Fanatic back to best
FANATIC powered into contention for the major summer cups after turning her fortunes around with a hot performance at Te Rapa yesterday
The daughter of Shocking won her first race since she claimed the New Zealand Oaks on protest when she proved a class above her opposition in the Dunstan Feeds Championship Qualifier.
In between times, Fanatic and her connections suffered a bizarre piece of bad luck in the spring when a spider bite counted her out of the Caulfield Cup and forced her early return home.
The four-year-old was unplaced when resuming in the Cal Isuzu Stakes seven days ago.
She showed the benefit of that outing with a clinical display for trainers Graeme Sanders and Debbie Sweeney.
“We thought she may have needed another run, but she was very impressive,” Sweeney said.
Fanatic settled back of midfield on the fence before rider Mark Hills got her off the rail with 700 metres to run.
They made rapid ground to be in contention on straightening and dashed clear 200 metres from home for an emphatic win.
“As long as she pulls up well, she’ll go to the City of Auckland Cup on New Year’s Day,” Sweeney said.
Fanatic is also nominated for the Wallaceville Estate Wellington Cup and the Auckland Cup with the latter feature at Ellerslie her more likely target.
The stable and Hills had earlier celebrated a victory from their $1 million New Zealand Derby hope Wehadadeal in thebestlittlebookstoreco.nz 1400.
“It was a good effort and we thought he would go close,” Sweeney said.
“He was left a sitting duck the other day. He’s a nice, relaxed horse with a lovely attitude.”
Wehadadeal had placed at his first two appearances before his last-start fifth at Waipukurau.
“We think the further he goes the better he’ll be,” said Rick Williams, racing manager for breeder-owner Dick Karreman, of The Oaks Stud.
A son of Pluck, the three-yearold is currently a $61 chance for the New Zealand Derby on March 4. ● Matimba was allowed to make his own rules at Te Rapa and he never gave his rivals a look in as he cruised to victory in the open mile.
The freegoing eight-year-old revelled in his work and he strolled home by two and three quarter lengths in the Lodge City Rentals Handicap under appren- tice rider Anna Jones
“We were very hopeful as he had been working well,” Tauranga part-owner and trainer Peter Darvill said.
“That was a pretty impressive win. I’m really happy with him and hopefully there’s a few more wins in him yet.”
Matimba had started off his campaign encouragingly when runner-up on his home track before two unplaced performances.
“They weren’t his fault – one was on a wet track and in the other he copped one on the nose,” Darvill said.
Consensus, who raced in third or fourth spot throughout, returned a much better effort to finish runner-up following her last-start failure to beat a runner home in the Counties Cup while Silhouette Noir boxed in for third.
The red hot favourite Ronchi never gave his army of supporters any cause for hope after settling a clear last and beating only two home in the straight.