Fortuna has three runners Saturday 29^nd May – all in Singapore

Singapore

Sportscaster contests the Class five 1100 poly (race one at 4 pm New Zealand time) – this is a resuming run for him over a trip that is short of his best, however he does like to lead and will carry a very light weight courtesy of Dennis Tan’s 4 kg claim – hard to see him winning this but he will give a sight in the run and could be a sneaky place chance at odds

King Arthur contests the Open Maiden 1400 Turf (race four at 5:30 pm) – this horse has had two starts in Singapore for a third and a second in Restricted Maiden grade and has caught the eye of some good judges – looks very well-placed in this as it is a weaker grade than his first two starts –  has drawn nicely in barrier five with Singapore’s leading rider K Hakim aboard claiming 2 kg.
Looks to be very hard to beat in this race

Here is what the Singapore Turf club pundits have to say about this race:

1st Pick: KING ARTHUR (8)

Two placings in as many starts. Not without ability and will relish extra 200m. Leading chance.

2nd Pick: AL MEQDAM (9)

Overraced at third start but still plugged away well for second. No world beater but it won’t be long before he opens his account.

3rd Pick: RESURGENCE (4)

Showed some flashes of brilliance when known as Gnothi Seauton last prep. Plenty of trials under his belt. Tongue-tie on and has drawn nicely. Not without a say.

4th Pick: SUNDAY (12)

Finally showed some qualities at his last outing. Seven furlongs will suit even better. Lovely gate in two. Has to prove it was not a case of not every day is Sunday.

Red Rover is in the Class four 1200 Polytrack event (race eight at 7:30 pm) – has drawn nicely in barrier two with Singapore champion jockey Vlad Duric in the saddle. Red Rover set his Singapore career alight in 2019 with three wins in a row ,however lost his way in 2020 and has been very ordinary on his resumption in 2021 – a full vet emanation revealed nothing physically wrong with him and he bolted away in a trial on 18th of May winning by six lengths – notable that Mark Walker had taken all of his headgear off ahead of the trial and he will race without gear this Saturday –  talented at his best he should only be taken on trust in this race but if he can run up to his recent trial form then he can be competitive in this race from the nice barrier draw

Here is what the Singapore Turf club pundits have to say about this race:

1st Pick: LUCKY IMPERATOR (3)

Has genuine Class 4 form that looks good against this field. Not beaten far in previous starts and can figure.

2nd Pick: PINDUS (8)

Seems to be picking up again. Last-start third to Bionics over 1000m was full of merit. Extra 200m will work in his favour.

3rd Pick: GRAND FIGHTER (6)

Found Novice race tougher after brilliant debut win. To be fair, he was caught wide and caused a bit of fracas before the start. Can atone.

4th Pick: RED ROVER (1)

Latest form has been nothing to write home about but his sensational six-length barrier trial win last week may suggest a return to form. Take on trust.

Fortuna trackwork this week – Matamata

Tuesday 25th May

Rhapsody In Blue (H Durrant) worked at three quarter pace over 1200 metres in 1.29.6, home in 44.4.

Soprano Supreme (T Harris) worked at three quarter pace over 1200 metres in 1.30.4, home in 46.

Thursday 27^th May

Soprano Supreme (T Harris) galloped over an easy 1200 metres in 1.23.9, last 600 in 39.7.

Rhapsody In Blue (H Durrant) galloped over an easy 1200 metres in 1.26.6, home in 40.9.

Champion New Zealand mare Melody Belle has gone through the ring at the Magic Millions broodmare sale for A$2.6million.

Melody Belle – Gold Coast 13th May 2021

The much-anticipated appearance of Melody Belle in the Magic Millions sales ring on Tuesday morning certainly lived up to the hype as the exceptionally well-performed mare achieved a price of $2.6 million

Melody Belle became the most successful Group 1 racehorse in New Zealand racing history with her win in the Bonecrusher in March when she took her Group 1 total to 14, surpassing the record previously held by the great Sunline.

As a two-year-old, the daughter of Commands won the Karaka Millions, the Group 1 Sires Produce (at Awapuni) and the Group 2 Sires Produce (at Eagle Farm).

