NAVALHA makes it 4 career wins when victorious on Awapuni Synthetic 7th July 2023
A winner at Riccarton in the spring, Navalha (5 g Sebring – Afiado, by Encosta de Lago) returned to his best form for victory in the $14,000 Carters “Trade Leaders Now Online” Rating 65 1700 metres on 7 July on the Awapuni Synthetic track. After struggling a bit for form on wet turf tracks recently, the decision was made to try him on the Synthetic surface 16th July in the Rating 65 1400 metres, where he put in a strong finishing performance for 2nd. Up in trip to 1700m this time Navalha travelled well for rider Michael McNab in the early running, improved his position to three back inner nearing the 600m turning for home and once sighting daylight he burst through to record a compelling victory.
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It was patient handling by the current Champion jockey Jockey, recording his 150th win for the season andset to retain his title again this season, while the manner of victory suggested Navalha had advanced nicely for his last start effort.
“It’s good that he’s handling the poly-track surface so well and it’s always good to win races for Fortuna Racing, who are great supporters of the stable, and I think he’s got more wins in him too,” said trainer Mark Walker, who claimed another victory (195th) in a record-breaking season. “It was a lovely ride by Michael who is riding at the top of his game.”
“Navalha” – 4th career win – Awapuni 7th July – Michael McNab aboard
Raced by the Fortuna Navalha Syndicate, Navalha has now recorded four wins in New Zealand including winning his first two starts over 1200 metres.
Fortuna Director, John Galvin, was on course at Awapuni along with a few Members of the Ownership group and was a satisfied Syndicate Manager after the race “He’s a horse that has performed well against good horses at Premier level, but he has had some soundness issues, dislikes wet surfaces and so and it’s great to see him back in winning form for his owners – being an off the pace style runner has worked against him sometimes, but Michael gave him a lovely ride and it was a strong effort under 60kg. Great to see him run out the 1700m on the Synthetic and now that we know he can run that sort of trip, it opens a few more doors for him.”
NAVALHA (which means “Razor” in Portuguese), a 5yo Gelding by Sebring out of the Encosta de Lago Mare, Afiado, was acquired by John Galvin on the recommendation of Mark Walker, for just A$27,500 from the Inglis Digital Sale in July 2020 after having been originally acquired by James Harron Bloodstock for A$475k as a yearling.
Navalha is raced by the Fortuna Navalha Syndicate, an ownership group of 57 individuals
Navalha was strapped by Kohen Collett