Lindsay Park’s gun mare Fanatic is likely to back-up from her terrific Adelaide Cup success with another two mile test in the Sydney Cup this autumn at Royal Randwick.
Adelaide Cup winning mare Fanatic (pictured at Ladbrokes Park) is on track for a shot at the 2018 Sydney Cup in April. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.
Just two days after the stable celebrated a shock Group 1 $1.5 million Australian Cup (2000m) win at Flemington with 60/1 outsider Harlem, the David Hayes-led Lindsay Park team were back on Monday enjoying more Cup success.
This time it came at Morphettville with the punters’ pick, five-year-old mare Fanatic saluting as favourite in the Group 2 $400,000 Adelaide Cup (3200m), Kiwi hoop Michael Walker aboard having also won the Australian Cup on Harlem.
The in-form daughter of 2009 Melbourne Cup winner Shocking continued to live-up to her staying pedigree with a second two mile success from four runs over the distance.
Improving on a lead-up second to Aloft on Australian Guineas Day at Flemington in the Listed $120,000 Roy Higgins Quality (2600m), Fanatic posted her first victory since the Listed $150,000 Sandown Cup (3200m) last November.
The Adelaide Cup victory by Fanatic was the second for Lindsay Park in three years following the win by Purple Smile back in 2016.
Co-trainer Ben Hayes confirmed to Racing Victoria post-win on Monday that Fanatic was now likely to head to Sydney targeting the Group 1 $2 million Schweppes Sydney Cup (3200m) at Randwick Racecourse on April 14 during ‘The Championships’.
“Once this horse gets out over 2800-plus, she’s elite-level,” Hayes said.
“I thought she was really strong at the end of that race. Weiry’s horse [runner-up Ormito] challenged her and she fought him off.
“I’d say she’ll definitely be heading to Sydney.”
Gallic (2007) was the last horse to do the Adelaide Cup – Sydney Cup double without a run in between.
Hall of Famer David Hayes meanwhile will be chasing his first Sydney Cup success since his win with Azzaam back in 1993.
All-in Sydney Cup odds at Ladbrokes.com.au currently list Fanatic as a $15 chance.
Should Fanatic line-up in the Sydney Cup field she will also be racing for a $100,000 bonus as the reigning Adelaide Cup winner.
Markets are led by the 2016 Melbourne Cup winner Almandin who ran a brave fourth in the Australian Cup on Super Saturday and the fellow Liam Howley-trained Mt. Macedon stayer Aloft at $8.
Aloft was the horse that beat home Fanatic in the Roy Higgins Quality results from March 3, the Galileo six-year-old proven over the two mile distance back in England.
Hayes also said the team were hoping Fanatic would continue on this coming spring looking to emulate her sire Shocking with a run in the Group 1 $6.2 million Lexus Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington on the first Tuesday of November.
“The Melbourne Cup is something that’s at the back of our minds and we’d love to get her there,” he said.
All-in Melbourne Cup 2018 odds have Fanatic at $51.
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