Fawkner Park makes one act affair of the Q22 to continue trainer Annabel Neasham’s dominance in the race

Fawkner Park continued his rapid rise up the staying ranks with an effortless victory in the Q22 at Eagle Farm on Saturday.

Fawkner Park racing away with the Q22 with Tyler Schiller in the saddle Picture: Grant Peters

If punters thought they wouldn’t see a performance as dominant as Broadsiding’s JJ Atkins win again on Saturday, they were proved wrong in the space of a few races as Fawkner Park announced himself as a rising star of Australian racing.

The Annabel Neasham-trained stayer graduated from a country cups champ, to a million dollar man after a breathtaking win in the Group 2 Q22 (2200m) in what could be a spring pointer.

The European import is looking to follow in the footsteps of his former stablemate Zaaki, as Neasham dares to dream, with Fawkner Park now a $15 favourite for the Group 1 Caulfield Cup.

It marked Neasham’s third Q22 win in four years, with last year’s Melbourne Cup and Caulfield Cup winner Without A Fight also winning the event last year for Anthony and Sam Freedman.

Fawkner Park smashes them in the Q22! 🔥

He books a ticket into the Caulfield Cup! 🎟️@[e-mail]/IyhIPBL1Vk

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) June 15, 2024

The five-year-old was racing in an Albury Cup as little as three months ago, but will now be shooting for the stars after Tyler Schiller rode him like the best stayer in the land.

“I love them all, but I particularly love this horse now,” Neasham declared.

“He’s got a big heart, he’s got a good stride, he goes on soft, goes on firm and I think we should have a big spring to look forward to.

“We’ve seen a lot of horses campaign well up here and then go on to have big springs. Hopefully he can go up another notch against some of those better horses now.

“You’d imagine the Caulfield Cup might be a really nice race for him and then we’ll see.”

It comes as champion trainer Chris Waller unearthed a Group 1 Tattersall’s Tiara contender in the form of C’est Magique in the Group 2 Dane Ripper (1300m).

The mare had mixed her form for former trainer Grahame Begg, however, exploded like a serious Group 1 contender in her first start for Waller, who had no hesitation in putting the last major race of the season on the agenda.

Coolmore purchased C’est Magique, a daughter of Zoustar, from owner-breeder Neville Begg for $1.7 million at the Inglis Chairman’s sale last month.

FOUR FOR J-MAC!

C'est Magique wins first-up for Chris Waller!@[e-mail]/G6FLsghkus

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) June 15, 2024

After being well supported by punters, superstar James McDonald rocketed clear halfway up the straight to land significant bets.

“Today was only the entree,” Waller declared.

“Coolmore purchased the horse and entrusted our team to train her.

“We’re just taking over. I spoke Grahame (Begg) before the race. She’s a lovely mare and we weren’t sure whether she’d cope with this track – it is quite firm today.”

Originally published as Fawkner Park makes one act affair of the Q22 to continue trainer Annabel Neasham’s dominance in the race