Friday Flash – 17th March 2023

Headline News
 
Fortuna acquires the Two Year old Gelding “GUN” from the Inglis Digital March sale – he will race in Singapore

Fortuna has six runners on Saturday  18^th March, two in NZ and four in Singapore

New Zealand – Tauranga

INCA BELLE runs in the 3yo SW & P 1200m event at Tauranga – Race 1 @ 12.45pm – she will be ridden by Joe Kamaruddin claiming 1kg from a good draw. Two starts for two wins is the race record for this Per Incanto Filly. Was freshened after her last win at Wanganui late November and has had two trials to prepare for this. Form hard to fault and is a very good each way chance in this

ANGELS WINGS races in the Maiden 1200m event – Race 2 @ 1.22pm – she will be ridden by Hakim Kamaruddin claiming 1kg from a good draw. Over raced at Rotorua 2^nd March and was flushed wide on the turn – this after a reasonable 4^th placing at Hastings 26 Jan. Has gone back to 1200m for this race, her work cannot be faulted, she won’t mind the forecast rain. Has been hard to follow but did run a nice 3^rd this track and distance on a Heavy track early December. Could be the smokey in this

Singapore

ROCKY contests the Class 5 1200m Polytrack event – Race 1 at 12 Noon Singapore time (5pm NZT) and will be ridden by Stable Apprentice Fadzli Yusoff, claiming 2kgs, from an inside draw – is a galloper with ability and drops in class for this event. Good each way chance in this

Here is what the STC tipsters have to say about this race;
1st Pick: THE WILD PRINCE (6)
A horse who has been knocking on the door to win since returning to class 5. Hasn’t had much luck his last couple and shouldn’t be too far away from them here.
2nd Pick: BENBO (1)
Solid winner on debut who finds himself at the top of class 5 here instead of class 4. Good chance to capitalise and score again. Won well enough last start. Nunes on a bonus.
3rd Pick: KSATRIA (3)
Downgrades to class 5 where he has a solid record. Proven to carry weight at this grade and looks a genuine top three hope.
4th Pick: ROCKY (4)
Makes his class 5 debut in his tenth start in Singapore. Amongst this company, he cannot be left out of the multiple, keep him safe.

TRIDENT races in the Class 4 1400 Turf event – Race 3 @ 1pm Singapore time (6pm NZT) and will be ridden by Vlad Duric from barrier 5. This talented 2 win galloper rarely runs a bad race – he resumed 25^th Feb off a 3 month break running 4^th over 1200m – has taken much improvement and is ready to fire here from a good draw and a highly experienced rider aboard. Top three chance in this

Here is what the STC tipsters have to say about this race;

1st Pick: VGOR (1)
Rises to 1400m after finding one better at his last two starts. He has been beaten by lightweights on both occasions and will still carry a bit of weight after Krisnas claim.
2nd Pick: TRIDENT (5)
Nice form and course statistics for a race like this. Will be fitter after a couple of runs and the rise in distance is to his benefit. Don’t leave him out of your exotic bets.
3rd Pick: SUMMER WIND (7)
Loves to get out and get rolling early. No luck from the wide barrier last start and gets to a distance where he has one win and two minors from three appearances. One to watch.
4th Pick: LIM’S DREAMWALKER (9)
Lightweight chance who has been catching racegoers eyes in his last two starts. Can get himself stuck in traffic but with the long course in play he can be winding up late with no weight.

DECEPTION also races in the Class 4 1400 Turf event – Race 3 @ 1pm Singapore time (6pm NZT) and will be ridden by Harry Kasim from barrier 11. Also a 2 win galloper that rarely runs a bad race and has been luckless at times – has had two runs since resuming both with merit – has drawn out but gets back and will be running home very strongly in this event on the Long Course. Good each way chance and could well be at good odds.

OUR FINAL OFFER races in the Open Maiden 1200 Turf event – Race 5 @ 2pm Singapore time (7pm NZT) and will be ridden by Stable Appentice Jamil, claiming 4ks, from barrier 3 – ran a good 3^rd on a resuming run two weeks ago after a 15 month break from racing. Is a very fast galloper who has had barrier issues in the past, but if he gets away well, he is right in this.

