Friday Flash – 25th February 2022

Fortuna has four runners this week, one in NZ and three in Singapore

New Zealand

Leaderboard races at Matamata in the R74 2000m event – Race 9 @ 5.12pm, had no favours this trip Awapuni at last start from wide draw – jumps from barrier 1 in this 12 horse field and the in form Joe Kamaruddin takes 2kgs off his back – is an each way chance here – any rain would assist

Singapore

Hidden Promise is in the Class 5 1600m Turf  – Race 4 @ 5.30pm NZT, but is Emergency 2 and so may not get a start – back to his pet distance after two very good placings at shorter trips – Apprentice rider K Yusoff takes 3kgs of his back – right in this if he gets a start

Hadeer races in the Class 3 1200 Turf – Race 10 @ 9.30pm NZT. Run of the race last start when beaten into 2^nd place by his Fortuna stablemate, King Arthur. Back to the Turf for this – Jerlyn Seow takes 3kgs off his back – drawn well and loves to lead – right in this up to his ears and deserves to be a short priced favourite

Here is what the STC Tipsters have to day about this race

1st Pick: HADEER (2)
Ran a cracking second to stablemate King Arthur last time out despite being caught wide throughout. Has pulled up in great order and will be hard to beat.
2nd Pick: PROSPEROUS RETURN (3)
Resuming since creditable fifth to Hard Too Think in the Queen Elizabeth II Cup (1800m) last October. Well drawn. Goes well fresh and won’t surprise if he goes well first-up.
3rd Pick: SURE WILL DO (5)
Resuming after bleeding attack. Has had two barrier trials under the belt and looks fit enough for his comeback. First-up record is second to none. Nice low draw. Earmuffs, tongue-tie on, crossover noseband off. Keep safe.
4th Pick: SONGGONG HERA (1)
Every chance last start but could not quite measure up. Has drawn off the track but is still in great form and can bounce back here.

Brutus contests the Class 4 1200 Turf  – Race 11 @ 10pm – racing in Super form with 3 wins and 2 2nds from his last 5 starts this trip and surface – has barrier 11 to overcome though – will be ridden by Stable Apprentice Jerlyn Seow claiming 3kgs – race plan is to be positive from the gates and if that comes off, he is a strong each way chance

Here is what the STC Tipsters have to day about this race

1st Pick: STENMARK (5)
Slow to begin but rattled home for third last time out. If he jumps on terms this time, watch out for his turn of foot. Wide barrier doesn’t really bother him as he gets back.
2nd Pick: BRUTUS (1)
Loves this course and distance. Three of his four wins were recorded over 1200m on turf. May be vulnerable again from the awkward alley. Donna Logan could still get the quinella here.
3rd Pick: SPEEDY MISSILE (6)
Or even the trifecta if we throw in that last-start winner. Was hemmed in behind runners last start but burst through once he got the gap. Has trained on and can finish in the money.
4th Pick: WAR PRIDE (4)
Runner-up to Speedy Missile last time out. The 2.5kgs turnaround may give him the upperhand this time. Strong claims.

Fortuna Track work – Matamata

Tuesday 22nd Feb

Leaderboard (N.Parmar) galloped nicely over 1200 metres, home in 36.

Soprano Supreme (M. Crawford-Smith) worked at three-quarter pace over 1200 metres in 1.26, home in 45.

Thursday 24th Feb

No timed trackwork for Fortuna runners today

Fortuna Track work – Singapore

Saturday 19th Feb

Brutus (Jamil) – 1000/600 35.5; Entertainer (CC Wong) – 800/600 40

Tuesday 22nd Feb

Hadeer (Jerlyn) – 800/600 38.5;; Hidden Promise (Yusoff) – C, 1000/600 39.5; God’s Gift (Jake) – 1000/600 39; King Arthur (CC Wong) – 1000/600 38; Entertainer (Harry K) – C, 1000/600 38

