Trainer Leticia Dragon believes Fortune Winner will answer her true calling when she is tested over longer distances even after the promising mare stylishly claimed a 1200m race at her last start.
Dragon has always held a high opinion of the four-year-old daughter of Include, but more over a trip. The last-start win over a shorter journey was a bonus, but now she can fully focus the mare’s career towards her forte, hence her decision to step her up to something which is more up her alley this Sunday, in the Open Benchmark 83 event, the $100,000 Auckland Racing Club Trophy race (1600m).
Even if Fortune Winner boasts one win and one second from three starts on Polytrack, Dragon still believes the Kim Stable-owned galloper is more adept to turf tracks contrary to the general belief that Argentinian-breds like her are all-weather experts.
“She has pulled up really good since her last win over 1200m but generally, 1600m will suit her better,” said Dragon of the three-time winner, twice over the mile.“She can be quite versatile, but she has shown to be more fluid over the turf track. She has a great turn of foot and from that alone I feel turf is better (than Polytrack) for her.”
To be ridden by her last-start winning partner Mark Ewe again, Fortune Winner will face a handy field made up of the likes of Imperial March, Mighty Warrior and Dujardin on Sunday.
Whether she will be able to measure up remains to be seen, but a good performance and probably a few more in the near future may give Dragon some ideas about loftier projects further down the road.
“I reckon she will run a good race this weekend and I hope she does well,” said Dragon.
“At this stage, her ratings are not high enough to be considered for any big race like the (Singapore) Gold Cup for instance.
“She’s still a young girl. We may still eventually field her if she qualifies, but I think it will come too soon for her.
“Maybe the (Singapore) Derby next year will be a more realistic target for her.”