As a three-year-old she won the Group 3 Mongolian Khan.

As a four-year-old Melody Belle won the Group 2 Foxbridge Plate, the Group 1 Tazrino Trophy and the Group 1 Windsor Park in a magnificent three race, one month blitz from August 18. 2018 to September 22, 2018.

Five months later, amazingly, Melody Belle exceeded that previous effort, again winning three races in a month (this time from February 9 to March 9), but this time they were ALL Group 1 victories in the BDC Sprint, the Haunui Stakes and the NZ Stakes.

You would have thought that sort of achievement would be hard to surpass, but Melody Belle did just that.

As a five-year-old, Melody Belle won four Group 1’s in a row!

She got her second Tarzino Trophy and her second Windsor Park and added a Livamol and an Empire Rose to her honour roll, in the process becoming the first, and still only horse to win the New Zealand Triple Crown.

And she wasn’t finished yet!

As a six-year-old she again made it back-to-back Group 1 when taking out her third Windsor Park and her second Livamol before winning the Group 1 Thorndon Mile in January 2021 … a result which took her alongside Sunline’s total of 13 Group 1 wins.

On March 13, 2021 she marked the defining achievement of her career when she won the Group 1 Bonecrusher to become New Zealand’s greatest Group 1 winning performer.

This was an exceptional career by any standards – credit: justhorseracing.com.au

NZ Racing News reports:

Tuesday morning began a series of lasts for 14-time Group One winner Melody Belle (NZ) (Commands).

The six-year-old mare had her final gallop at the Gold Coast with regular rider Opie Bosson aboard ahead of her final raceday start in the Gr.1 Doomben Cup (2000m) on Saturday.

“She worked well and in her customary style,” trainer Jamie Richards told SENTrack. “She worked on the course proper over 1200m and did some nice work on her own, and I was really happy with her.”

Richards said she also got the tick of approval from Bosson, who arrived in the Gold Coast on Monday evening.

“Not only does he know her well on raceday, but he has ridden her in the majority of her decent gallops throughout her career as well,” Richards said.

“When he came back in he gave a big thumbs up and a smile, that was good to see.”

The daughter of Commands finished 10^th in the Gr.2 Hollindale Stakes (1800m) earlier this month and Richards said he is expecting to see plenty of improvement from his mare following that run.

“We just didn’t have the rub of the green heading into the Hollindale, she had a few niggly things going on,” he said.

“I think we have got past all of that now and she goes into the race in good shape, she should be competitive.”

Richards said she didn’t get all favours in the Hollindale and believes she has improved several lengths since that run, although he admitted race winner Zaaki (Leroidesanimaux) will be hard to vanquish this weekend.

“She got interfered with quite badly halfway down (the straight) and there was nothing in the Stewards Report,” he said.

“She was probably going to run fifth or sixth and got checked out of it and finished 10^th.

“She needs to improve a fair way, but she is open to more improvement, but the winner Zaaki does look very hard to beat.

“She was always going to improve out of the Hollindale and we think that she has done that.”

Melody Belle has taken Richards on a great ride over the last few years and has been an integral piece in helping launch his training career.

“She is the ultimate professional racehorse,” he said. “A Group One winner as a two-year-old right through to a six-year-old. She very rarely put in a bad performance and has been a really sound and tough mare that loves her job.

“She is just a lovely mare to have around and she will make a great broodmare.”

Fortuna has three runners Saturday 22^nd May – one in Aus and two in Singapore

New Zealand

Melody Belle races in the Doomben Cup (Group 1  – 2000m – $700,000) – race seven at 5:18 pm New Zealand time – she will be ridden from barrier 8 by Opie Bosson in a field of 12 runners – she meets an incredibly strong field here with the Cox Plate winner, the Australian Cup winner, the All Star Mile winner and the Hollindale Stakes winner, however she is all class as we know – she has had a very good lead into this race – was strong in her work during the week, is eating well and has no issues – this won’t be easy as it is a very strong field but she can run into the money at big odds if she gets luck in the running from a slightly tricky draw 