Other News

Fortuna Shares available

Most New Zealand racing fans love Stayers and harbour dreams of having a contender in one of the big “Cups” races, be it the NZ Cup, Wellington Cup or Auckland Cup. If that is you, now here is your chance to take a share in a “ready made” Cups staying type. We have acquired the UK bred 6yo MILESTONE, a genuine staying type on pedigree and a winner at distance in France and Victoria, from his Melbourne based owners – he has been transported to NZ and will be aimed at those “big three” Cups events in the coming season – read more below – order shares HERE

About MILESTONE – the Six Year Old Gelding by Mastercraftsman out of Mission Secrete

MILESTONE was bred in France, a son of the hugely successful Stallion, Mastercraftsman, out of the winning Galileo Mare, Mission Secrete. After winning in France as a 3yo over 2400m, he was acquired in 2020, for a very substantial 6 figure sum, by the high profile Australian racing organisation OTI Racing, who saw him as a potential candidate for the major staying races in Australia. He started 17 times for them in Australia and although showing reasonable form, including a win at Moe and a 2^nd at Moonee Valley in December 2021, he clearly was not meeting their expectations as a staying type good enough to contest the Major staying races in Australia and so with new racing stock arriving from the UK, they decided to move him on and offered him via the Inglis Digital site

Milestone was identified by Mark Walker as an ideal candidate for New Zealand staying races, such as the New Zealand, Wellington and Auckland Cups – Mark’s assessment based on his pedigree and recent Australian form. John Galvin acquired Milestone from the February Inglis Digital Sale for just A$30,000.

Having arrived in NZ 24^th February, MILESTONE is now agisting at Phoenix Park, near Cambridge until the 20th March – he will then go to Waiuku Beach, south of Auckland where he will undergo 4 to 6 weeks of pre-training at the beach ahead of heading to the Te Akau Racing Stables at Matamata, where he will be in the care of the Fortuna/Te Akau Trainer, Mark Walker, who will set him on a path toward the NZ Cup ($250k) at Riccarton in November 2022.

Pedigree
MILESTONE possesses an exceptional staying pedigree – he is by the Irish bred Stallion, Mastercraftsman, the sire of over 840 winners, including 86 Stakes winners. This Coolmore based shuttle Stallion who, sadly, passed away in 2021 at the age of 15, stood for several seasons at Windsor Park Stud in the Waikato, and is best known in New Zealand for the deeds of his Group One winners, The Auld Floozie, St Emilion, Valley Girl and Danzdanzdance. Milestone’s Dam, Mission Secrete (by Galileo) was a winner in France at 2900m, is a sister to the One Thousand Guineas (UK) winner, Miss France and is the dam of four winners, including Mask Of Time (by Holy Roman Emperor) a Group 3 winner in Australia with multiple Stakes race placings. This is an exceptional pedigree with a strong staying emphasis over several generations.

Click HERE to view Milestone’s pedigree

Physical type
Standing 16.1 hands high and with a weight of 510kgs approximately, MILESTONE is a handsome bay, who walks well, has no vices and has a smooth, economical galloping action. He was fully vetted by the Victorian Vet, Dr Maxine Brain on 10^th February – Dr Brain conducted a full physical exam including flexion tests, trot ups, tendon and ligament x-rays and scope and he passed him suitable to race.

MILESTONE at Phoenix Park – 24th February 2022

Click HERE to see Milestone parading at Phoenix Park near Cambridge in New Zealand – this taken 24th February shortly after he arrived from Australia

Training/Racing Performance
Milestone was initially trained in France where he had one start as a 2yo and six starts as a 3yo, winning a Maiden race over 2400m at his 2^nd 3yo start. After being acquired by OTI in 2020, he travelled to Australia (Victoria) and was assigned to the Training barn of Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young for whom he started 17 times in two campaigns. His first campaign of 7 starts brought only a couple of minor placings, but after a good 115 day spell and showing the benefits of acclimatisation, he ran into form in his second campaign with 8 starts over a 4 month period producing a win over 2400m, a 2^nd over 3000m, and two 3rds over 2000m and 2200m. He is clearly a type who needs distance to be at his best.

