Friday Flash – 20th June 2025
Porcia Catonis – 4th Career Win – Riccarton – 11th June 2025 – Bruno Queiroz aboard
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Headline News
FORTUNA Social Media strategy
Just 1% left in our new OLE KIRK Filly – Click HERE to read details and to place order
OLE KIRK – EMPRESS ALI Filly
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Fortuna has three runners this Sunday, one in NZ, two in Victoria
Te Aroha – Sunday
INCA BELLE contests the R65 1150m event – Race 8 @3.48pm with apprentice Hayley Hassman, claiming 3kg, to ride from a good barrier. Has been a long time since she greeted the judge but very rarely runs a bad race – gets a good draw here with a very much in form rider claiming 3 kg aboard – and track conditions will suit – represents a good each way chance here – TAB says “looks better placed over the shorter trip and looks to be a leading contender” – No odds showing yet
Cranbourne – Sunday
WEST INDIES runs in the BM64 event over 2050m with the veteran Craig Newitt to ride from an outside barrier – has disappointed last few starts, although has been hampered by wide draws and firm tracks – once again he has drawn wide here, but does find a softer track. Needs to show improvement and will need a lot of luck from the draw – No TAB comments or odds showing yet. Note that West Indies has also been nominated for Pakenham on Monday and may go there instead if he draws a marble – acceptances for that raceday are Friday afternoon
Echuca – Sunday
ZEDWILLDO runs in the BM58 event over 2100m – Race 4 @ 1.05pm Aus time, with Brad Rawiller to ride from a wide barrier – ran a super, fast finishing 3rd over 1600m when 2nd up last start, beaten just 1.5 lengths – an out and out stayer he is building towards a win and gets a suitable trip here this start – third time up – is right in the mix here – No TAB comments or odds showing yet.
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Trackwork – Fortuna Runners
Matamata – 17th June
No timed Fortuna work today
Riccarton – 17th June
Porcia Catonis (T Solomon) galloped over an easy 800 metres in 56.7, home in 37.2.
Cranbourne – 17th June
No timed Fortuna work today
Matamata – 19th June
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Other News
FORTUNA Social Media strategy
We are really “upping the ante” with respect to our social media strategy – we have always had a presence on the various social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, X and LinkedIn, but have up until now been a bit “half hearted” with it, relying on the time tested communication methods of our email updates, website posts etc, however there is no question that the world is moving down the path of more “instant” communications. Many people are now reading all of their news on their phones or on their laptops/desktops and the beauty of social media communications is that they are very instant and literally at one’s fingertips, if using a smart phone in particular.
And on top of that we have built up quite a significant following on the social media platforms to date – for example we have over 1000 followers on Facebook and Instagram and so our strategy is named at lifting those numbers and getting more people involved in following our news and updates.
So over the last month or so we have been experimenting with that and for example, if we took a typical race day where I am an attendance, I do a video clip of our runner or runners in their box before the race, this gets sent out on the social media platforms immediately, then there is a pre-race interview with the rider which also get sent out before the race and then, win, lose or draw, there is a post race interview with the rider and if we win the race, there is a closing stages video clip that pops up very shortly after the race.
A similar process is followed on trials days as well. Of course we are well aware that the social media platforms are not for everybody particularly those in the older demographic group, but having said that we have already spotted a number of existing followers on the platforms who are clearly in that older demographic group, so we should never say never should we?
And it is not just race or trial days – other news items that we have will be disseminated on the social media platforms as well – and as existing users will already know, sharing and reposting updates to friends or family members is very easy using the social media platforms
So if you are reading this and would like to dip your toe in the water to give it a go, but not quite sure where to start, there are two guides at the links below – one for for Facebook and one for Instagram – and if you are having a go at getting all of this set up and running into some problems with it, then just tap the nearest teenage family member or friend on the shoulder and they will for sure be able to show you the right path
Click HERE to see the guide for Facebook
Click HERE to see the guide for Instagram
And don’t forget once you are set up in Facebook search for “Fortuna Thoroughbred Racing” and “Like” one of our posts and for Instagram search for Fortuna Thoroughbred Racing and “follow”
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Guest Selector – Des Coppins
Here is what Des has for our readers this week – and please take note of the incredible “free offer” that Des is offering between now and the end of June – I know that Des is incredibly appreciative of the support he has had from our Fortuna client base in subscribing to his regular service and so here is an opportunity to “trial for free without obligation”
Greetings John and Fortuna followers of the Friday Flash.