Melody Belle – Gold Coast 13th May 2021

Singapore

Hidden Promise races in the Class five 1200 on the Polytrack – race one  4 pm New Zealand time- A six time winner in Singapore he has never won at this trip but has gone very close, has a lovely draw here from barrier three and with stable apprentice Jerlyn Seow in the saddle claiming 4kgs, will only carry a featherweight  – can feature in this race particularly if there is a hot speed upfront which there seems to be

Elliot Ness races in the Novice grade 1200 Turf – race five at 6 pm New Zealand time.  This last start winner sensation, breaking the track record as a maiden, faces a difficult task here from barrier 11, but has good gate speed and with Vlad Duric in the saddle, has the right man on board to sum things up nicely  – won’t be easy in this grade to win from the draw but he is all class and can certainly run into the money and can win if things go right 

“Elliot Ness” – Debut win Singapore – 24th April 2021

Fortuna trackwork this week – Matamata

Tuesday 18^th May

No timed Fortuna runners trackwork today

Thursday 20^th May

No timed Fortuna runners trackwork today

Other News

The stellar career of Melody Belle draws to a close this Saturday 22nd of May at Doomben racecourse where she runs in the Doomben Cup – on Tuesday the 25th she enters the sale ring at the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale on the Gold Coast and will be sold that day – this event is live streamed on the Magic Millions website and the time she goes through the ring will be from 10.20am Aus time (12.20pm NZT) – she is Lot No 510 – https://www.magicmillions.com.au/youtube-live-broadcast/ is the link

Fortuna three year old Marcus Antonius(Sepoy-Panda’s Turn) broke through for his Maiden win in Singapore over 1700m today in dramatic fashion – drawn nicely in barrier 2, this horse, who has tended to get back in the running and then run on strongly, was able to utilise the good barrier draw to possy up on the rail just behind the speed, in the hands of leading Singapore apprentice K Hakim, claiming 2kilograms. On turning for home, Marcus was well positioned to challenge, however one of the race leaders, Fountain Of Fame, wasn’t going to give in easy and kicked again with a hundred metres to go –  although it looked as if the fast finishing Marcus Antonius would not be able to make up the ground, one final effort by both horse and rider saw him prevail in the last stride winning  by a nose.

Click HERE to see the race replay

Trainer Mark Walker was a very satisfied man after the race  “this horse does have ability but needs distance and is also tended to get back in the running and leave himself a difficult task to win, so today with the good draw, I decided to put the blinkers on and it all worked out perfectly although it was a nailbiting finish.”

Marcus Antonius – Maiden Win – Singapore 15th May 2021

Fortuna Director John Galvin, currently in Queensland, overseeing stable star Melody Belle‘s final career race and sale at the upcoming Magic Millions broodmare sale, also expressed satisfaction “we have needed to be very patient with his horse – he’s definitely a staying type and gets back in his races, but today with a nice draw he was able to race handier to the speed and although he did need every ounce of Hakim’s 2 kg claim he managed to nail it in the last stride”

Marcus Antonius was acquired by John Galvin on Mark Walker‘s recommendation at the 2019 Magic Millions 2yos In Training sale for the sum of A$60,000

He is raced by the Fortuna Marcus Antonius Syndicate – an ownership group consisting of 33 individuals

Fortuna galloper BEAU GESTE  was superb at Whanganui Thursday 13th of May when winning the Maiden Hurdles in stylish fashion in his first attempt at this discipline. Backing up from an equally stylish win just four days previously at Woodville, Beau Geste, ridden by 18-year-old apprentice Dean Parker, left the barriers nicely at the 3000m mark, took up a position in 3rd place close to the rail – keen in the early run he jumped well, although did get in close at the third hurdle and jumped that one a little awkwardly.  Leaving the straight with a round to go and still in third place, he had relaxed nicely and continued to jump cleanly. The race tempo increased noticeably from the 600 metre mark but “Wolf” was up to the task and as the field turned for home and the leader rolled off the rail, he took an inside run along the rail, hit the lead after taking the last hurdle and away to the line winning by a bit over two lengths.

