Friday Flash – 3rd June 2022
Headline News;
HIDDEN PROMISE brings a six season racing career to an end this Saturday 4th June in Singapore – Read More below
Vale Lester Piggot – yes, one of the greatest jockeys to ever grace the Turf has gone – aged 86 – Read More below
Fortuna has four runners this week, all in Singapore
Singapore – Saturday 4th June
HIDDEN PROMISE heads to the track for his last career start before retiring – he is in the Class 4 1200m event – Race 4 at 5.30pm NZT and will be ridden by F Yusoff claiming 3kgs. This is not his best trip but has run well at times over this distance when fresh – can he make it a “fairy tale” ending – probably cannot win but could be a cheeky place chance if the pace is strong
HADEER is in the Class 3 1200 Turf – Race 10 at 8.30pm – Jerlyn Seow to ride claiming 3kgs – rarely runs a bad race this fellow – Jerlyn knows him well but has a very difficult draw to contend with – will need luck but if he gets it, he rates as a good each way chance
Here is what the Singapore Turf Club tipsters say about this race;
1st Pick: TIGER ROAR (1)
Trials have been nice leading up to first up return this weekend. This looks a nice starting point and should command plenty of respect in the market.
2nd Pick: HADEER (2)
Solid 1200m turf record across both tracks having won four times. Coming off a solid trial between runs in preparation for first start in over a month.
3rd Pick: MOONGATE STAR (5)
Despite being diagnosed with heat stress post-race last start, this son of Atlante ran well into fourth, beaten 2.3 lengths by Lucky Jinsha.
4th Pick: PATTAYA (9)
Last start placing behind Sabah Star looks a strong enough form line to be competitive here with the right run, a must include in the numbers.
KERMAJACK makes his Singapore debut in the Class 4 1400m Turf – race 11 at 9pm – Hakim to ride claiming 1kg – a big strong galloper who won in Australia over 1600m and ran 2nd over 2100m – bred to get a trip, he will need every inch of this 1400m trip – should be running home strongly, but may need this outing
DECEPTION contests the Class 4 1100m Poly – Race 12 at 9.30pm – an impressive last start winner in Restricted Maiden Grade, he is a quality galloper – has been freshened after his last start win and is being aimed at the Singapore 3yo Sprint 18th June with this race being a lead in – Jerlyn Seow rides, claiming 3kgs – hard to fault his form but recent racing has been on the Turf, did run 3rd this trip and surface on debut 8thJanuary – can feature here
Here is what the Singapore Turf Club tipsters say about this race;
1st Pick: GOLD TEN SIXTY-ONE (1)
Commanding winner over the same track and distance last start. Lead from gate to wire and I doubt the plan will change at all for this weekend. Looks the clear leader in the race.
2nd Pick: MONTANA FLASH (7)
Stepping out for Singapore debut. Half-brother to Lim’s Craft so has the right blood to succeed here in this jurisdiction. This upcoming run will give us a good guide on where he is at.
3rd Pick: DECEPTION (5)
Drops back to the 1100m and onto the poly which I don’t think is a plus. However, he was a dominant winner last start and could figure in the placings.
4th Pick: KISS YOUR SONG (2)
Quick back up for this for this four-time track and distance winner who is on the quick back up. Inside gate once again should assist its chances, keep safe.
Fortuna Track work – Matamata
Tuesday 31st May
No timed Fortuna trackwork today
Thursday 2nd June
No timed Fortuna trackwork today
Fortuna Track work – Singapore
Saturday 28th May
Hidden Promise (Jamil) – 800/600 37; Trident (Jamil) with Rocky (Yusoff) – 800/600 38; King Arthur (Aiman) – 1000/600 39; Entertainer (Yusoff) – 1000/600 39;; Our Final Offer (Aiman) C, 400
Tuesday 31st May
Deception (Jerlyn) – 800/600 39.5; Kermajack (Jerlyn) – 800/600 39.5; Montana Flash (Jamil) with Hadeer (Jerlyn) – 1000/600 37; Our Final Offer (Aiman) – 400 32; 34.5; Entertainer (Yusoff) – 800/600 38.5;
Other News
HIDDEN PROMISE brings a six season racing career to an end this Saturday 4th June in Singapore – the nine-year-old veteran had his first race day start in Singapore in November 2016 as a four year old – acquired by David Ellis in November 2014 at the Karaka Ready To Run sale for $65,000 on behalf of Fortuna Racing, his early promise was certainly well “hidden” because he did not show a lot at any of his trials in New Zealand or in Singapore – however being by Postponed out of the Zabeel mare Promissory, we knew that time would be his friend – sure enough and at his 5th career start in February 2017, he won a Class 5 1600m event in Singapore – he was no Champion but collected 7 wins, 6 2nds, 11 3rds and S$266,000 in prizemoney for his Ownership Group from 82 career starts. 1600m was his favourite trip winning 6 times at that distance and while most of his racing was in Class 4 or 5 Grade he did win once in Class 3.