Rather than hand out three this week to follow I’m keen to highlight three runners from last week’s racing who I feel are so close to a winter win.
INDIAN GOLD: He made up a ton of ground after an ordinary start at Te Rapa over 1300m. His sectionals were way and above all else in the race and Allan Sharrock has him spot on to win at its next start. I had him as a top 2 chance and I couldn’t believe he closed at odds of 28 to one!
QUICK CALL: a questionable, tactical ride last Sunday at the Oamaru meeting. The horse rallied after being held up and attacked the line with purpose on very tricky, heavy ground. She’s poised to win again for Kelvin Tyler.
BRUCIE: is in for a good winter over fences. He found no racing room in the latter stages on the flat at Wanganui when mounting a run near the outside fence. This horse missed 12 months after showing ability on the flat and over fences. In just 3 runs over both hurdles and steeples here’s never been further back than second. He’s trained by a master in Raymond Connors.
My 10 Questions for the week
1. If homes should be painted every 20 years and a domestic roof replaced every 40 why have some racing clubs allowed their buildings to go without any serious maintenance for nearly 100 years?
2. Isn’t it time whip rules are taken more seriously? If a horse wins by a short margin and the winning jockey cops a fine or suspension for excessive use of the whip should the runner up be promoted?
3. If trials allocated to synthetic racing continue to be cancelled because of insufficient entries why bother programming them in the first place?
4. I like the way Logan Bates in Melbourne rides. It’s not surprising is it when you consider his pedigree? His dad is Jamie Bates while his mum is Kylie Williams; both decent jockeys.
5. The Myers family had a milestone day at Te Rapa. Kevin Myers trained his 8th Waikato Steeples winner while niece Kelly Myers rode two winners on the day that coincides with her late father, Patrick Myers, who trained Outright to win the Waikato Hurdles 40 years ago and on the corresponding weekend her grand dad , Bill Myers, won the Waikato Hurdles with Even Terms 52 years ago. A roll of honour at Te Rapa in the winter with a truly inspirational racing family don’t you think?
6. How poignant and special was the win of War Machine in the Stradbroke last Saturday?A horse formerly prepared by mighty Mike Moroney and bred by the Wallace Family of Ardsley Stud in Masterton whose grief is still fresh after their loss of close family member and champion bloodstock agent Michael Wallace last week.
7. Did you know that it’s 10 years tomorrow when the Waipukurau whizz and pocket dynamo, Intransigent, won this third Kiwi Fruit Cup at Tauranga!
8. When it comes to the time honoured winter handicap at Tauranga on Saturday which year stands out for you? Dare I say it could it be the one in 1998 when Watch Officer’s jockey Opie Bosson dropped his hands when seemingly home and hosed and was caught on the line by Quasin? That ghost was a little laid to rest three years later when Watch Officer in 2001 finally got the job done in the Kiwi Fruit in the hands of Leith Innes.
9. I’m going on memory which may or may not be as sharp as it once was but the chaotic chase at Te Rapa on Saturday brought back the win of Hanut at Trentham in the early 1960’s. On that day 4 horses lined up at Trentham and only Hanut finished but there may have been another that finally completed the course minutes later after the jockey remounted? Don’t you just love the theatre of winter racing?
10. J-Mac sits on 119 group one wins; just 10 behind the highest elite tally of Damien Oliver? He’s an odds on favourite surely to break Damien’s record next season. J-Macs only 32. Will he get a knighthood when he eclipses the record to follow in the footsteps of other sporting champions like Dame Kydia Ko and Dame Susan Devoy, who all received their elite gongs before they were 35? Put simply, he should!
FREE RACE TIPS FOR JUNE
As I’ve had a good run with my email tips I’m happy to maybe brighten up your days until the end of the month with my email race tipping service.
If you’d like to receive them before 8am tomorrow and for the rest of this month ex gratis please email me before 7.45am on Saturday and voila!!
Email is dcoppins@xtra.co.nz
Whether or not you eventually sign up as a fully paid up subscriber is irrelevant as it’s a try before you buy offer exclusive to Fortuna fans.
Give it a whirl, there’s nothing to lose!
Good punting!
Des Coppins
021 448 052
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