South Australian raider Fancify(NZ) (Niagara) took her career to new heights with a first black-type success in Tuesday’s A$200,000 Gr.3 Hong Kong Jockey Club Stakes (1400m) at Flemington.
The daughter of Niagara became the second New Zealand-bred to win the Melbourne Cup Day feature in as many years, following in the footsteps of Waikato Stud homebred Skew Wiff 12 months ago.
Fancify arrived at Flemington on Tuesday as the winner of six of her 12 career starts, including a last-start success at Murray Bridge last month in which she set a new track record for 1200m.
The five-year-old was sent out as a highly respected $7 third favourite for Tuesday’s feature, and she delivered in style for Wellington-based trainer Michael Hickmott.
Fancify broke sharply from gate 11 and slid forward to take the lead inside the first 100m under jockey Joe Bowditch. That was where she stayed, kicking hard when tackled by Tiz Invincible and Konasana at the 300m mark. Fancify shook free of their challenge and clung on determinedly to her advantage, holding the chasers at bay by three-quarters of a length.
“It was a good win the other day and I said to Michael that it was my feeling that she still had plenty of improvement in her,” Bowditch said. “Michael agreed and said she had trained on really well. Even though she set a track record last time, I still thought she’d improve.
“Very good trainer, Michael. He obviously identified that she could improve. Probably needed the run the other day as well. She was very good today.
“This has obviously got to be one of my career highlights. I’ve ridden at the highest level before and won Group Ones, but it’s nice to come here and do it in front of 90,000 people, especially in Group racing and especially for Michael, who I’ve known since he was probably 12 or 13 years old. We’ve been mates all that time. I’ve ridden winners for him, his dad, his brother. So to get one for him on Cup day, it just means the world.
“There’s 90,000 people here today, but I’ve never been so lonely out in front. Especially when you straighten for home and you’re not too sure how far they are behind you or how many are coming after you. So it’s quite lonely that last 100m, but she gave me a nice ride. She got me there. She switched off nicely and gave a good kick, she’s very tough.”
Fancify has now had 13 starts for seven wins, three placings and A$403,550 in stakes. Tuesday’s big race was her fourth win from five attempts at 1400m.
“I’m not going to apologise for getting excited,” Hickmott said. “If you can’t get excited watching your horses win, you shouldn’t be doing it.
“Jeez, that’s a thrill. We’ve got some wonderful owners in the horse. Mr Andy Yao purchased the horse before she won at Flemington a few runs ago and he’s a new investor in my stable. It’s going to be hopefully a beautiful building partnership when we go forward together.
“This race has been a long-term plan. I elected not to bring her to Melbourne on Guineas Day. I really just thought stay at home, give her a good run there and then she’ll peak second-up.”
Fancify was bred by leading New Zealand racing photographer Trish Dunell, who remains a shareholder in Fancify’s sire Niagara. The Group Two-winning son of Encosta de Lago stands at Vicki Wilson’s Hau Ora Farm in Kahuranaki, south of Hastings.
Out of Laced Up, a Keeninsky half-sister to Group One winners Jimmy Choux and Miss Wilson, Fancify is a sibling to three other winners including Unlaced who was fourth in the Gr.2 Lowland Stakes (2100m).