Click HERE to see the race result and replay

Trainer, Kevin Myers, was pretty happy with his charge “he jumped well his horse, he has shown us quite a bit at home – he is rock hard fit and gave a nice display today even though he was a bit keen early in the run – he will only continue to improve at this jumping game”

Fortuna Director, John Galvin, who is in Queensland with Jessica Galvin overseeing Melody Belle‘s final race and sale, watched the race from an apartment in Port Douglas “that was amazing to watch – I’ve had some great thrills in racing with the likes of Darci Brahma and more recently Melody Belle and altogether have experienced over 200 wins, but today’s result gave me a really big thrill – to see this horse win two races in four days, one on the flat and one over the hurdles and for us to have our first ever win in a hurdle race was very exciting – a big thanks to Kevin Myers, who has got this horse going really well and a big thanks also to Dean Parker, who is only eighteen, but rides with an aplomb above his years”

Beau Geste boasts an impressive pedigree, with his Sire being the English Derby winner, Pour Moi and out of the mare Villa Wanda, this making him a three-quarter brother to the multiple group one winning Wall Street

Bred by Kevin Hickman, Beau Geste was selected by David Ellis on behalf of Fortuna at the 2016 Karaka Premier Yearling sale for $32,500 – he is raced by the Fortuna Beau Geste Syndicate an ownership group of 23 individuals

Beau Geste was strapped by Caley Myers

Fortuna has four runners Saturday 15^th May – one in NZ and three in Singapore

New Zealand

Khafeef races at Rotorua in the Rating 65 to 2200 meter event (race seven at 2:56 pm) he has drawn barrier 6 in a field of 14 runners and will be ridden by Trudy Thornton – has been putting on some solid staying efforts in recent runs without winning – does strike a heavy track here which may be an issue for him  – gets back in the running and would need to get moving from about the 700m mark – is a good chance of  running in the money if he handles the track

Singapore

Hadeer  tackles the class  4 1200 Turf event (race three at 5pm New Zealand time) – he will be ridden by Louis Beuzelin from barrier 8 in a field of 12 runners – this horse has been somewhat disappointing of late and does have a tricky barrier draw here – does need to lift his performance – hard to have in this race

Marcus Antonius contests the Maiden 1700 Polytrack event (race 4 at 5.30pm) has drawn a very good gate in barrier 2 – blinkers go on JP Van Der Merwe takes the mount – a genuine staying type this horse has been running on strongly in his races without threatening but gets an opportunity here from a good gate and blinkers applied – can certainly be competitive in this race and can win if everything goes right

Federation contest the Class 3 1600 Turf (race 11 at 9pm) – Has drawn the ace with JP Van Der Merwe aboard. Up in trip to the mile first time this preparation – field is very strong – will be in it a long way from the draw but probably needs Class 4 to be a winning chanc

Fortuna trackwork this week – Matamata

Tuesday 11^th May

Charmaine’s Dream (T Harris) worked at three quarter pace over 800 metres in 1 minute, home in 43.8

Thursday 13^th May

No timed Fortuna runners today

Other News

Fortuna 6yo BEAU GESTE made it two wins in four days when winning the Maiden Hurdle at Wanganui Thursday 13^th May – this after winning the R65 2200m event at Woodville 9^th May. He gave an impressive display of hurdling at his first attempt on raceday

Fortuna 6yo galloper, BEAU GESTE (Pour Moi – Villa Wanda) produced a solid, resolute performance when winning the Rating 65 2200 metre event at Woodville 9th May. Drawing  nicely in  barrier 2, apprentice rider Temyia Taiaroa settled him back in the field on the rail – the race tempo was strong,  Beau Geste relaxed nicely and travelled well in the run and Temyia started to move him forward from around the 700 meter mark. On turning for home the horse was going well but still had a bit of work to do as Maninthesky under a vigourous ride from Sam Collett had skipped away – nevertheless, mounting a strong run down the centre of the track, Beau Geste  prevailed in the last few strides winning by a long neck.

