Friday Flash – 3rh March

Headline News; 3 winners from 4 starters last 2 days for Fortuna racing – that’s 11 wins for 2022 in just under 9 weeks – 6 in NZ, 5 in Singapore

Fortuna has four runners this week, two in NZ and two in Singapore

New Zealand

Navalha races at Ellerslie Saturday 5^th March in the Rating 74 1200m event – race 7 @ 3.55pm and will be ridden by Jonathan Parkes from Barrier 6 – 5^th this grade and course 1100m in January but was tardy away with no luck in the running – he is ready for this – strong field, but if he jumps well can certainly feature

Dancarina also races at Ellerslie – the Rating 65 1400m – race 10 at 5.49pm. Matthew Cameron takes the mount – an impressive last start winner at Ruakaka 9^th February this trip, she is ready to step up here – has drawn wide, so rider choice of tactics on jumping will be important – if she jumps well, he will press forward, if average will go back – will need luck, but if she gets it is an each way chance

Singapore

Entertainer is in the Class 2 1100m Poly – Race 6 @ 7.30pm NZT and will be ridden by Harry Kasim from barrier 4 in an 8 horse field. A last start winner at this trip and grade and boasting 7 wins from 9 starts this trip and surface, he is the one to beat. Meets a strong field here, including his stable mate King Arthur, who has won  his  last 4 in a row. An on speed runner, he is a strong each way chance here in a good field.

King Arthur contests the same race – has taken all before him with 5 wins in Singapore to date, the last 4 in a row. Jumps from the Ace barrier with CC Wong in the saddle – hard not to like on form but is up in Grade here– represents a strong each way chance and can win if things go right for him

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

1st Pick: KING ARTHUR (4)
Looking for five wins straight and again finds himself in a nice race down in the weights from the ace draw. The drop back to 1100 is a positive if anything for a speedy horse like him.
2nd Pick: ARARAT LADY (6)
Finds herself meeting Entertainer 4kg better at the weights this time around. Trial win suggests she has progressed well since her first-up run.
3rd Pick: ENTERTAINER (2)
Almost finds himself at the top of the weight scale in this field after last-start victory. As much as the win was super, the ride got him there. He will find this tougher having to spot some nice horses a bit of weight but is seven from nine track and distance, so he must be respected.
4th Pick: NOWYOUSEE (1)
Carried an extra kg in his first-up run for 2022 and went super behind Lim’s Kosciuszko. Drops in class and carries more weight here as a result but last start deserves plenty of respect.

Who will hold court – the “King” or the “Joker” (Entertainer’s stable name is “Joker”)

Here is a good story from the STC website on this clash;

If Donna Logan had her own way, her two prolific Fortuna NZ Stable runners Entertainer and King Arthurwould not have clashed in the same race this Saturday.
But the racing calendar is such that the New Zealand trainer didn’t really have any other option but to let the collision course take place.
They both race in the $85,000 Class 2 race over 1100m, and as much as she would have preferred not to put all her eggs in one basket, it is comforting for her to know the two on-speed runners have both drawn low in the eight-horse contest.

King Arthur, a five-time winning (including four at last four starts) four-year-old by I Am Invincible has drawn an alley while Entertainer, a seven-time winning five-year-old by Zoustar, will break from barrier four.
“Of course, I would rather not have them in the same race, but there were no other races for them. I didn’t have much of a choice,” said Logan.
“The next available race is a Class 3 race over 1200m on March 13 and then it’s all the way till April 30 for another Class 3 1200m. Looks like they’ll have to run together again.”
Like a mother who won’t be drawn into choosing a favourite child, Logan won’t split them, but she has a pretty good idea who would be in front of who in the running.
“They’ve both got gate speeds. The draws were the determining factor, and the good news is they have both drawn well,” she said.
“Between the two, Entertainer is the quicker out of the gates and I reckon he will lead, but King Arthur won’t be far behind.
“They’re both in very good order. Both have been working well and both Jimmy (Wong Chin Chuen on King Arthur) and Harry (A’Isisuhairi Kasim on Entertainer) have given great feedback on them.
“Obviously, King Arthur will be up in class, but he’s always so well in himself. He’s incredibly well and to this point, I don’t see why he can’t measure up.”

Fortuna Track work – Matamata

Tuesday 1^st March
Soprano Supreme (A Gujar) worked at three quarter pace over 1200 metres in 1.15, last 600 in 45.6.
Dancarina (A Gujar) galloped over 1000 metres in 1.04.6, home in 36.8.

Thursday 3^rd March

Dancarina (A Gujar) worked at three quarter pace over 1000 metres to time, home in 41.

Fortuna Track work – Singapore

Saturday 26th Feb

King Arthur (CC Wong) – 1000/600 38.5;

Tuesday 1^st March

Olympia (Aslam) – 1000/600 38; Hidden Promise (Jake) – 800/600 37King Arthur (CC Wong) – 800/600 38.5; Entertainer (Harry K) – C, 800/600 39

Other News

Fortuna winners RAGAMUFFIN and MOHAWK BRAVE make it a double for the Fortuna Racing Team Hastings 2nd March

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

KARAKA YEARLING SALES

Delayed until March this year because of Covid issues the historic annual yearling sale gets underway on Sunday, the 6^th of March – David, Mark and Jamie between them have inspected all of the yearlings on offer, have done the research and homework have drawn up a short list  (which gets shorter by the day) and are currently conducting final inspections – Fortuna will be buying as usual two or three and sticking to our usual “quality but value” formula – keep a look out on our website for updates and of course we will also be communicating details on our offerings via our newsletters.

Interestingly enough I acquired my first yearling at Karaka in 2003 an d have bought at every sale since – so 2022 will be 20 years consecutive for me. David Ellis selected that first yearling for me, a Kapstaad Filly, named KAPSDAN, who won four times as a 2yo including the Group 2 Wakefield Challenge Stakes in race record time – her success paved the way for subsequent investment into Darci Brahma and led to me establishing the Fortuna business. It has been a great ride and, for me, the very best part is the joy and excitement that winning races brings to our clients – talking of winners, I calculate that Soprano Supreme’swin yesterday was the 225th winner we have had over the years!!!

Fortuna Trialists

Avondale trials 1^st March saw 3 Fortuna runners as follows

Madame Moet – 4yo Mare – freshened after her Maiden win at Matamata in January, she ran 3^rd in the Open Catchweight 1000m with Opie Bosson aboard – lovely trial finishing under no pressure – she is down to race Pukekohe Saturday 12^th March R651400

Prince Lonhro – 2yo Gelding – first trial – got back in running over the 800m trip – wide on turn, finished strongly for 3^rd in an attractive effort – will trial again 2 weeks time

Angels Wings – 2yo Filly – 2^nd trial this prep, no luck in running – trialed well enough but has trained off – lovely filly, she will now go to paddock for a spell and return to work mid to late May to prepare for her 3yo season