Here is what the STC tipsters have to say about this race;

1st Pick: TRIBUTO (2)
Massive run last start where he was wide the trip due to a poor draw and only just got beat. Horse to beat here.
2nd Pick: OUR FINAL OFFER (4)
Made up good ground last start and will appreciate the rise in distance to 1200m, each way.
3rd Pick: STAR GLORY (9)
Led them up last start to only be beaten just over a length. Was off the rail the entire way so the run deserves respect. Looks one of the likely leaders in the race again.
4th Pick: GEMILANG (6)
Dislodged the rider on the way to the gates and still ran a solid race. Should have taken plenty from the first race day experience and be an improver here.

Fortuna Track work – Matamata
 
No timed trackwork reported for Fortuna Runners this week

Fortuna Track work – Singapore

Friday 10^th March

Tuesday 14^th March

DECEPTION (Kasim )800/600- 39.5; 37.5; RHETT BUTLER(JAMIL)600- 38;

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Other News
 
Fortuna acquires the Two Year old Gelding “GUN” from the Inglis Digital March sale – he will race in Singapore – read more below

About The Two Year Old Gelding GUN

The 2yo Gelding, GUN, is by Australia’s most expensive Stallion at Stud, Extreme Choice, out of the winning and Stakes placed Mare Murtle Turtle – he has been acquired by Fortuna Racing for A$45,000 from the March (early) Inglis Digital Sale and will be sent to Singapore to race. He will agist in New South Wales for eight to ten weeks before flying to Singapore where he will join the other Fortuna Racing runners at the Te Akau Racing training complex at Kranji Racecourse, headed up by our Singapore Trainer, Donna Logan.

As a non winner, GUN will be eligible to contest Restricted Maiden Grade events in Singapore, a Grade which carries S$75,000 of prizemoney (approx NZ$85,000). Once winning in that Grade, he will then be eligible to race in Novice Grade, a Grade which also carries S$75,000 of prizemoney (approx NZ$85,000). As a Three Year Old in the 2023/2024 Seasons, GUN will be eligible for the very lucrative Three Year Old Series run during May and June 2024

Pedigree
GUN has an exceptionally strong Pedigree page – bred and sold by James Ferguson of Bell River Thoroughbreds for A$775,000 at the 2022 Inglis Classic Sale, he is by Australia’s  most expensive Stallion(Stud Fee A275k), EXTREME CHOICE, the Sire of over 41 winners from just 64 runners, including 9 Stakes winners, such as Stay Inside (winner of the Golden Slipper), She’s Extreme (Champagne Stakes – Group One) and Espiona (Coolmore Stud Stakes – Group One). His Dam Murtle Turtle was a winner as a 2yo, ran 2nd twice at Group 3 level, is the dam of four foals to race, with three of them being winners, including the Hong Kong winner, California Deeply

Training & Race History
GUN was bought as yearling  by James Harron Bloodstock, who put together a high profile ownership group to race him, clearly with “Stallion making” prospects in mind. He was prepared by Michael Freedman at Randwick – he had two trials in Sydney  in the early Spring of 2022, but proved very Colty, so was gelded and freshened. He resumed with a trial 9th January 2023 finishing 2nd and followed that up with a winning trial performance 24th January and made his race day debut at Canberra 3rd February, where he ran very wide on the turn finishing in 6th place. He then raced at Newcastle 25th Feb, running more professionally, beaten just 2.3 lengths. Click HERE to see that race replay – he is in the dark green silks. His ownership group then made a decision to move him on because they were only interested in racing “Stallion Prospects”

Physical Type
Standing at 15.25 hands high and tipping the scales at 452kgs, GUN is a lovely physical type – he passed his vetting inspection (conducted by Dr Ramiro Pellegrini) with no issues– he scoped before and after exercise at Grade Two, had no vices and trotted up in very sound condition – Dr Ramiro has issued the Malaysian Racing Association Vet certificate as a “pass” and accordingly he can be admitted to Singapore as a racehorse.

• Shares available right down to 1%.
• 10% share $10,000 – 5% share $5,000 – 2.5% share $2,500 – 1% share $1,000 (all pricing in NZ$) 
• Share price includes all Initial Costs (Purchase price, Promoters Fees, Transport to Singapore, Insurance through to 31st January 2024, and Working Capital of over$7,000 approx
• Monthly ongoing costs from 1^st June 2023 – from that date ongoing costs are –10% share $440 per month – 5% share $220 per month – 2.5% share $110 per month – 1% share $44 per month.
• Monthly ongoing costs can alternatively be paid up to 12 months in advance as an option for subscribers by Bank Payment or Credit Card