Friday Flash – 16th September 2022

Headline News;

Queen Elizabeth II, arguably the world’s greatest cheerleader for thoroughbred racing is no longer with us and we mourn her passing

Singapore’s most improved racehorse in 2022, King Arthur, resumes at Kranji this coming Saturday

Fortuna acquires a Lonhro two-year-old filly at the recent Magic Million online sale –  all of her shares fully committed within three hours of being promoted by us

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Fortuna has six runners Friday and Saturday –  three in NZ and three in Singapore

New Zealand

Friday

MADAME MOET contests the R65 1800 metre event at Taupo – Race 2 @ 1.02pm – Opie Bosson to ride. A last start winner in R60 grade at Matamata 7th September she steps up in trip and grade to contest this event. A strong winner at Matamata in Maiden Grade at 1600m last January and believing that distance races can be within her reach, this race is somewhat of an “experiment” to see if she can run the 1800m out. Third up this campaign and in good form, if she can see out the trip, she can feature here

Saturday

NAVALHA runs in the R65 1200 down the Riccarton chute – Race 4 at 2.05pm with Opie Bosson aboard – winning his first two NZ starts in succession in the 2020/22 season, he struck soundness issues and ran well at a handful of starts in the 2021/22 season but without winning – ran a solid 3rd placing at Taupo on resuming and is poised to run well here – query over track conditions but if he handles, he is a top 3 chance

LEADERBOARD runs at New Plymouth in the Interprovincial Championship – an Open Handicap over 1800m – Race 7 @ 4.08pm – Lisa Allpress to ride – battled home when resuming 1600m at Matamata at a trip too short, he is an out and out stayer who is heading to the NZ Cup – has been kept on the fresh side for this trip and will be running home strongly with just 54kgs to carry. It is a very competitive field and the distance is short of his best but can feature in the placings

Singapore

BRIGGS makes his Singapore debut in the Open Maiden 1000m Polytrack event – Race 2 @ 4.30pm NZT with Jake Baylis to ride. A strapping long striding galloper this son of Rubick has had two Singapore trials for a win and a head bobbing 2nd – meets a field here that is not overly strong but has a slightly trick draw to contend with from the 1000m start –  represents a very strong each way chance and can win this.

Here is what the Singapore Turf Club tipsters say about this race

1st Pick: LUCKY CHARM (10)
Far from disgraced in first run at the grade over 1100m. Blinker on first time this weekend, should take natural improvement and be hard to beat.
2nd Pick: BRIGGS (1)
One seen once at the trials ahead of Singapore debut. Led the field up and was nabbed on the line late but he wasn’t asked for too much late in the trial by the rider. Should get a good guide on this horse’s ability here.
3rd Pick: KINABALU PRINCE (3)
Last start third was a decent performance. Draw a slight concern but he looks among the hopes.
4th Pick: GREAT COMMAND (2)
Back to 1000m looks ideal for this speedster. Third up we should see him peak fitness wise but he may have to work a bit early from the wide draw to find the top. Keep safe.

ENTERTAINER runs in the Class 3 1000m Polytrack event – Race 4 at 2pm Singapore time (6pm NZT) – will be ridden from a handy draw by leading Singapore Apprentice Fadzli Yusoff – a 7 time winner in Singapore, he has been an enigmatic performer in 2022, being badly out of form, but gear changes last start saw him run a close up 2ndhas not won at this trip and may be looking for further, but hard to discount and can easily run in the money here

KING ARTHUR contests the Class 1 1100m Poly event – Race 9 @  4pm Singapore time (8pm NZT)will be ridden from gate  3 by leading  Singapore Apprentice Fadzli Yusoff – the most improved horse in Singapore in 2022 having gone from a rating of 62 to 102 currently. Resuming from a freshen up after his bold 2nd in the Group One Lion City Cup 18thAugust. May need this run as his prime target is the Class 1 1200 Turf 2nd October and is giving a lot of weight to some handy gallopers – but don’t discount as is always a winning chance

Here is what the Singapore Turf Club tipsters say about this race

1st Pick: LUCKY JINSHA (6)
Returned to the trials in a big way clocking an impressive 58.91. He has risen through the ratings since joining the stable and looks to have plenty of support this weekend. Gets in well with Hakim and a light weight.
2nd Pick: KING ARTHUR (2)
Was a very brave second in the G1 Lion City Cup being beaten just under a length to Lim’s Kosciuszko. He gets back to the Polytrack where he has recorded six of his eight wins.
3rd Pick: SURPASS NATURAL (3)
He is unbeaten over this course and distance and returns first up since April of last year. May need the run but is a classy galloper when he is right. Four-kilogram claimer booked to ride.
4th Pick: KHARISMA (1)
Joint top-rated galloper in this field. Although his form hasn’t been great at his last few attempts. His best performances can see him bounce back. Form is temporary, class is permanent.