Given the stable name “Bart”, he was as honest as the day is long and was often described by Mark Walker as “the soundest horse” in Singapore. His last win was in July 2021 and his recent runs have indicated that he was starting to feel his age, so the decision was made to give hm one more race on 4th June and retire him while still sound and fit – on 9th June, he will cross the causeway into Malaysia where a retirement home has been found for him at a riding school. To indicate his longevity, notable that he was Fortuna’s 49th Syndicate and now we are up to Syndicate #129. His Ownership group are in the main in New Zealand with one Member from the UK.
Go well Bart, you have been a great servant and given your Owners a lot of pleasure over the years
Vale Lester Piggot – Yes the great man has passed away in Switzerland aged 86 after a short illness. As a boy growing up and as a teenager and young adult obsessed with racing, I well remember Piggott winning 9 Epsom Derbies – incredibly he won his 1st Derby in 1954 as an 18 year old – mind you he did win his first race when he was aged 12!!! I also recall when that great NZ Champion Balmerino went to contest the Arc De Triomphe in 1976, he was beaten into 2nd Place by Piggott on Alleged. He also has another NZ connection riding at Te Rapa on International Day in 1972 when he partnered the mighty mare, Sailing Home, to win the International Stakes (this race is now known as the Herbie Dyke Stakes) – he also rode Arbre Chene to win the New Zealand Stakes at Ellerslie in 1980.
Lester Piggott in his youth
Piggott was a man of few words and was famous for his quips – also famous for his ruthlessness on the track – stories abound, but my favourite comes from the great Kieran Fallon, who recalled, that when he was an 18 year old “wet behind the ears” rider, Piggott sidled up to him in the mounting yard before a race and said “well, son, what are you going to do here” Fallon, honoured to be spoken to by the great man, said “well Sir, I am going to lead” – Fallon records that Piggott tracked him all the way throughout the race and got up in the last few strides to win by a head. He also records that that was a great learning curve for him.
There is far too much to be told about Lester Piggott in the space we have here but there is a wonderful summary of his racing career in the Racing Post article HERE
And what was, in the opinion of the great man himself, his greatest ever victory – he says it was on Royal Academy in the 1990 Breeders Cup Mile – some background here – he had retired from riding in 1985, then served 12 months in jail for tax evasion and had his OBE stripped from him – in 1990, aged 54, he made a riding comeback and 12 days after resuming, he won the Breeders Cup Mile at Belmont Park in the US – ClickHERE to watch the replay and a riding genius (look for green silks, white cap). Asked for a quote after the race he simply said “you never forget” and walked away
Lester Piggott in his element
Guest Selector – Des Coppins
It was an inexplicable performance by Hot Shockolate at Trentham on Saturday and we came back to earth with a sudden thump. It seems so many climbed on board with the odds dropping from the opening quote of $13 to a closing price around $6.50. She is capable of doing better and maybe a looser track will aid her next time but for the time being we will take it on the chin and move on to this weekend.
I like two horses at Waverley ( transferred from Wanganui) on Saturday and the choice is whether we back them as individuals or play the multi every possible way, i.e win, win; or, win, place; or place win or place place. I’ll be going every which way!
The two horses are Dame Vera in race two and Zoey Satin in race 8.The former has been well looked after by Robbie Patterson and her run to finish third last time was the six year old mare’s 6th start. She loves the mud and she attacks the line. While she didn’t have the quickest overall sectionals last time she was very quick over the last 200m and with a win and a second in only her two starts over Saturday’s distance of 1400m she looks perfectly placed to lodge the ultimate challenge.
Her $4.50 early odds look about right on! Zoey Satin is playing $5.50. That’s also a suitable price. We were on her last time and she was the quickest home over the last 400 and 200 at Rotorua on a slow track. She will be more suited to a wetter track and she should get it on Saturday. The extra distance will also suit and she’s had one start on the Waverley track for a comfortable win back in July. Remember, she had three wins in a row on heavy tracks each time last year.
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).