It was a promising nick on the pedigree page that saw Fasika (So You Think {NZ}) first catch the eye of Tricolours Racing's James Moss and he is hopeful that instinct can result in a significant success for the burgeoning syndication business in Saturday's $7.5 million Golden Eagle at Rosehill.
Fasika, one of four yearlings purchased by Tricolours in its first year of operation in 2017, may be the least experienced horse in the inaugural running of the Golden Eagle, but shapes as one of the leading chances in what has evolved into a brilliant race.
Trained by Joseph Pride, she has won three of her five starts, including the Listed South Pacific Classic at Randwick last April, while she has been runner-up in her other two starts.
The connection for Moss began when he picked up the sales catalogue for the 2017 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, looking for yearlings to syndicate as part of his then fledgling business.
"It was definitely her pedigree. Before I'd even seen the horse, I was already in love with her pedigree because she was by So You Think out of a Redoute's Choice mare," Moss told TDN AusNZ.
"At that time, Inference had just won the Guineas and he was bred on the same cross. It's a cross that even though at that stage, So You Think's oldest horses were only three, it had produced quite a few winners. She was the only horse in the catalogue with that cross."
So You Think (NZ), sire of Fasika
In time, it has proven the most successful nick for the Coolmore stallion, with 17 of his winners being from Redoute's Choice mares including Group 1 winners D'Argento and Inference.
"The mare Jarada had already produced a stakes winner by Excellent Art (GB), so it was an upgrade going to So You Think. Then as soon as I saw her, I fell in love with her and got Joe (Pride) to have a look and he fell in love with her too," Moss said.
"Then as soon as I saw her, I fell in love with her and got Joe (Pride) to have a look and he fell in love with her too." - James Moss
Tricolours paid $120,000 for the filly, who Pride and Moss always knew would take some time to grow into her frame.
Fasika as a yearling
"She was such a big strong horse and she was quite robust, but it took her a while to grow into her body. She had some issues early on with her knees, so we had to give her some time. We were always open and honest with the ownership group, telling them we liked the horse but she needed to be given time," he said.
"She was never going to be a 2-year-old and they were happy to be patient and trust the process."
Owners Eagle eyed
When the Golden Eagle was announced by Racing NSW in December last year, Fasika hadn't even made it to the trials, but that didn’t stop a couple of her owners firing some cheeky texts to Moss suggesting it would be an ideal race for her to target.
"I had about 10 owners text me to ask is that a race for Fasika. At that time, she hadn't even had a barrier trial, so they were a bit more enthusiastic than I was," he said.
"At that time, she hadn't even had a barrier trial, so they were a bit more enthusiastic than I was." - James Moss
Moss' enthusiasm quickly grew when Fasika trialled brilliantly for Corey Brown at Hawkesbury in February. She debuted in a midweek maiden at Warwick Farm two weeks' later.
"It was a pretty tough 3-year-old maiden that day and she won pretty arrogantly and to then come and back it up in a BM70, which is a step that is hard to make at that time of year, was pretty encouraging," he said.
The $7.5 million Golden Eagle was then firmly etched as her spring target when she showed both her talent and character to sit outside the pace and win the Listed South Pacific Classic.
Pride plotted a three-start spring campaign, kicking off in the G2 Sheraco S. where she was narrowly beaten by Mizzy (Zoustar) and then a four-week break into the Silver Eagle, where she was again just beaten, this time by The Inevitable (Dundeel {NZ}).
She peaks heading into Saturday's race, albeit against a field which contains four Group 1 winners.
"We are very conscious about what we are up against. It’s an outstanding field, there's some brilliant horses but I guess the one thing for her is that this is her Grand Final," Moss said.
"She's so strong and so tough and she has never run a bad race in her life, and even though this is just her sixth start I'm confident she will run really well."
Strong start for Tricolours
It’s a confidence well founded after a spectacular start for Tricolours. Of those four yearlings it bought in that first year, as well as Fasika, Miss Moana (NZ) (Uncle Mo {USA}) has won three of her 13 starts and been stakes-placed and Royal Witness (Star Witness) has won five of 15.
In August that year, Tricolours would buy the former Godolphin mare Pecans (Skilled) for $50,000 and she would go on to win five more races, including three at stakes level and over $350,000 in prizemoney for connections before she was sold for $405,000 earlier this year.
Pecans was purchased for $50,000, won $350,000 in prizemoney before being sold for $405,000 this year
Those successes have been significant but would be dwarfed by a win from Fasika on Saturday.
"It’s huge to have her in the race. It’s a credit to our process and the way we do things. We don't buy a lot of horses. We only buy four to six a year and we focus on quality. It’s definitely a quality not quantity focus for us," Moss said.
"We only buy four to six a year and we focus on quality." - James Moss
"I feel like we have the right process, from the way our horses are broken in to where they spell. I think the results are proving themselves."
Welfare commitment a matter of trust
Also significant for Moss and Tricolors, especially in the current environment, is the lifetime commitment they have to their horses. Moss announced to his owners 10 days ago that every Tricolours horse purchased in the future would attract an additional $5000 fee, which will be put into a trust which will fund re-homing and re-training all Tricolours horses after their racing careers.
"It’s nice to have horses like Fasika that are competitive at stakes grade but just as important are the horses that don’t make the racetrack. We haven't reached that point yet at Tricolours, but we will in time and we've got a plan for that," he said.
"From now on, there will be a $5000 levy on every horse purchased that will go into a fund. Even those who own Fasika are happy to put in, knowing that they will get a good home after racing. You have to be a horse lover and you have to be serious about horse welfare and if you aren't then you are not welcome as a Tricolours owner."
"You have to be a horse lover and you have to be serious about horse welfare." - James Moss
Moss said he hopes the rest of the industry follows suit with similar initiatives to protect the welfare of retired racehorses.
"I've been really encouraged by the way the industry has come together over the past few weeks. I'm sure that everyone is working to the same goal here," he said.
"How long that takes and how everyone approaches that, I can't control. I can only concentrate on my own responsibility. I feel myself and my owners, we are responsible for our horses and they have to be looked after. I'll do everything to make sure that happens and I hope that the industry follows that path."
