Fringes hoping to make Queensland statement
In a Gr.1 Queensland Oaks (2200m) field with a long tail on paper, Michael Hickmott sees no reason Gr.3 SA Fillies’ Classic (2500m) winner Fringes (NZ) (Niagara) can’t run a big race at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
The Kiwi import took a couple of runs to find her feet in Australia but has won her past two starts up in trip with the addition of blinkers, the most recent at Group Three level despite being held up for much of the straight.
“I think she’s a filly that has continued to improve,” Hickmott said.
“We were reluctant to go at her too quickly when she first came to South Australia and realistically her first two runs were building races.
“We put the blinkers on her in her next two starts and stepped her up in trip, and she couldn’t have done anymore in either of those races.
“She’s a three-year-old once. She’s happy, she’s healthy and there’s no reason not to press ahead.”
Fringes will sport Dynamic Syndications’ red and white colours for the first time on Saturday, with the prominent ownership group purchasing a 50 percent stake in the daughter of Niagara from owner-breeder Trish Dunell after her Group Three success.
Hickmott feels his filly would be shorter than her current $41 quote if the Eagle Farm surface was softer, but in a field with no shortage of triple-figure chances, he is still slightly bullish on Fringes’ chances.
Sydney hoop Tim Clark will take the reins.
“I think the market’s just taken a bit of a set against her getting back onto a dry track… there’s a long tail, so she’s probably in the middle of the market a bit,” he said.
“I’ve never had Tim on one of my horses, but he has a great relationship with Dynamic Syndications, who subsequent to her win the other day, purchased half of her.
“Michael Hickmott doesn’t need to be telling Tim Clark how to ride one.”
Bred and raced by renowned New Zealand racing photographer Trish Dunell, who will be on-track on Saturday, Fringes began her career in the Levin stable of Ilone Kelly and won on debut at Otaki on Boxing Day. She was unplaced in her two subsequent New Zealand starts, including a ninth in the Gr.2 Lowland Stakes (2100m).
Dunell moved Fringes into the South Australian stable of Michael Hickmott at the beginning of March, and her first two Australian starts produced a ninth over 1400m and a 12th in the Listed Clare Lindop Stakes (1600m) before winning at Balaklava prior to her SA Classic success.
Fringes is by Niagara, who stands for a $2,500 service fee at Hau Ora Farm in Hawke’s Bay and is the sire of nine Group or Listed winners.
The dam of Fringes is the Golan mare Miss Jaydeejay (NZ), who is a full-sister to the Gr.1 Victoria Derby (2500m) winner Kibbutz (NZ).
Dunell paid $24,000 to buy Miss Jaydeejay from the 2014 NZB Winter Mixed Bloodstock Sale at Karaka, where she was offered by the Westend Partnership.
