Headline News;

KING ARTHUR – the winner of 8 races in Singapore since October 2021 will be ridden by the multiple Group One winning jockey, Blake Shinn, when he contests the Lion City Cup (Group One – 1200m) on August 14^th. Blake has recently ended a very successful 3 year stint in Hong Kong and is undertaking a 5 week riding sojourn in Singapore before returning to Australia to pursue his career there.

In more sombre news we have unfortunately had two retirements over the past couple of weeks due to injuries sustained during track gallops – firstly our Australian-based European bred 4yo No Envy and secondly our New Zealand-based six-year-old Milestone. No Envy had had one win  for us and a 2^ndplacing from just four starts from the Anthony and Sam Freedman stable and while Milestone had not had a start for us he was a two win horse in France and Australia that had done everything right in his work here in New Zealand – devastating for us and the ownership groups for both horses.

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Fortuna has six runners this week – all in Singapore

Singapore – Sunday 24^th  July

OLYMPIA races in the Class 5 1000m Polytrack event – race 1 at 12 Noon Singapore time (4pm NZT) – a solid consistent performer who rarely runs out of the money, he has had a freshen up since his (unlucky) last start – Stable Apprentice Jerlyn Seow takes 3kgs off his back from a mid field draw – looks well placed here and is a good top three chance

ROCKY contests the Restricted Maiden 1200 Turf event – Race 2 @ 12.30 Singapore time (4.30pm NZT) at just his second career start – this handsome 3yo son of El Roca finished strongly for 3^rd in an Open Maiden event 2^nd July after racing a bit greenly on turning for home – rising star Fadzli Yusoff rides with a 3kg allowance from Barrier 4 – hard to get a good line on form across this field, but Rocky has taken a lot of improvement from his debut run and is right in this representing a top 3 chance

ENTERTAINER races in the Class 3 1200 Polytrack event – Race 5 @ 2pm Singapore time (6pm NZT) and will be ridden by Yusoff claiming 3kgs from Barrier 9 but is E1 and will need a scratching to get a start. The winner of 7 races in Singapore, he has been enigmatic in recent starts, not showing his usual form. Back to Class 3 will help but needs to be taken on trust

BRUTUS races in the Class 4 1200 Turf – Race 8 @ 3.30pm Singapore time (7.30pm NZT) – to be ridden by that man Yusoff, claiming 3kgs, from Barrier 7 – Back in Class 4 after unplaced in 3 runs in higher grades, he seems to be very well placed here having won well in this grade in March off a similar rating – is a strong each way chance in this

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

1st Pick: BRUTUS (1)
Drops to class 4 again here and should be very competitive amongst this company. Clear horse to beat on paper.
2nd Pick: CHICAGO STAR (2)
Looked to have turned a corner last start running a strong third in his third run back this campaign. Seems to be heading in the right direction.
3rd Pick: SUN RECTITUDE (6)
Class 5 winner last start on speed. Should be amongst the leaders again her and carries no weight up in grade.
4th Pick: AUGUSTANO (3)
Caught wide most of the way last start and still made good ground late. He is a nine-time winner in Singapore and is getting back down slowly to a winnable mark, respect.

HADEER contests the Class 3 1200 Polytrack event – Race 11 @ 5pm Singapore time (9pm NZT) – Jerlyn Seow takes the mount claiming 3kgs from barrier 5 – caught wide last start without cover – has been racing well without winning – has yet to win on Polytrack but has placed – can feature here with a soft run from the draw

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

1st Pick: ILLUSTRIOUS (4)
Dominant six length winner last start and steps up in grade. A repeat of last start would have seen him in the finish again, must respect.
2nd Pick: NOWYOUSEE (1)
Made up plenty of ground last start to run in the money with the top weight. Has won a trial since, keep safe.
3rd Pick: HADEER (3)
Yet to win on the poly but steps back to a very winnable race. Last start a complete forgive, wide draw brought him undone.
4th Pick: PROOF PERFECT (8)
Steps up in grade but has won last two starts in impressive style. Should handle the rise in grade.

ELLIOT NESS runs in the Class 4 1100 Polytrack event – Race 12 @ 5.30pm Singapore time (9.39pm NZT) – Yusoff to ride from barrier 6 and claiming 3kgs – strong last start winner in Class 5 and is the track record holder this surface and trip – represents a real threat in this field and can win

Fortuna Track work – Matamata

Wednesday 20^th July

Hayate (L Truesdale) worked over 800 metres at three quarter pace, home in 40.46.

