With rapidly deteriorating conditions at Randwick, the Group III Fujitsu Carbine Club Stakes (1600m) turned into a slog fest, which suited the Victorian visiter The Fortune Teller just fine.
Ridden by Tom Marquand for Ciaron Maher and David Eustace, the 3yo son of Caravaggio (USA) rallied after being headed by the Maurice (JPN) colt Matcha Latte to eke out a maiden stakes success by a head.
The Tivaci filly Wolverine was two and three-quarter lengths back in third as the eight-horse field spread out of 42 lengths.
The winner of a Swan Hill maiden on debut last August, The Fortune Teller owns placings in the Group II Sandown Guineas, Group II Autumn Stakes, and Group III Carbine Club Stakes at Flemington.
“I think the horse needed a very strong rider. It was a bit of a colt run last start (in the Australian Guineas), which was uncustomary; he’s been very genuine,” Maher said.
“We made the decision to bring him up hoping the favourite (Osipenko) was going to be scratched, which then made it a very attractive race.
“The team have done a great job. He’s always been a very consistent, high-class colt, with a great group of owners who have been long-time supporters and good friends and Tommy Marquand was very strong. Perfect.
“He’s going the right way, he may end up in Brisbane.”
It was a first win back from injury for Tom Marquand.
“It took the weather to be like it is at home (UK) for me to get a winner on the board,” Marquand joked.
“Being back in the saddle last week, I was probably just getting a bit impatient. Ciaron (Maher) and David (Eustave) have been great supporters, and nice to reward them with probably a bit of a surprise winner, I guess.”
Bred by Burnewang North Pastoral and Peter Raftopoulous, The Fortune Teller was a $90,000 weanling purchase for Ciaron Maher Racing at the COVID-hit 2020 Great Southern Sale, held online.
From the first crop of Scat Daddy’s dual Group 1 winner Caravaggio (USA), The Fortune Teller is the best of two winners from as many to race from the winning Commands mare National Velvet.
Out of a half-sister to Group 1 ATC Spring Champion Stakes winner Complacent and Listed Dulcify Stakes winner Ataraxia, National Velvet has a Harry Angel (IRE) 2yo filly, which was pinhooked by Hopetoun Farm from Burnewang North Pastoral at the 2021 Inglis Great Southern Weanling Sale. Reoffered at the 2022 Inglis June (Early) Online Sale, she sold for $22,500.
National Velvet has a Maurice (JPN) weanling filly and missed last spring.
The Fortune Teller is the first stakes-winner in Australia for Caravaggio (USA), which shuttled to Coolmore Stud for one season.
