Fanatic on trial for Melbourne trip

The 2040 metres of the Livamol Classic will suit Fanatic and Celebrity Miss, their trainers say.

Saturday’s Group I $250,000 weight-for-age event is the final leg in Hawke’s Bay Racing’s Triple Crown. Kawi, who won the first two legs, Makfi Challenge Stakes (1400m, August 29) and Windsor Park Plate (1600m, September 17), is not starting.

Fanatic, trained at Te Awamutu by Graeme Sanders and Debbie Sweeney, and Celebrity Miss, raced from Lee Somervell’s Cambridge stable, have improved since their unplaced runs in the Windsor Park Plate. The Livamol has always been their Hastings target.

Sanders and Sweeney have given Fanatic two starts this season, both at Hastings.

‘‘They were nice runs without threatening, but this week, she’ll be threatening,’’ Sanders said.

Fanatic doesn’t like wet ground and rain is forecast in Hawke’s Bay this week.

Sanders wants to see a strong performance by Fanatic to confirm plans to take her to Melbourne. She is being considered for the Caulfield Cup (October 15) and Geelong Cup (October 19), but will only start in one.

‘‘She’ll need to show something on Saturday, providing the track’s okay,’’ Sanders said.

Lee Somervell said a bad start spoiled Celebrity Miss’ Windsor Park Plate chances.

‘‘She didn’t jump well from an awkward barrier . . . but she did run home well. The aim has always been the Livamol.’’

Somervell’s 2000 Guineas prospect, Impulsive Habit, could race at Te Rapa on Friday. The Echoes Of Heaven gelding is a placed maiden and will probably need a win to make the Guineas field.

The Group I Guineas is on the first day of the New Zealand Cup meeting at Riccarton on November 5.

Somervell has had successful trips to Cup Week in recent years when winning the Group II Coupland’s Bakeries Mile twice with Addictive Habit.

Silhouette Noire (seven wins) resumes training with Somervell this week.

Meanwhile, a decision on Ginner Hart’s future will be made after he contests an open sprint at Otaki on October 15.

He is racing well below his best and Wanganui trainer Alexander Fieldes is not going to persevere too much longer.

‘‘He’s not firing the way he should be. His blood is 100 per cent . . . we can’t find anything wrong with him,’’ Fieldes said.