Imperial cheer squad for Michael Hickmott’s Fancify in Ipswich Eye Liner

Ipswich Cup day brings in all types, but a function of 170 Chinese VIPs will be on course to cheer on their new horse Fancify in the Listed Eye Liner Stakes on Saturday.

Fancify heads to the Eye Liner where he will be looking to kickstart the party for connections. Picture: Reg Ryan / Racing Photos

No horse will have a cheer squad the size of Fancify’s at Ipswich on Saturday, as South Australian trainer Michael Hickmott looks to pull off a precision strike for new owners.

The mare – owned by Chinese-based Imperial Racing, who are major sponsors of the Ipswich Turf Club – was recently purchased specifically to attack the club’s biggest day on Saturday, where a 170-strong VIP function will be there to cheer her on.

Fancify has won her past two starts in Victoria and Hickmott said he expected Queensland’s racing pattern to suit in the Listed Eye Liner Stakes (1350m) as she looked to go two-from-two for her new connections.

“She is a mare that we originally sourced out of New Zealand for a client of mine, who originally raced her with me for her first nine starts,” he said.

“They are great sellers, they mentioned if there was anyone looking to purchase the horse after she won at Caulfield, the own the mother, father, sisters and everything coming through.

Fancify absolutely dominates the field, leading all the way to take out the RDA Horsham Jan Croser Plate.

📽 @7HorseRacingpic.twitter.com/EUdg5xXtL3

— Victoria Racing Club (@FlemingtonVRC) June 8, 2024

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“Trevor Lambourn at Imperial Racing contacted me to see if they could purchase her, it was always the plan to bring her to Queensland because she is a lovely, progressive mare who would suit it up there with the racing pattern.

“It was a sliding doors moment, they purchased her on the Wednesday and she won at Flemington on the Saturday.”

Having drawn wide in barrier 12, Hickmott said it would be a speedy affair for lightweight jockey Adin Thompson from barrier 12, who will adopt a catch me if you can mentality.

“It is a lovely race for her, with Yellow Brick accepting, then scratching straight away, it has compressed the weights by probably a kilo-and-a-half, which can make a significant difference at this level,” he said.

Fancify is looking to continue her winning run in the Eye Liner Stakes on Saturday. Picture: Ross Holburt — Racing Photos via Getty Images.

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“From purely a punting aspect, ($2.30 favourite) Wategos clearly has the figures and the barrier draw and profile to be winning the race.

“Our mare is on the way up and we haven’t found her ceiling yet, I would have killed for barrier four or five.

“We will come out all guns blazing from the barriers, she crossed the other day and they will have to go quick to lead her.”

Fancify is a $6 for the Eye Liner with TAB.

Originally published as Imperial cheer squad for Michael Hickmott’s Fancify in Ipswich Eye Liner