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
Vein Girl impresses in rich Magic Millions The Debut win
Vein Girl has put herself in contention for next month’s $3 million Magic Millions 2YO Classic with a strong win on debut under lights at the Gold Coast’s first night meeting. The Chris and Corey Munce-trained Vein Girl was sent out the $3.50 favourite with betting sites in Friday night’s $250,000...
Pallaton races into 2025 Golden Slipper contention
Pallaton has stamped himself as a two-year-old colt to watch heading into 2025 with an impressive debut win at Randwick. Trained by Michael Freedman and ridden by Tommy Berry, Pallaton raced to a 2-3/4-length victory in Saturday’s Shinzo @ Coolmore Plate (1000m) and firmed to be among the early favourites in Golden Slipper...
Arriving Home set to target the Magic Millions Guineas 2025
Trainer Bjorn Baker would love to get lightly raced filly Arriving Home into the Magic Millions Guineas next month after the three-year-old remained unbeaten with a tough win at Randwick. Stepping up from a midweek city maiden win at Warwick Farm on debut earlier this month into Saturday’s Petaluma Handicap (1300m) – a...
Goldman digs deep in the Pakenham Cup 2024
One time Melbourne Cup favourite, Goldman has notched up his fourth win in Australia, leading throughout to take the Listed Pakenham Cup (2500m) under Beau Mertens. Jumping an $8.50 chance, Goldman’s staying prowess was on show as he kicked back to deny Grand Pierro ($19) by a long head, with $3.30 betting site...
The Kings horse Gilded Water wins at Randwick
Imported stayer Gilded Water has made it back-to-back victories in Australia and has given his owner, His Majesty King Charles III, a winner at Royal Randwick. The King’s racing manager John Warren was on track at Randwick on Saturday as the Ciaron Maher-trained Gilded Water raced to a convincing victory in the...
Here To Shock gives Lindsay Park quinella in The Supernova
Ben, Will & Jd Hayes had the numbers two and three seed to knock off race-favourite Nadal in Saturday’s $1 million The Supernova (1400m) at Pakenham and did just that, with Here To Shock, ridden by Daniel Stackhouse, edging stablemate Arkansaw Kid in a thrilling stable quinella. Here To Shock ($4.60) trailed a strong...
Kevin Daffy happy to wait with Oh Too Good ahead of VOBIS Gold Bullion
Trainer Kevin Daffy says there is still plenty of time to chase the big league with his lightly-raced mare Oh Too Good. A winner of four of her seven starts with three runner-up finishes as well, Oh Too Hard runs in the VOBIS Gold Bullion (1400m) at Pakenham on Saturday. Daffy was sounded...
Bedggood chases rich The Supernova prize
Two rising nine-year-olds, both resuming, will give Gavin Bedggood a potential shot at his biggest payday as a trainer. A former jockey, Bedggood has been plying his trade as a trainer since 2017 and during the recent Melbourne Spring Carnival prepared Mornington Glory to land his first Group 1 success. Just Folk and Windstorm, both...
Collett hoping for Dream Brisbane raid in BJ McLachlan Stakes and Magic Millions Falvelon
A pair of promising two-year-olds from the Ciaron Maher stable have lured top Sydney hoop Jason Collett to Queensland for back-to-back meetings this weekend. Collett is heading north to partner filly Life After Love in the $250,000 Magic Millions The Debut (1000m) at the Gold Coast on Friday night and her Maher-trained stablemate...
Theodore aims to keep strike-rate going in Christmas Cup at Murray Bridge
Trainer Stephen Theodore is looking to Divine Fire keeping his impressive strike-rate going when she shoots for a winning hat-trick on Saturday. After victories at Morphettville and Gawler, Divine Fire runs in the Christmas Cup (1600m) at Murray Bridge with Jacob Opperman in the saddle. Since returning to training ranks at the start of...
