Fanatic set for first test in Australia
Fanatic is closing in on a trial outing that will kick start her Melbourne spring campaign.
The Group One-winning New Zealand mare is progressing well at Lindsay Park, the Victorian operation of David Hayes, who trains in partnership with Tom Dabernig and Ben Hayes.
‘‘She’s had a couple of gallops and David is very happy with her,’’ Taranaki breeder-owner Sean Kiernan said.
‘‘She’ll be having a trial in the next 10 days and then we’ll see. I’m leaving it entirely up to David.’’
Fanatic has won three races, most notably her Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks victory, and she was sent to Hayes with the blessing of former trainers Graeme Sanders and his daughter Debbie Sweeney.
‘‘She needs good tracks and Graeme said there wasn’t much point getting her ready here with mud up to her stomach,’’ Kiernan said.
‘‘She’s won a Group One and Listed placed so we’ll soon find out what that equates to over in Melbourne.
‘‘With the English raiders coming out for the spring it doesn’t make it easy, but David has got enough good horses to work her with and find out where she sits.
‘‘Hopefully, her level is closer to the top than the bottom.’’ Fanatic will be entered in both the Gr.1 Caulfield Cup and the Gr.1 Melbourne Cup after coming within days of starting in the former event last year.
‘‘She went within a spider bite,’’ said Kiernan, referring to the bizarre incident that resulted in the daughter of Shocking returning home. Kiernan is also looking forward to the career of Fanatic’s younger half-sister by Pour Moi, who has yet to be named. ‘‘She’s at Curraghmore, but she’ll be going to Graeme (Sanders) fairly soon,’’ he said.