Written by Paul Vettise
Well-travelled sprinter Faatinah (Nicconi) has announced his return to Australia in emphatic fashion. The short course specialist blazed his way around Moonee Valley on Saturday for a dashing fresh-up victory that opened a Group 1 campaign in ideal fashion.
The six-year-old was making his first appearance on home soil since a three-start Dubai campaign in the autumn that netted a win and a runner-up finish at Meydan. “Since he’s come back, all he’s showed us is that he’s improved,” co-trainer David Hayes said.
“Since he’s come back, all he’s showed us is that he’s improved.” - co-trainer David Hayes
“Sheikh Hamdan wants to take horses there every year and why not. This horse has matured and he’s got faster with age and all his trackwork has suggested that’s he’s going better than ever. We’ll probably set him for the Moir S., now.”
Faatinah was quickly into stride to stay with the pace, the six-year-old got to the front on straightening and kicked too well for the longshot Sunday Escape (Hard Spun {USA}). Mr Sneaky (High Chaparral {IRE}) closed late for third ahead of Quilista (Scandal Keeper {USA}) with last year’s G1 Manikato S., winner Hey Doc (Duporth) a respectable fifth on his seasonal debut.
“This fellow made his own luck and he was too good,” Hayes said. “He was always going to get a bit tired at the end, he’d only had one trial.”
“This fellow made his own luck and he was too good.” co-trainer David Hayes
Successful jockey Regan Bayliss said time had been a key to getting the best out of Faatinah. “That was great and we’ve worked out that he doesn’t have a great turn of foot, but he’s got a sustained sprint.”
Faatinah
Pedigree Notes
Faatinah’s dam Alqwah (IRE) (Danehill {USA) was twice successful in England and has produced four winners at stud, including the Group-placed Jalsah (Elusive Quality {USA}).
Alqwah’s mother is a half-sister to the G2 Prix Maurice De Gheest winner and Group 1 performer College Chapel (GB) (Sharpo {GB}), who was a Group 2 producer in Europe and sired the New Zealand stakes winner Lookatmelads.
Faatinah’s pedigree also features the triple Group 1 winner King’s Chapel (NZ) (King Of Kings {IRE}), who was New Zealand’s Horse of the Year in 2004.
