Fannin factor to the fore
THE Fannin factor is dominating the winter jumps racing scene.
Shaun Fannin, 20, has burst on to the scene and can’t put a foot wrong.
His laidback personality is reflected in his never-panic attitude in the saddle.
He has an uncanny knack of having his horses nicely relaxed in their races before presenting them at the right time to stake their claim.
More often than not, as winter unfolds, their claims are winning ones.
Riding on the back of the powerful Kevin Myers stable, Fannin continues to rack up winner after winner.
His win on the Myers-trained Kick Back in the Manawatu Steeplechase yesterday was special.
The winner’s stablemate, Snod-roptwinkletoes was the warm favourite and his jockey Mathew Gillies attempted to take the race by the scruff of the neck.
In misty rain on a puggy Awapuni surface, Gillies let the grey gelding lob to the lead. They were loving their work, Gillies sitting cool and Snodroptwinkletoes cruising along ears pricked as if it was a Sunday afternoon stroll.
Meantime, Isaac Lupton riding the Raymond Connors-trained Wise Men Say, was stalking the favourite creeping closer.
He made his intentions known with a move at the 1400m mark in the 4400m journey.
Fannin was quietly taking proceedings in from further back in the field.
At the third last of 20 fences, Wise Men Say dipped on landing .
In a flash, the Fannin factor kicked in on Kick Back. He made his move. The race was then a three-way go between three tough horses – a gutsy mare and two rugged geldings – and three of the best horsemen in the business.
The 7-year-old Bahhare mare owned by former trainer Sam Trotter and his wife Phillippa, farmers from Hunterville, proved superior.
Fannin had fancied his chances aboard Kick Back, the winner of eight previous races, three as a steeplechaser.
‘‘I won a couple of steeplechases on her at Te Aroha last year,’’ he said.
‘‘She was putting in some short strides at the end.
‘‘She was second-up and so she is definitely going to improve significantly with the run.’’
Kick Back led over the last two fences.
She had enough in reserve to hold out Wise Men Say from Snodroptwinkletoes.