Navalha (C Grylls) worked over 800 metres at three quarter pace, home in 43.44.
Mohawk Brave (R Khan) worked over 800 metres at three quarter pace, home in 40.89

Fortuna Track work – Singapore

Saturday 16th July

Brutus (Jamil)– 1000/600 37; Olympia (Jamil) – 1000/600 37.5; Elliot Ness (Yusoff) – 800/600 38; Entertainer (Yusoff) – 1000/600 38; Briggs (Aslam) – 800/600 38; Our Final Offer (Aslam) – 1000/600 38

Tuesday  19^th July

Brutus (Yusoff) – 800/600 37; Rocky (Yusoff) – 900/600 39.5; Our Final Offer (Aslam) – 1000/600 38;Wednesday (CC Wong) – 800/600 42;

Other News

KING ARTHUR wins again in Singapore for Fortuna Racing

KING ARTHUR (I Am Invincible-Pentasia) took his promising career to another level Sunday 17th July when winning the Class 1 1200m Turf event at Singapore’s Kranji race course in stylish fashion, cracking through the Class Record in doing so. Recording his 8th career win and, remarkably, 7 of those wins coming from his last 10 starts, the 4yo was having his first start at Class 1 level, had drawn barrier 7 in an 8 horse field and was ridden, once again, by Stable Apprentice Fadzli Yuoff, claiming 3 kgs. The speed was hot from barrier rise and Yusoffeased with King Arthur settling into 6th place and on the rail. Eased off the rail before the turn, Yusoff looked to get his mount to the outside, but was held in a pocket by Gold Star – keeping his cool, Yusoff, still 5 lengths adrift of the race leader, Celavi, spotted an inside run, ducked and weaved, got his charge into the clear and once there, he was just too strong for his opposition, going to the line 3/4 length clear of the fast finishing Big Hearted in a time of 1.08.50

Click HERE to see race replay

Trainer Donna Logan, recording her 32nd Training success in 2022 for Te Akau Racing Stables was blown away by the result “That was amazing to watch, King Arthur was a bit further back in the running than I expected, got held up for a few strides on turning, but once clear, he was just too big, too strong – full marks to Yusoff once again, he kept his cool when in a spot of bother in the run home and got the job done again”

Fortuna Racing’s John Galvin, watching from his home in Hamilton, New Zealand, was a happy chappy post race “That was an outstanding result for the horse – to be fair, he was the favourite and had the right credentials to be successful in the race, but they still have to do it – I thought he was dead and buried with 300m to run, but Yusoff, who is riding out of his skin, kept his cool, found the right passage and once in the clear, it was ‘shut the gate’ time”

KING ARTHUR will now be aimed at the S$300,000 Group One Lion City Cup over 1200 metres, Sunday 14th August

KING ARTHUR was originally raced in Sydney, Australia as Tintagel by clients of the Bjorn Baker Stable, but after not meeting their expectations, they decided to put him on the market and he was purchased by John Galvin on the advice of former Singapore Trainer, Mark Walker, out of the October 2020 Inglis Digital Sale for A$25,000. He is raced by the Fortuna King Arthur Syndicate, an ownership group of 31 individuals from New Zealand, Australia and Malaysia. He has now accumulated S$330,000 with eight wins, five 2nds and two thirds  from 19 starts in Singapore.

New Fortuna Jackets

As readers would be aware, we have had a change in design of our racing silks and accordingly, have designed a new range of Polo Shirts, which were available a few months ago and now we have taken delivery of our new winter jacket range – see pictures below

These are available to clients at cost $125 each including delivery to your door, Mens, Womens and Childrens styles and in all sizes.

Polo shirts are $50 and again there are Mens/Womens styles and all sizes, including Childrens – see the design below

Just contact Jessica – jessica@fortuna-nz.com and she will assist you.

Guest Selector – Des Coppins

Des’ pick last week, Brucie, ran 2^nd at Trentham and 1 unit to win, 3 units a place returned a 70% return on investment (if you had got on early enough at fixed odds) – a lot better than bank interest for sure – here is what Des has to say this week;

IT appears many punters thought the same as me with Brucie on Saturday. At print time here we were paying $6.50 and $2.50 and the suggested bet of one unit over three made commonsense. At start time Brucie started a warm favourite and ended as the off course substitute.  He was game in defeat in running second and grabbing the odds early meant we ended around the 75% profit.

This week I’m heading to New Plymouth and fingers crossed, despite the awful weather most of the country has experienced in recent days, the track that’s been prone to bad luck in recent months, will have the opportunity to fully complete its 8-race programme!
My hopes are pinned on Cholula in the UPB Ltd 1800, race three.
She’s no world beater but her runs lately have looked better than average.
I liked the way she stuck to her guns last time at Hastings, coming from about 8th or 9th nearing the turn to finish 4th and registered the third quickest final sectionals.

She was a tad unlucky the start prior, too, when she was held up by a tiring runner near the 600m at Waverley.
Cholula has now had 4 runs and a trial this term and her fitness levels should be spot on for what will be a testing assignment.
The 1800m should be right up her alley, too.
Last year, at her 6th start, she went to New Plymouth and bolted in by 7 lengths over 1800m on a heavy track and here’s another eye opener, despite having first use of the track, she ran a quicker time over the same journey on the same day as fellow winners Zeefa Zed and the highly talented Ladies Man!

For good measure, Faye Lazet, who has been riding Cholula in recent starts and who was on board in the runaway win last year, retains the ride with the very important 3kgs claim.

I reckon the early bird odds of $11 and $3.50 are very tempting, don’t you?
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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