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Fortuna Track work – Matamata

Tuesday  13th September

Madame Moet (O Bosson) worked over an easy 1000 metres, home in 41.80.

Wednesday 15th September

Leaderboard (C Grylls) worked together over an easy 1200 metres, home in 41.33.

Fortuna Track work – Singapore

Saturday  10th September

Kermajack (Jerlyn) – 600 38.5; King Arthur (Yusoff) – 1000/600 39; Brutus (Yusoff) – 1000/600 38; Entertainer (Yusoff) – 1000/600 39;; Briggs (Aslam) – 1000/600 37; Our Final Offer (Aslam) – Steady 40; Hadeer (Jake) – 1000/600 39;

Tuesday  13th September

King Arthur (Yusoff) – 800/600 40; Deception (Simon Kok) – 1000/600 38

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Other News

Queen Elizabeth II, probably the world’s greatest cheerleader for thoroughbred racing is no longer with us and we mourn her passing

Our late Queen was truly passionate about her racing – she would often astound the “experts with her in depth knowledge of pedigrees and she would always put in a call to her Trainers before any one of her runners competed to get the “oil”. A famous story about her was that on one occasion, a policeman standing guard outside her drawing room at Buckingham Palace had to burst into the room because he could hear the Queen screaming and thought she was being attacked, only to find that she was screaming at the TV as she was watching one of her runners compete.

Her Majesty won four of the five Classic races on the Great Britain Racing Calendar, the 1000 Guineas, the 2000 Guineas, the Oaks and the St Leger – sadly she didn’t ever win the 5th, the Derby, but did manage to run a 2nd and a 3rd in that great race.

Click HERE to see the Queen’s reaction to her horse Estimate winning the 2013 Ascot Gold Cup – those of us who have had the privilege to win great races (or indeed any race) will identify with the pure joy exhibited by the Queen on this occasion.

Amazingly, the late Queen had her last winner on Tuesday 6th of September, the day she swore in Liz Truss as the new Prime Minister and just two days before her death. Throughout her long life, she enjoyed winning more than 1800 races as an Owner or Breeder.

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Singapore’s most improved racehorse in 2022, King Arthur, resumes at Kranji this coming Saturday – see the story below from Singapore Racing writer Larry Foley

Everyone in racing loves a good omen and in a week where the United Kingdom crowns a new monarch – King Charles III – Singapore’s most improved horse – King Arthur – is hoping to continue his royal run of form in Saturday’s $100,000 Class 1 race over 1100m on the Polytrack. Remarkably, the now five-year-old started this season off a rating of 62 when he won in Class 4 Company on January 2, before being narrowly beaten (0.8 lengths) at his last start in the Group 1 Lion City Cup (1200m). Then, his rating increased to 102. That ascent to the top echelon of the Singapore sprinting ranks in one calendar year included another five wins and a couple of placings. Trainer Donna Logan reckons the honest King Arthur has more to offer before the 2022 season comes to a close.

A model of consistency, King Arthur (Yusoff Fadzli) will line up in the Class 1 race over 1100m on Saturday.
“We thought he was a progressive type back when he was running in Class 4 company but he’s definitely shown he’s much more than that,” said Logan on Tuesday. “His first six wins were on the Poly(track) but he really hit his straps at the top level when we got him going on the turf.”

Indeed, since his last Polytrack win in a Class 3 race on May 8, the Fortuna NZ Racing Stable star has shown his class at the top level with three exceptional turf runs; two wins at Class 2 and Class 1 company on 18 June and 17 July respectively, and his second placing at Group 1 level on August 14. This Saturday, he meets a field that includes the resuming Lucky Jinsha – who incidentally won in Class 3 company on the Polytrack (April 2) when King Arthur missed a place (fourth) for the only time in 2022 – so it will be a serious test for the son of I Am Invincible.

“There’s not many races for him coming up so this will be a real pipe-opener fresh after the Lion City (Cup),” explained Logan. “He’s always trying and he’s super honest but he’s not 100% wound up for this. So whatever happens, this race will bring him on immensely. There’s a turf race on October 2 (Class 1 race over 1200m) and that’s where he’s headed. He’s up in the weights now (59kgs on Saturday) so (apprentice jockey) Yusoff (Fadzli) will claim 2kgs off him and a lot will depend on the barrier draw (on Wednesday). But he will give his best; he always does.”

