Fringes to the fore in Fillies’ Classic

A move across the Tasman has reaped rewards for New Zealand filly Fringes (NZ) (Niagara), who impressively won the A$170,000 Gr.3 Ken and Helen Smith SA Fillies’ Classic (2546m) at Morphettville on Saturday.

Bred and raced by renowned New Zealand racing photographer Trish Dunell, 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 12^th in the Listed Clare Lindop Stakes (1600m).

Hickmott dropped Fringes back in class for a confidence-boosting win over 2200m at Balaklava on April 15, then raised the bar again for a shot at Saturday’s Group Three.

Fringes was ridden by Ben Melham and took up a handy position in third behind the front-running Cushioned (Ghaiyyath).

Just when Fringes was beginning to build her momentum coming into the home straight, she was stopped in her tracks and Melham had to check her off heels.

Melham found clear air and asked Fringes to accelerate again, and she delivered. She burst through in between Certainly Quiet (Dundeel) and Panda’s Spectrum (Fiorente) for a narrow but authoritative win.

“It wasn’t pretty, but we got the job done,” Melham said. “It was a really good, tough effort by the filly.

“She’s obviously only lightly raced and still feels quite raw to ride, but a good staying talent.

“We just had to bide our time there, and then she had to let rip off a standstill, so it adds merit to her win. Good, tough performance by a filly that’s still on the way up.”

Fringes’ performance made a big impression on the Hickmott stable.

“It's always hard to get really confident and bullish about horses that are on the rise like her and are still very much untested,” said Hickmott’s nephew and bloodstock manager, Josh Hickmott. “That's a terrific performance, that was super tenacious today. Like I said previously, she was always going to be the horse that stays. She's shown that right the way through.

“I just can’t emphasise enough how much we appreciate the support of her owner Trish Dunell and her family. Trish hasn't had the best of luck these last few years, I'm sure she's cheering this at home in New Zealand and it’s going to put a big smile on her face.

“She’s supported the sire for a very long time, Niagara. We've been the benefactors of a stallion that's so underrated, and I've really sung his praises for a long time. He just produces tough horses, and for the Dunells and their family, it's a huge, huge thrill. It's hard to put into words how proud I am of this girl.

“And Michael's just done so well, training this horse to a tee. Obviously, a bit of an unconventional path, heading through Balaklava. But Michael knew that she'd stay, and this race was always circled on the calendar, forgoing the Oaks and the temptation of a Group One, and it paid dividends today.

“I won’t put words in his mouth, but I'll say it, I think this is his best training performance. She hasn't been the soundest of horses right the way through. We've got to thank Dr. Brodie Webster, who's helped us manage and maintain her. Michael just knew what he had right the way through.”

Now the winner of three of her seven starts and A$122,665 in prize-money, Fringes is by Niagara, who stands for a $2,500 service fee at Hau Ora Farm in Hawke’s Bay and is now 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.