Fancify out to conquer Victorian rivals again in Bellmaine Stakes at Sandown

South Australian sprinter Fancify has a near perfect record in Melbourne but trainer Michael Hickmott concedes there is one concern heading into the Group 3 Geoffrey Bellmaine Stakes.

When Fancify lines up in Melbourne, it’s generally bad news for her rivals.

The SA mare has won three of four starts in Victoria, at Caulfield and Flemington, and on Saturday she’s out to add Sandown to her list of triumphs in the Group 3 Geoffrey Bellmaine Stakes (1200m).

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A gutsy frontrunning win in the Hong Kong Jockey Club Stakes on Melbourne Cup Day saw Fancify nail a fourth win from six starts last campaign, and a well-deserved spell followed.

With an imposing first-up record with three wins from four starts, the daughter of Niagara can give her rivals windburn on Saturday, but trainer Michael Hickmott believes she’ll be better placed heading into a second-up run in the Tressady or Mannerism Stakes (1400m).

“She’s trained on well, we had her in at Caulfield in December but we got that heavy track there and scratched her,” Hickmott, who trains at Murray Bridge, said.

“She’s going good, she’s certainly not wound up completely for this run, whatever she does this Saturday she’ll improve significantly on going into the mare’s 1400m in two weeks.”

Never looked back 🚀

FANCIFY leads from the front down the Flemington straight to win The Hong Kong Jockey Club Stakes over 1400m.

🎥 @wwos | #MelbourneCup | #MelbCupCarnivalpic.twitter.com/UsAxo5dsbg

— Victoria Racing Club (@FlemingtonVRC) November 5, 2024

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Fancify trialled on Tuesday, which Hickmott concedes isn’t ideal timing considering the mare had to hit the road for Victoria on Thursday.

“We’re in a tricky spot with the trial being Tuesday this week rather than being scheduled on a Friday or a Monday, it’s very difficult to trial a horse on Tuesday then travel to Melbourne on Thursday to race on Saturday,” he said.

“She’s missed that one real decent hitout leading into this, she’s probably going to naturally land in front, but I wouldn’t be surprised at all if a couple of them have a fitness edge over her late.”

Fancify has had 13 starts for Hickmott, featuring an impressive seven wins and three second placings.

The five-year-old has never finished further back than sixth.

“She’s really going through her grades well, she’s a tough horse who races up on the pace and goes in for a battle,” he said.

“She’s a horse I’ve got the most immense amount of respect for regarding her will to win and tenacity – you’d love to have a stable full of horses with her mental attributes.”

SA can’t help itself on Cup Day… Fancify wins the G3 @HKJC_Racing Stakes at Flemington for @mhbloodstock ⚡️ pic.twitter.com/KnGuz4vp5M

— Racing SA (@RacingSA) November 5, 2024

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Hickmott toyed with the idea of a tilt at the Group 2 Westbury Classic last Saturday at Ellerslie, New Zealand, but elected to keep Fancify in Australia.

Konasana, who finished third in the HKJC Stakes behind Fancify, won the race.

“We actually considered taking Fancify across for that race in New Zealand but it just didn’t quite work out with the schedule,” Hickmott said.

“There’s some nice races going forward for her, it will probably be her last season of racing before she ends up going to stud so we’ll make the most of it.”

Fancify, who will be ridden by Joe Bowditch, is an $8 chance with Sportsbet for the Bellmaine Stakes.

Originally published as Fancify out to conquer Victorian rivals again in Bellmaine Stakes at Sandown