Fairway's Turf Online

Fortune Winner for Italian jockey Esposito

SINGAPORE: May 15, 2015

FORTUNE WINNER and jockey Mario Esposito storm to the
first win in Singapore - SNTC photo

Despite his name, FORTUNE WINNER has not been as lucky as her name may suggest.

In six previous starts, the Argentine filly has found one to beat four times.

But her luck, as well as that her rider Mario Esposito, changed at Kranjinhere tonight tonight when she scored a comfortable win in the Gingerbread Man 2011 Stakes (Initiation) over 1600m.

Parked towards the rear bunch early, the three-year-old was still well back at the home turn but unleashed a terrific burst of speed to win drawing away by one-and-a-quarter lengths.

It was the first taste of success for Italian jockey Esposito who began his Singapore stint on May 1, a month later than anticipated, and is scheduled to stay in Singapore until the end of September.

"I’m very happy as I am enjoying my first win here in Singapore," said Esposito.

Born in Milan, Esposito, 40, has been a jockey for 24 years during which he netted in excess of 1,700 wins, including more than 90 "black type" races with seven at Group 1 level, all in Italy. Of note are his two Group 1 Premio Roma wins aboard SLICIOUS (1995) and SHIBUNY’S FALCON (2001) in Rome, the Group 1 Italian Derby (2003) aboard OSORIO in Rome and the Group 1 Gran Criterium (1994) astride GOLDEN GLENSTAL in Milan.

Other than Italy, Esposito has also ridden in Switzerland, Monaco, Mauritius and Japan where he rode last year for three months, scoring 11 wins including one in a listed race.

RESULTS AT A GLANCE: Tote No / Horse / Trainer / Jockey / Position

	WAR AFFAIR 2014 STAKES
1	CLASS 4, DIV 2 - 1200M (POLYTRACK)
3	WHITE COFFEE	HW Tan	Chavez	1
	(7 br.a.g Lonhro - Busking by Encosta De Lago)
8	Swift	HW Tan	T See	2
5	Silver Star	ZL Mok	J See	3
2	Sweet Lodge	S Burridge	M Rodd	4

	STEPITUP 2013 STAKES
2	INITIATION - 1200M (POLYTRACK)
1	FIVE HUNDRED BUCKS	B Marsh	M Rodd	1
	(4 br.nz.g Gold Centre - Eutrophy by Testa Rossa)
5	Ninetysevenemperor	Khoo	K A'Isisuhairi	2
10	Proud Pinoy	S Gray	A Munro	3
7	Notnowtomorrow	S Baertschiger	Z Zuriman	4

	SUPER EASY 2012 STAKES
3	CLASS 4 - 1700M (POLYTRACK)
5	KAI POWER	B Dean	Aslam	1
	(5 b.a.g Bramshaw - Sunny Skies by With Class)
2	Brad	L Laxon	M Rodd	2
7	Bring Money Home	HK Tan	Woodworth	3
10	Twodollarmuppet	L Dragon	H Syafiq	4

	GINGERBREAD MAN 2011 STAKES
4	INITIATION - 1600M
12	FORTUNE WINNER	L Dragon	M Esposito	1
	(3 br.arg.f Include - Forty Schoolgirl by Roar)
7	Ami Eleven	B Marsh	M Rodd	2
1	Amazing	L Laxon	J Powell	3
2	Rings Of Saturn	S Gray	C Newitt	4

	AUSHORSE GOLDEN HORSESHOE
5	SINGAPORE GROUP 2 (2YO) - 1200M
1	SUPER ONE	M Freedman	C Newitt	1
	(2 b.a.c I Am Invincible - Tails Wins by Tale Of The Cat)
3	Genius	Khoo	B Vorster	2
2	Kubera Warrior	Khoo	A Munro	3
9	Celeritas	T Kieser	Soo	4

	BETTER THAN EVER 2010 STAKES
6	CLASS 4, DIV 1 - 1200M (POLYTRACK)
1	MEXICAN GAL	L Laxon	M Nunes	1
	(3 b.a.f Encosta De Lago - Mexican Rose by Volksraad)
6	The General	P Shaw	B Vorster	2
2	Kaiser	HK Tan	Soo	3
8	Sing Roulette	Khoo	A Munro	4

	SINGAPORE GUINEAS
7	SINGAPORE GROUP 1 (3YO) - 1600M
1	AFFLECK	L Laxon	M Rodd	1
	(3 b/br.nz.g Battle Paint - Greenstone by Green Perfume)
2	Jimmy Rea	M Walker	M Nunes	2
3	Spanish Bay	M Freedman	Saifudin	3
14	Believe Yourself	H Takaoka	A Munro	4

	REVOLTE 2009 STAKES
8	CLASS 2 - 1200M (POLYTRACK)
9	SUPER WINNER	T Kieser	Soo	1
	(3 b.a.g Kaphero - Millie Rose by Testa Rossa)
2	Valevole	B Dean	R Zawari	2
7	Ghost	Khoo	M Nunes	3
5	Astrostar	S Yeoh	A Munro	4

	THE HORNET 2008 STAKES
9	CLASS 4 - 1200M
11	MR FANTASTIC	P Shaw	B Vorster	1
	(3 b.saf.g Jet Master - Jalberry by Jallad)
8	Ares	C Brown	M Rodd	2
12	Queen's Seven	H Takaoka	R Shafiq	3
2	Irish Rebel	M Walker	C Newitt	4