Fasika Returns With Early Group 1 Target

Group 1-placed 6YO mare Fasika (So You Think-Jarada, by Redoute's Choice) resumes this Saturday in the Gr2 Missile Stakes and trainer Joe Pride has the Gr1 Winx Stakes two weeks later as a target, reports racingnsw.com.au. "When I look at most of my good horses they haven't necessarily run their best races by that stage so I'd love to think there's still some upside to her and she can go even better this time around," Pride said. "It's about getting to the Winx. This one would be lovely to pick up along the way. I want to target a couple of these early sprints with her and get some of the good horses on the hop. The Missile has been a bit soft over the last few years but the Winx won't be, it'll be a good race. But if she can get a bit of wet weather that week she's a good horse at 1400m and at Randwick." Fasika, who has won five of her fourteen starts, last raced in May 2021 when fourth in the Gr2 Victory Stakes in Queensland, and has had two trials to prepare for Saturday. "She's a super horse fresh. She's ready to go, she only came off a short let up after her preparation in the autumn and she gets there probably fitter than most of her rivals. I don't mind my speed horses drawing out but in this instance she does look like the only genuine speed in the race so I was happy for her to draw one." A $120,000 graduate from the Middlebrook Valley Lodge draft at Inglis Easter Yearling Sales, Fasika has earnings over $740,000 and is a half-sister to Listed winner Absolut Excelencia (Excellent Art). Her Group 1 placing came when third in the 2020 Gr1 All Aged Stakes.

Fasika will be hard to beat fresh (pic: Steve Hart)