The Graeme Sanders-trained filly Fanatic has given Melbourne Cup winner Shocking his first Group One winner with her protest success in the New Zealand Oaks at Trentham.
The Te Awamutu trainer certainly didn’t share doubts about his charge, who started at tote odds of better than 60-1.
“She deserved it and if she hadn’t got the decision I would have been pretty upset,” said Sanders, who prepares Fanatic with his daughter Debbie Sweeney.
“I hadn’t won an Oaks before and that was the only one left – I’ve won all the big races now.”Fanatic is the first G1 winner for Rich Hill Stud stallion Shocking.
Raced by her breeder Sean Kiernan, she was born and raised at Curraghmore, the Waikato nursery of his brother-in-law Gordon Cunningham.Her dam is Kiernan’s only broodmare Komplete Klass (Groom Dancer), who is a winning half-sister to Komplete Kaos (Desert Sun), the dam of the G1 TJ Smith Classic winner Rockdale (Danroad), and Singapore G3 winner Absolutely (Coats Choice).
They are from the Great Charmer mare Kappadios, a member of the family of international G1 winner and sire Kalanisi (Doyoun).“Sean’s the president of the Hawera Racing Club,” Sanders said. “He’s a long-standing client and my biggest supporter.”
Fanatic is now the winner of two of her 12 starts and NZ$185,475.Sofia Rosa’s connections were naturally disappointed with the outcome of the Oaks but her second placing did confirm the daughter of Makfi as the winner of the coveted NZB Filly of the Year title.
Shocking, a son of the late Street Cry, served 318 mares in his first three seasons at stud and has sired 17 individual winners to date with his oldest progeny now three including Fanatic, G2 winner Megawatt and three other stakes placegetters.