Click HERE to see Milestone winning at Moe in Victoria December
Click HERE to see Milestone running 2^nd over 3000m at Moonee Valley

Trainer’s view (Mark Walker)
“John and I were on the lookout for a European bred staying type that had good form credentials in Sydney or Melbourne, with the aim of acquiring a horse suitable to tackle the iconic staying races in NZ such as the NZ Cup and Wellington Cup. I came across Milestone on the Inglis Digital site and while it was apparent that he was a length or two off the best Victorian Stayers, his recent form over distance trips was very good and, given the current weakness in the New Zealand Staying ranks, I thought he would be ideal for NZ Racing.

I am now back in New Zealand and in the next few weeks will take over from Jamie Richards as Head Trainer for Te Akau Racing in NZ and I am really looking forward to preparing Milestone for John Galvin and his Fortuna Ownership Team for his racing career here in NZ.” 

Click HERE to listen to Mark Walker talk about Milestone

Syndicator’s view (John Galvin)
“Over the last five years we have selected four Irish/UK bred staying types as “tried horses”, Chance to Dance, Leaderboard, Khafeef and No Envy – the latter has yet to race for us but the previous 3 have all won at distance trips – this has given us good background experience in knowing what to look for. Milestone has proven he is quite capable of winning races and his form over the distance trips in France and Victoria indicate that he should well be up to being very competitive under NZ conditions. We have not paid a lot of money for this horse and I am looking forward to his syndicate Members getting a great ride for their money. Milestone represents great value at this money for potential investors”

Disclosure Statement & Agreement
Click HERE to read Disclosure Statement – Click HERE to read Syndicate Agreement

Terms

• Shares available right down to 1%.
• 10% share $8,000– 5% share $4,000– 5% share $2,000 – 1% share $800
• Share price includes all Initial Costs (Purchase price, NZ GST on entry to NZ, Promoters Fees, Inglis Series Entry Fee, Transport to New Zealand, Insurance through to 31st January 2023, and Working Capital of over $8,500
• Monthly ongoing costs from 1^st April 2022 – from that date ongoing costs are – 10% share $400 per month – 5% share $200 per month – 2.5% share $100 per month – 1% share $40 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

Purchase a share in Milestone today at the link HERE or contact us for more information.

Fortuna has also acquired an outstanding Yearling Filly, from the last crop of the most successful Stallion the racing world has ever seen, MORE THAN READY – picked out of the recent Inglis Classic Sale by Mark Walker, this Filly represents excellent value – Shares available HERE

About The Yearling Filly by More Than Ready out of Liten Prinsessa (“MTR”)

This Filly by More Than  Ready (now given the stable name “MTR”) was selected by the Fortuna and Te Akau Trainer, Mark Walker, from the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale held in Sydney.
Mark had been working on a brief provided to him by Fortuna Racing’s John Galvin to select a strongly pedigreed, physically correct Yearling filly, who could potentially make a 2yo, but had the scope to develop into a quality 3yo and older horse. As always, Fortuna had set a budget – this time of A$70k. Mark had identified three Fillies to target, but the Sale was very strong and these went for over budget. On sale completion, Mark went through the passed in lots and observed that Lot 25, the More Than Ready Filly had been passed in – she had not been on Mark’s original list as, being by More Than Ready out of a very good family, he thought she would make a lot more than the Fortuna budget. Seeing that she had been passed in at A$60,000 we checked Scope and X Ray reports  – she was a Grade 1 on the scope and had clean X Rays – we then requested a physical exam by the Hunter Valley based Vet, Dr Paddy Todhunter, and she passed without issue. Mark then negotiated with her Vendors, Vinery Stud and we secured her for her passed in price of A$60,000 – great value given the quality of her pedigree page and a Sales Average A$123,000 (30% up on 2021)

• Shares available right down to 1%.
• 10% share $12,000– 5% share $6,000– 5% share $3,000 – 1% share $1,200
• Share price includes all Initial Costs (Purchase price, NZ GST on entry to NZ, Promoters Fees, Inglis Series Entry Fee, Transport to New Zealand, Insurance through to 31st January 2023, and Working Capital of over $7,000
• Monthly ongoing costs from 1^st April 2022 – from that date ongoing costs are – 10% share $400 per month – 5% share $200 per month – 2.5% share $100 per month – 1% share $40 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