Fanatic back to best at Te Rapa

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,” 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.

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-eight-year-old revelled in his work and he strolled home by two and three quarter lengths in the Lodge City Rentals Handicap under apprentice rider Anna Jones

“We were hopeful. He had been working well,” Tauranga partowner and trainer Peter Darvill said.