Beaten out of a place in The Everest, though far from disgraced, former Hong Kong sprinter Joyful Fortune showed his appreciation for the Flemington straight with a dominant performance in the Listed GH Mumm Century Stakes (1000m).
Ridden by Josh Parr for Mark Newnham, the 6yo son of Nicconi kept up a strong gallop to defeat Zoustyle (Zoustar) by three-quarter of a length with Yulong Command (Written Tycoon) one and three-quarter lengths back in third.
A two-time winner at Sha Tin and a four and a half lengths winner over 1100m at Flemington at his Australian debut on September 18, Joyful Fortune advances his record to four wins and a second from 10 starts with earnings of $916,087.
“It was a really good win and good to reward owners that have been with me from the start,” Newnham said.
“Great ride by Josh, Aaron Lau’s been down here with the horse, he’s done a terrific job with our horses for the week, and I only had to turn up and put the saddle on.
“He’s a very talented horse. Obviously, he’s had a fair time off with an injury, but we’ve managed him well, space his runs out a little bit and just find the right races.
“He looks like a straight-track specialist, so you ever know, he might find himself back here in a Lightning or something. All his wins have been down the straight, so no need to stray too far.
“Being a straight-track specialist, you look at any races down the Flemington straight, and it certainly suits him.
“1200 back to 1000, he didn’t have to do a lot of work. He’s only had the one gallop in three weeks, and he’s a good-winded horse and with his previous history of knee injuries, we have to take him fairly steadily anyway.
“Being clean-winded, it allows you to do that. There’s plenty of time in the pool and a bit of time at the beach, he’s been managed really well by my staff.
“I’ll just see how he is. I’d probably just give him a little break, but he’s the sort of horse we have to keep busy. so he doesn’t require a long preparation to get him fit again because that was the issue after coming back from such a long time off.
“He spent a lot of time on the water walker, and he came back to me in good shape, so it was good to reward owners that have been with me in the six years I’ve been training.
“They provided a really nice horse with me to start with, Lanciato, so it’s nice to reward them.”
Joyful Fortune was a $110,000 purchase for Orbis Bloodstock from the Fairview Park Stud draft at the 2018 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.
He is the only winner from three to race out of the smart Tsuimai mare Sneaky Tsu a winner at Moonee Valley, Flemington and Rosehill.
Sneaky Tsu has a 2yo colt by Adelaide and a colt foal by Astern.
Joyful Fortune is the 25th stakes-winner for Widden Stud’s Nicconi.
