Friday Flash – 24 May 2024

Headline News

STAR SHADOW is in the headlines

Our Yearling Filly “Boomer” impresses as a potential early runner

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Fortuna has just two runners in NZ Friday and SaturdayTimaru – Friday

SAILING AWAY contests the R65 1600m event – Race 9 at 4.16pm with Warren Kennedy to ride from Barrier 5 – a strong Maiden winner at Riccarton 14th April over 1400m, he ran a good 3rd next start Riccarton R65 1600m in Saturday company – he gets the same grade and trip here, but weaker company – represents a very good each way chance here. TAB says “One to beat on now he has come up this time in” Showing $2.90/$1.45 fixed odds

Pukekohe – Saturday

STAR SHADOW races in the Listed Champagne Stakes over 1600m for $100k – Race 3 @ 12.26 pm with Wiremu Pinn retaining the ride from Barrier 2. A brave winner on debut Otaki in mid April, she then ran a close up 5th in Stakes company at Te Rapa 4th May with the fastest last 800m sectionals. This field is weaker, she will love the 1600m but does have to contend with what will be a very testing track – good winning chance -TAB says “Genuine contender in this suitable contest” – showing $1.40/$1.04 fixed odds

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Matamata Trackwork – Fortuna runners

Wednesday 22nd May

Star Shadow (N Parmar) worked over 1200 metres in 1.31.43, home in 40.89.

Singapore Trackwork 

Saturday 18th May

GUN(AWAH)1000/600-38.5; KNIPPENBERG(ASLAM)800/600-38.5;

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OTHER NEWSSTAR SHADOW is in the headlines – article below was featured by Racing.com (Victoria), the NZ Racing News and various other Australian Racing Media

Luck’s a Fortuna

Star Shadow (outside) winning on debut at Otaki. Photo: Peter Rubery (Race Images PN) 

 

Two-year-old Star Shadow (NZ) (Reliable Man) gives Fortuna Director and Racing Manager John Galvin a strong chance to sign off this preparation with black–type, when she takes her place in the Listed Staphanos at Novara Park Champagne Stakes (1600m) at Pukekohe on Saturday.

Galvin was full of praise for her run at Te Rapa at her previous start in the Listed Waikato Equine Veterinary Centre 2YO Stakes (1400m).

“She ran the fastest sectionals in the race from the 800-metre mark to the post and was slightly held up for a stride or two in the straight,” Galvin said.

Star Shadow was victorious on debut at Otaki in April on Heavy 8 track conditions.

“That win was over a shorter distance (1300m), with Saturday’s race run over the mile and the track at present is a Heavy 10, so it will be testing for all runners, but at least we do know she can handle that type of surface,” he said.

The Reliable Man filly was a NZ$35,000 Book 2 purchase at Karaka 2023.

“The filly was bought as a three-year-old type, but right at the start of her preparation she was very precocious and at one stage we thought she would be a Karaka Million runner, but we pulled the pin on that idea and gave her more time. Everything she has shown as a two-year-old is a bonus and following this race on Saturday she will go to the paddock.”

Recently Fortuna tasted success at the May Racing Carnival at Warrnambool with former Wellington Cup winner Leaderboard (Street Cry) taking out the Choices Flooring Warrnambool Maiden Hurdle (3200m) by four lengths with Aaron Kuru in the saddle.

“He has been a wonderful horse for us winning a St Leger and Wellington Cup. Three or four years ago former trainer Jamie Richards said he would make a good jumper one day and that is the point of his career now,” Galvin said.

The Australian Hurdle (3900m) will be his next assignment at Sandown on June 2.

“We considered an easier option on the same day but decided he’s a lovely jumper and won well last start, so let’s have a throw at the stumps and go for the big one,” he said.

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Our Yearling Filly “Boomer” impresses as a potential early runner

Three of our four 2024 Yearling Sale purchases have returned to the Matamata Stables for their 2nd Stable prep – this after just a three week paddock spell from theie initial Stable prep – for two of them, the Fillies by Written Tycoon and Too Darn Hot, this was no surprise as they looked to be natural 2yo types from day one – the 3rd one though, the Filly by Spirit Of Boom out of Aotearower, is a bit of a surprise packet as Mark Walker reported recently – “John and Team, I inspected the yearlings at the farm the other day and I was pleasantly surprised when I took the cover off your Spirit Of Boom Filly, as she has really thrived during her time off – as you know when we bought her on the Gold Coast in January, she was a Filly with a bit of size and our thinking was that she would be an Autumn 2yo/3yo type, but during her first stable Prep here in April, her trackwork riders all commented on how forward and precocious she was and how strong she was in her action – so given that the has spelled so well, we have decided to bring her back into work with your other two and take her straight through to one of the early season trials as she could well be an early runner – as we know the Spirit Of Booms can be”

Click HERE to see “Boomer” at the Stable after she had returned from the farm with voiceover from Mark

We still have shares available in this Filly (just 8% left) @ $1888 per each 1% with $44 per month ongoing from 1 June – Click HERE to see her link on the Fortuna website and online orders can be made direct from this link

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Des Coppins – Guest Selector

Here is what Des has to say this week

Greetings John and Team
Flashback to last weekend:
We stuck with Acquarello who won like a horse going through the grades and the suggestion to run a quinella into Silver Javelin, who managed third, was close to an even more generous payout.
Francee was a tad disappointing despite running the second quickest final  sectionals and Dresse Par Joli is nearing a win but could only manage 4th for us.
With tougher track conditions continuously asking the question and with so many variables I’d like to think we can still master our share of collects in these tough times. I’ll be doing my utmost to keep us on the right side of the ledger right through the winter.
If you’d like to be part of my daily email best and value bet as well as top 2 tips each Saturday I’d be happy to hear from you via the email dcoppins@xtra.co.nz
The buy in will take you until the end of July and the cost is now reduced to $175 ( gst included).
In the meantime my 3 to watch out for this weekend are:Asgard ( r5 Pukekohe).

This son of Alamanzor was dynamic in winning at Otaki on a heavy track and despite missing last time it wasn’t too bad at Te Rapa. He battled on to finish 5th. The form reads well as the first and second in the Te Rapa have either won or finished second since and the runner who was tucked in behind Asgard at the line won impressively at Taupo midweek. I think Asgard will mature into a classy type. He came off the pace when he won at Otaki but went straight to the front at Te Rapa. Maybe ridden just off the pace is the key to return to the winners circle and aren’t the Alamanzor horses flying at the moment!

Benefactor ( r6 Trentham).

She likes the wet tracks and only once in 5 starts in the heavy has she failed to weigh in.
When she  missed she was almost knocked over so she had a genuine excuse.
I thought her  run at Trentham last Saturday had a “next  up“ look about it.
She’s been working well and despite her top weight I see no reason why she can’t give us a good run for our money around the $9 or $10 mark.

Star Shadow ( r3 Pukekohe)

For the Fortuna team, best of luck with this quality filly.
What she’s doing now is the tip of the iceberg.
I’m a fan of the Reliable Man progeny but the majority do better as three year olds and older. The fact she’s winning races now proves she’s well above average.
Her Otaki win was super.
Against stronger opposition at Te Rapa she was the quickest from the 800 to the post and there’s little doubt she will enjoy the 1600m.
It’ll be wet on Saturday but that’ll worry the opposition more than her.
She’s at skinny odds but a strategic bet is to anchor her in the early quaddie. Some of those early quaddies have paid well in recent weeks.
Good punting!

Des