Rich Fortune out to fill big shoes in Kensington Stakes
The retirement of Group 2 winning mare Barb Raider has left a hole in the stable of Jerome Hunter which he hopes Rich Fortune can step up and fill.
Rich Fortune heads to the Listed Kensington Stakes (1000m) at Flemington on Wednesday looking to add to her record of two wins and three placings from seven starts.
Barb Raider raced 17 times for five wins and claimed the Group 2 The Roses (2100m) at Eagle Farm in May 22 while she was also placed at Group 1 level in the Thousand Guineas and Queensland Oaks.
Rich Fortune still has a way to go to measure up to Barb Raider, but the daughter of Rich Enuff did win the Group 3 Kevin Hayes Stakes (1100m) at Sandown in February at only her third start.
A virus that swept through Hunter’s Mornington stable in the middle of the year resulted in Rich Fortune missing the majority of the spring.
Rich Fortune returned to run in third at Bendigo on November 1 before finishing fifth to Taunting in the Apache Cat Classic (1000m) at Cranbourne on November 25.
Hunter reported Rich Fortune was not suited on the tighter confines at Cranbourne and will be far better suited on the wide-open spaces of Flemington on Wednesday.
Rich Fortune did run fifth to What You Need in the Listed Sunlight Classic (1100m) at Flemington in March at her only appearance at Flemington.
“She’s had a trial at Sandown since the Cranbourne run and she trialled enormous,” Hunter said.
“She ran the fastest time of the morning.
“Harry Coffey rode her at Cranbourne, and he just felt the track was too tight for her. They sprinted on the corner, and she couldn’t wind up until she got balanced in the straight.
“She has shown in her trackwork and her trial that she still has some form of ability and I’m sure Wednesday will tell the truth.”
Craig Williams replaces Coffey aboard Rich Fortune on Wednesday.
The Kensington Stakes is the final race on a rare mid-week fixture at Flemington where all seven races will be over sprint distances and on the straight track.
More Racing News
Ciaron Maher eyes four entrants for VRC St Leger
The champion stayer trainer Ciaron Maher counts one horse already locked in for Saturday's Listed VRC St Leger at Flemington, but he is pushing for substantially more involvement in the key event.Among the 28 declarations for the $200,000 2800-metre race are Awesome Artist, Noble Falcon, Intervened, and Tasmanian Derby champion...
New Zealand's Confesara eyes victory in Australasian Oaks
The track record of Roger James in capturing Australian Group 1 events for three-year-old fillies goes all the way back to the beginning of the 2000s, and he seeks to add to that tally this coming Saturday.Teaming up with co-trainer Robert Wellwood, the Kiwi conditioner has entered Confesara for the...
Adelaide hosts Niance's campaign launch
Grahame Begg, the trainer, is travelling to Adelaide featuring his capable mare Niance, potentially opening doors to a Brisbane-focused campaign for the quick runner.Since Flemington lacks fitting sprint races for Niance on Saturday, Begg chooses the Group 3 John Hawkes Stakes (1100m) held at Morphettville.By chance, Flemington's Anzac Day schedule...
Cap Ferrat set for reunion with Williams in Queen Elizabeth II Cup
The top jockey Craig Williams seeks to conclude a demanding weekend on a high note with a Group 1 win in Hong Kong, reuniting with 2025 Hong Kong Derby champion Cap Ferrat in the Queen Elizabeth II Cup (2000m) at Sha Tin come April 26.On Saturday, Williams boasts almost a...
Recon hands Carey elusive Hareeba Stakes success
Pat Carey, the hometown conditioner, has banished his Hareeba Stakes hoodoo after Recon unleashed a dazzling closing effort to take out the prize at Mornington.Carey had endured ongoing frustration in the Listed Hareeba Stakes (1200m), pursuing a victory across several campaigns, notably second with Kelthorpe in 2006 and third via...
All Aged Stakes delivers Beiwacht's second elite victory
Hall of Fame conditioner Chris Waller's unbeaten autumn dominance in Sydney received a fitting finale from Godolphin's Beiwacht, who powered to a determined lead-all-the-way success versus a elite opposition in the Group 1 $1.5 million All Aged Stakes (1400m) at Royal Randwick on Saturday.In addition, Waller filled the first two...
Mornington Cup win gives Kings Valley direct entry to Caulfield Cup
Kings Valley, under the guidance of trainer Ciaron Maher, has clinched a ballot exemption for the Caulfield Cup courtesy of a gritty performance at Mornington.The Listed Mornington Cup conquest on Saturday delivers the 'Golden Ticket' access to the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) scheduled for October.Maher notched his second Mornington...
Pride stable trifecta topped by Mazu in Hall Mark Stakes
At eight years old, the exceptional Mazu maintains his sharp turn of foot and zest for competition, setting the tempo wire-to-wire for his third consecutive triumph in Saturday's Group 3 $250,000 Hall Mark Stakes (1200m).Previously, Pride's star had mastered the Hall Mark on rain-affected surfaces where he excels, but facing...
Waller's record Sydney autumn run ends with Fireball edging Champagne Stakes
Chris Waller, the celebrated Hall of Fame trainer, notched a historic Sydney Saturday Group 1 sweep as Fireball got the better of stable companion Campione D'Italia in Saturday's $1 million Champagne Stakes (1600m) at Royal Randwick.The autumn carnival's eighth straight (and last) Sydney Saturday of Group 1 races saw Waller...
JRA Plate victory confirms Asterix at his sharpest
The win by Asterix stood out as somewhat surprising compared to Waller's earlier triumphs, given the progressive eight-year-old gelding was dispatched at $16 into the race.Having captured the New Zealand Derby four years back, Asterix lost momentum for a period before flashing his class last summer with a win in...