And what of that ‘oh-so-close’ run in the Lion City Cup? “I really expected him to be right in the money in that race,” continued Logan of what would have been a remarkable victory at Group 1 Weight-For-Age level given King Arthur’s swift rise through the grades. “Maybe if (jockey) Blake (Shinn) had ridden him before he may have gone a fraction later but it’s hard to fault him (Shinn). The winner (Lim’s Kosciuszko) is a top horse and we almost pinched it. He (King Arthur) will get another chance next year – we are already preparing and looking forward to it – and hopefully he can go one better.”

Logan – who is enjoying a breakout season in Singapore and currently sits just two wins behind leader Tim Fitzsimmons (47 wins) on the 2022 trainers’ premiership – has another nine horses entered for Saturday but also has one eye on turf racing returning the following week.

“A lot of our horses seem to prefer the turf so we can’t wait for the 24th (September), but in saying that, we have some solid chances on Saturday,” she said. Briggs (running in the $20,000 Maiden race over 1000m) is an interesting runner. He’s been here just over a year but got an injury very early when he was with (ex-Kranji trainer) Mark (Walker). So it’s good to see him get to the races. He’s a nice, strong and big striding type, so (jockey) Jake (Bayliss) will ride him and he should be thereabouts.”

Of the trainers’ title race, Logan had other things on her mind but was happy to be in the conversation. “Look, I’m rapt for the team as they put in the work and its just rewards for them,” said the only female trainer plying her trade at Kranji. But if it happens, it happens and I’m not living day-to-day thinking about it. At the end of the day, it may be whoever gets some fresh legs in their stable before the season finishes and we just continue doing our job.”

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Fortuna acquires a Lonhro two-year-old filly at the recent Magic Million online sale –  all of her shares fully committed within three hours of being promoted by us

Readers who read our Breaking News update last Monday morning would be aware of the “back story” to this acquisition – how we were outbid for her at the Magic Millions Yearling Sale in June and then due to a bizarre set of circumstances, she was re-offered at last weeks Magic Millions online Sale and this time we were successful. Within 3 hours of the update going out, all of her shares were fully committed and since then I have added another 75% to the “reserve list”  so in fact we could have sold her twice almost!!!

“Ebony” is a lovely physical type with a great pedigree page and we look forward to seeing what she can do on the racetrack – she arrives in NZ on the 18th September. We have made a list of those clients who have missed out on getting a share in her and when we acquire our next horse, that group of clients will be given priority

“EBONY” the 2yo Filly by Lonhro out of Adria
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Guest Selector – Des Coppins

Des’ multi last week brought no joy – Here is what Des has to say this week:

Hi John and the Fortuna Team

I don’t like making excuses so I will address the facts surrounding the three horse multi last week at Hastings. Hastings’s moisture reader may well have been a break point for many runners  and it was clear that Imperatriz, the $1.50 anchor in almost everyone’s multi was as sixes and sevens on the testing footing. I doubt whether we will see her running on a heavy 10 again this season. Under the circumstances it was meritorious 4th. I won’t be dropping her and neither should you.

The judiciary has ordered a follow up for our first leg of the multi, Little Joe, who clearly wasn’t on his game. Opie Bosson, the rider, commented on hearing “respiratory noises” and it’ll be a cautious watch next time while our other leg  Cork fought bravely behind the all the way leader, Deerfield but to my eye she was a little flat footed over the 1600m and may well be looking for 2000m next time.

Let’s turn the page and consider this weekend’s selection in Blackwood Star in race 8 at New Plymouth. She’s been very good in his last two and has hit the line solidly both times in amateur riders events. Two starts ago she was standing the leaders up at least 20 lengths at Waverley and did exceptionally well to run into second. She was ridden a little closer to the pace in a similar race at Te Rapa and momentarily hit the front half way up the straight before being outmuscled over the last 100m to wind up second again.

It’ll be a hard slog on Saturday but not as tough as it has been on this track in recent times. The sun will be out during the latter part of the week with temperatures spring-like . It is, however, the longest flat race in the country over 3210 metres and as it is the last race on the programme it’ll surely be the survival of the fittest. She’s only had 7 starts and is clearly on the improve. The 3kgs claim as such will be a massive asset, too, with promising apprentice Faye Lazet in the saddle.

The odds of $7 and $2.50 are good enough for me on an each way basis.

Good punting!

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).

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