Kiwi owner-breeder Sean Kiernan is hoping for better luck this Spring Carnival with Fanatic as she prepares for a start in the Group 1 $3m BMW Caulfield Cup (2400m) at Caulfield on October 21.
Australian Oaks winner Bonneval, above, shares favouritism for the 2017 Caulfield Cup. Photo by Steve Hart.
The Group 1 winning mare was dramatically scratched on the eve of last year’s Caulfield Cup after reacting badly to a suspected spider bite when under the care of Te Awamutu co-trainers Graeme Sanders and his daughter Debbie Sweeney.
“She went within a spider bite (of running in the Caulfield Cup),” Kiernan told New Zealand Racing Desk.
Kiernan was keen to give Fanatic every chance of making this year’s Caulfield Cup again and sent the mare to Lindsay Park to be prepared for the Spring Carnival by David and Ben Hayes and Tom Dabernig.
The reports out of Lindsay Park are good and Kiernan is hoping that the mare will be able to find some good tracks in Victoria during the Spring.
“She’s had a couple of gallops and David is very happy with her,” 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.”
“She needs good tracks and Graeme said there wasn’t much point getting her ready here with mud up to her stomach.”
“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 showed her ability as a stayer with her win in the 2015 Group 1 NZ$300,000 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) at Trentham.
The rising five year old mare has only visited the winner’s stall on more occasions since New Zealand Oaks victory with a win over 2100m at Te Rapa in an Open Handicap in December last year.
Fanatic is listed as a $51 chance for the Caulfield Cup in the Ladbrokes.com.au market order which has the Kiwi pair of Bonneval and Gingernuts sharing top billing with Hartnell, Humidor and Idaho at $17.
Early market order for the 2017 Caulfield Cup at Ladbrokes.com.au: $17 Gingernuts, Bonneval, Hartnell, Humidor, Idaho, $21 Egg Tart, Articus, Fame Game, Frontiersman, Our Century, Ruthven, $26 Barsanti, Bondi Beach, Big Duke, Crocodile Rock, Exospheric, Francis Of Assisi, Scottish, Varizabad, Yankee Rose, Jon Snow, $34 Almandin, Grey Lion, Kinema, Oceanographer, Perfect Reflection, Life Less Ordinary, Manatee, Montoya’s Secret, Prized Icon, Red Cardinal, Sarrasin, Single Gaze, Sir Isaac Newton, Tally, Tosen Stardom, $41 or better the rest.
