)
Rises in grade after a good class 4 win and running good times. If he runs up to that performance and aided by a light weight, he could surprise against these.
4th Pick: HAPPY MOMENT (4)
Continues to race with plenty of consistency and has a 43.9%-win percentage over this course and distance. Don’t leave him out of your picks.
Upcoming week
A bit of action for the Fortuna Team with HAYATE, MARLBOROUGH MAN and INCA BELLE all trialing at Taupo on Tuesday, while the in form MADAME MOET races at Matamata on Wednesday
Fortuna Track work – Matamata
Tuesday 12th April
Madame Moet (S Pillay) galloped over 1000 metres in 1.08.1, home in 39.5.
Ragamuffin (N Parmar) galloped over 1000 metres in 1.03.1, home in 36.03.
Navalha (N Parmar) galloped over 1000 metres in 1.03.7, home in 36.4.
Thursday 14th April
Ragamuffin (N Parmar) galloped over 1000 metres in 1.13.6, home in 42.8.
Navalha (O Bosson) galloped over 1000 metres in 1.13.6, home in 44.35.
Fortuna Track work – Singapore
Saturday 9th April
Kermajack (Jamil) – C, 1000/600 39; Entertainer (Aiman) – C, 1000/600 42; Brutus (Aiman) – 800/600 37.5; Elliot Ness (Aslam) – 800/600 39;
Tuesday 12th April
Entertainer (Yusoff) – 800/600 38; Elliot Ness (Amirul) – 800/600; Olympia (Ronnie) – 800/600 40; Hidden Promise (Jerlyn) – 800/600 37; King Arthur (Yusoff) – 800/600 36; Trident (Syed) – 600 42;; Brutus (Nunes) – 800/600 36
Other News
SOPRANO SUPREME goes back to back at Rotorua – see story below
Soprano reigns “Supreme” at Rotorua 9th April
Fortuna Racing’s quality race mare SOPRANO SUPREME was on song again at Rotorua 9th April when putting in another dominant performance in taking out the Campbell Infrastructure Rating 74 2200m event. The winner of two of her previous three starts by a combined margin of over eight lengths, this time she was up in Grade, in Saturday Class and was without the benefit of an Apprentice rider’s claim. Away slightly awkwardly in the hands of Opie Bosson, she relaxed nicely in 5th position one out from the rail in the eight horse field. Continuing to travel nicely in the run, Opie was content to sit quiet, but at the 600m mark, he asked the Mare for an effort, she came into the race quickly, was on terms three wide with the leaders as they turned for home and then sprinted to the line strongly, under a mainly hands and heels ride, to win with a two and a half length margin at the line in a time of 2.16.18 with Rising Storm in 2nd place
Click HERE to see race Video replay
Winning rider Opie Bosson was effusive in his praise after dismounting “She was going to win a long way out,” he said. “She relaxed beautifully, got into a nice position and I was quite confident from the winning post the first time around. I had the horse underneath me, gave her one backhander, and she’ll be a nice staying mare next season.”
“Soprano Supreme” – Win #3 Rotorua 9th April 2022 – Opie Bosson aboard
Trainer Mark Walker, was also quick to give praise “That was a really good win and she’s a progressive mare,” he said, “that was a big step up for her today, but she handled it with a lot of authority. David (Ellis) bought her quite cheaply at Karaka, she is out of a Zabeel mare, and she looks a cups quality mare next season with a bit more maturity on her. A race like the Waikato Cup (Gr. 2, 2400m) could be a good target, but in the meantime we may have a look at the Rotorua Cup on 14th May. Well done to John Galvin and his Fortuna Racing Ownership Team – that’s their 9th win in NZ so far in 2022”
Fortuna Director John Galvin was on track to celebrate the win with some of his Ownership Group “That was very exciting to watch, she traveled so well in the run and was beautifully ridden by Opie – she seems to be going places and big kudos to Jamie Richards who handled her so patiently during her 2yo and 3yo preparations. Well done to Mark Walker, who has only just stepped back into the Te Akau Head Training role, for training another Fortuna Syndicated horse to win, a habit he has been well used to over the years in both New Zealand and Singapore. Well done to David Ellis also for picking this Mare out for us at the 2019 sale – I specifically recall saying to him ‘please find me a filly that can develop into a Cups horse one day’”
SOPRANO SUPREME – winning post in her sights
Bred by Tim Harrison, Soprano Supreme was acquired by David Ellis on behalf of Fortuna Racing at the NZ Bloodstock 2019 Karaka Yearling Sale for $62,500 from the draft of Te Runga Stud.
She is raced by the Fortuna Soprano Supreme Syndicate, an Ownership group of 62 individuals from New Zealand, Singapore and Hong Kong
SOPRANO SUPREME to now campaign at Queensland Carnival
While initial plans for Soprano Supreme were to go next to the Rotorua Cup mid May, further discussions between Mark and John on Sunday and Monday has led to a change of plan with a Brisbane campaign now being mapped out beginning with the Gold Coast Cup 2400m 7th May with the Premier’s Cup (Group 3) at Eagle Farm 2400m also being in her sights – ongoing racing from there would be results dependent. This staying type Mare has taken a long time to mature, but she has really hit her straps in 2022 and Mark considers her to have a lot of upside, hence the decision to “up the ante” with her – this plan received unanimous support from her large Ownership Group, many of whom are now “dusting off their passports”
Guest Selector
Des’ selection did not win last week but ran 3rd at good odds of $3.30 the place – here is what he is recommending this week
My special for this week is Tellall in race 8 at Te Rapa. There are number of reasons why I think this Tony Pike-trained runner can get the job done. He’s been unlucky in recent starts and the key to his prospects this week is the return to the saddle of leading rider Michael McNab. This horse has won 4 races and McNab has been on each time. The last time he was on board four starts ago the combination finished an unlucky second to the talented Te Akau runner, Brando at Ellerslie.
A genuine feature of Tellall’s runs surrounds his very quick final sectionals and he’s either been the quickest or the second quickest over the last 600m in his last 5 starts. At his last start he found the 1200m too short and was left flat footed but with the speedster Rose ‘N’ Power engaged with a 4kgs claim apprentice on board the pace will be hot and a fast finisher like Tellall over his pet distance, 1400m, has me excited at the early bird price of $5.50 and $1.80 on a one unit over three basis
Des runs his very popular phone tipping line (you can access this by calling 0900 45459 – note this incurs a charge of $2.99 per minute) – this service has been active for over 25 years and covers all NZ gallops from 8am each race day).
MELBOURNE CUP TOUR
Des also tells me he has had significant enquiry from our Fortuna Membership for his 2022 Tour – If you are contemplating or want more detail click HERE to read – still spaces left
Fortuna Shares for Sale
We have shares in two horses currently on our website – the proven two win Irish bred staying type MILESTONE, whom we have acquired to specifically contest the 2 Mile Cups races in the coming season and the Karaka Yearling, the Merchant Navy Colt “Salty”
MILESTONE, who had been agisting at Phoenix Park near Cambridge since arriving in NZ early March, has now travelled to Catherine Cleghorne’s property at Waiuku Beach, where he will undergo 6 weeks of pre-traing in the beach environment before transferring to the care of Mark Walker at Matamata – Click HERE to read full details and to place order
“Salty” is now 3 weeks into his breaking in programme and is handling everything with aplomb – this fellow has been labelled as a “get up and go Two Year Old type” Click HERE to read full details and to place order
MILESTONE – the 6yo Two Win Stayer by Mastercaftsman out of Mission Secrete
“SALTY” – The Merchant Navy-Anchovy Yearling Colt