Click HERE to see the race result and Video replay

This was Beau Geste’s third career win, his first two wins coming in quick succession in 2019 when trained by Jamie Richards – after a few more unsuccessful starts in Jamie‘s care and believing that the horse could well have a future as a jumper, he was transferred to Kevin Myers stable in the late Autumn of 2020. A long steady preparation including lots of jumping, point to point racing and Gymkhana events seem to have really bought the horse on and he gave an indication of good things to come when running a strong 4th placing at Woodville on 22 April when resuming.

Trainer Kevin Myers was very happy with the result “he’s developing into a nice horse, he jumps well, has no issues, was very strong today and was well ridden by young Temyia”

Fortuna Director John Galvin, currently in Queensland overseeing the last stages of Melody Belle’s racing career, was also very happy “I’m really chuffed with this win – Beau Geste has always been a dour one paced type of horse who showed that he was capable of winning races – we mapped out a plan to develop him as a jumping horse, but clearly he still retains ability to win on the flat – well handled by Kevin, he has a good future I think”

 Beau Geste returning to scale – Temyia Taiaroa is all smiles

Beau Geste boasts an impressive pedigree, with his Sire being the English Derby winner, Pour Moi and out of the mare Villa Wanda, this making him a three-quarter brother to the multiple group one winning Wall Street

Bred by Kevin Hickman, Beau Geste was selected by David Ellis on behalf of Fortuna at the 2016 Karaka Premier Yearling sale for $32,500 – he is raced by the Fortuna Beau Geste Syndicate an ownership group of 23 individuals

Beau Geste was strapped by Caley Myers

6 MAY 2021

Fortuna has seven runners Saturday and Sunday – one Australia, three in NZ and three in Singapore

Australia

Melody Belle races in the Group 2 Hollindale Stakes 1800m at the Gold Coast Turf Club Saturday 8th May (race eight at 3:44pm) once again she has come up with the “visitors draw” and will jump from the outside barrier. Opie Bosson takes the mount – she meets a strong field here on a slow track – as always she is all class but will need a lot of luck from this wide draw on the tight Gold Coast track

New Zealand 9^th May

Soprano Supreme races at Woodville in the Maiden 1400 (race three at 11:30am) and will be written by Sam Collett from an outside barrier – resuming from a long break she trialed well recently but has a difficult draw here to overcome – may need this run

Rhapsody in Blue races at Woodville in the Rating 65 1400m (race six at 1:09 pm) and will be written by Sam Collett from barrier six – this two win mare hasn’t had all favours in her last three runs, but is down in grade, gets a good draw here with top rider aboard and gets track conditions to suit. Talented at her best she can feature in this race

Beau Geste races at Woodville in the Rating 65 2200 (race 11 at 4:14pm) – drawn nicely in barrier two – he ran a slashing 4^th placing  this grade over 1600m recently –being prepared for a hurdles campaign and rock hard fit he can certainly feature in this race

Singapore

King Arthur races in the Restricted Maiden 1200 Turf  (Race two at 4:30pm NZT) – will be ridden by CC Wong from barrier one – this is his second start in Singapore and ran a slashing third in this grade on his debut two weeks ago – has taken big improvement from that but does make a strong field here –  has the Ace draw and can certainly feature in the first three

Marcus Antonius is in the Class five 1700 Polytrack (race seven at 7pm) and will be written by CC Wong from barrier eight – this horse has been looking for a trip and has been racing well of late – strikes a weak field here, presents as a strong each way chance and can win.

Hidden Promise races in the Class five 1200 Turf  (race nine at 8pm) – a six time winner in Singapore he’s never won at this trip, but has run close-up finishes – is fresh for this, has a nice draw and will only carry 50.5 kg with Jerlyn Seow’s 4 kg claim – can run into the money here if he gets the right run 

Fortuna trackwork this week – Matamata

Tuesday 4^th May

Soprano Supreme (J Kamaruddin) galloped over 1000 metres in 1.04.6, last 600 in 37.3.  Rhapsody In Blue (D Johnson) ran very similar time.

Thursday 6^th May

Rhapsody In Blue (H Durrant) worked along nicely at three quarter pace, quickening in the straight to finish in 43.

 Soprano Supreme (T Harris) worked at three quarter pace the entire way, finishing in 44.