* NZ bred 3yo filly FRINGES
aiming at $700,000 Group 1 Queensland Oaks
* Late nomination fee paid by connections and filly booked to
fly to Qld!
3yo filly FRINGES has jumped out of the ground to
claim back-to-back wins and all the headlines when victorious in the Gr3
South Australian Classic last time out at Morphettville over the testing 2546m.
Bred in NZ and owned by well-known NZ Racing identity Trish
Dunell, famous for her outstanding racing photography, FRINGES is trained by
Michael Hickmott at Wellington (Murray Bridge), South Australia.
FRINGES needed every bit of the trip when zip-locked
in a pocket the length of the straight and only saw daylight late. The filly’s
rugged determination from the 200-metre mark when the favourite Cushioned (by Ghaiyyaith)
bore out, effectively closing the gap late on FRINGES.
Instead of being halted, FRINGES shouldered her way
alongside the Godolphin filly and forged a way through. This put FRINGES
off stride for a second or two but there was still a race to be won, and she
had two to pass. Showing true grit, she knuckled down to catch the leader,
Certainly Quiet (by Dundeel), and put her head in front in the shadow of the
post.
FRINGES showed character and toughness to have bullocked
her way through that needle eye opening and then reel-in the leader who was off
and gone for the prize. Over the final 100m FRINGES let down strongly
and under hands and heels jockey Ben Melham allowed the filly to go through her
gears to pick up and go past the leader to claim victory. There were no hard
luck runs or eye-catching efforts by any other runner.
FRINGES had it all to do and did it!
Rider Ben Melham said “It wasn’t pretty, but we
got the job done. It was a really good, tough effort by the filly.”
Team Dynamic quickly identified the merits of that
effort and the times and ratings stamped the filly as a potential high-class
staying prospect of the future.
Already with a Gr3 Win on her pedigree page there is only
upside.
Dynamic Syndications swooped and a deal was agreed and
has been executed with Trish Dunell remaining in the co-ownership.
The filly will continue racing under the expert care of excellent mentor
Michael Hickmott and will be wearing our famed Dynamic Syndications silks.
Hoofnote: MICHAEL HICKMOTT and ADAM WATT at
Dynamic Syndications are close friends so we are delighted to have purchased FRINGES
to race from Michael’s stable.
Queensland Oaks bound FRINGES has put herself in the
front line of chances in the upcoming Queensland Oaks (Gr 1, 2200m) on 6
June, to finish off the campaign before a break then a look at staying assignments in Victoria next Spring.
FRINGES has come a long way in a short time, having
won on debut at Otaki on Boxing Day 2025.
After three NZ starts, FRINGES
was sent to Michael Hickmott in March.
FRINGES has started in four (4) races in Australia.
Her first two Australian races were foundation building
efforts over the unsuitable 1400m then 1600m before finding a trip to her
liking at her third run over 2200m where she romped in without working
up a sweat at Balaklava. Then she proved her class and her passion for staying with
an extraordinary win over 2546m at Gr3 level.
Above: New Zealand bred
filly Fringes (Ben Melham) wins Gr.3 SA Fillies’ Classic at Morphettville.
2200m win at Balakclava
An excited Trish Dunell was interviewed by New Zealand RaceForm and said: “I’ve had
a long-standing relationship with Michael (Hickmott), so we decided to send her
over.
“The Balaklava race was a means to an end in qualifying her
for Morphettville, and while it was a big jump in class, she didn’t know the
difference, and Michael was confident she was in the right order to be
competitive.
“I spent the first half of Saturday (working) down at
Rotorua (races), thinking she could actually do it, and then the second half of
the day saying to myself, ‘Don’t be so stupid, you’re dreaming!’
“Once the last race had been run, all the on-course TVs had
been turned off, so I had to watch the race on my phone by myself out in the
birdcage, probably looking like some crazy woman yelling at her phone.
“I was feeling good as I packed up to head home and I
stopped by my favourite Rotorua café and treated myself to some delicious lemon
tarts, so it was an enjoyable drive home.”
FRINGES is out of the Golan mare Miss Jaydeejay, who she bought at the
2014 Karaka Mixed Bloodstock Sale for $24,000.
It should be no surprise that FRINGES would
appreciate the 2500 metres.
Her Dam, Miss Jaydeejay, by Golan (a son of Spectrum) is a full
sister to Victoria Derby (Gr 1, 2500m) winner Kibbutz.
Their
half-sister, Miss Andrea (by King’s Chapel), produced Riverton Cup (Listed,
2147m) winner Our Boy Ritchie (by He’s Remarkable).
Miss Jaydeejay’s grandam is Forn Vell (by Air Trooper) whose
Scandinavian race record included 15 wins up to 2800 metres.
Forn Vell was
successful in three Listed races.
Dunell found Miss Jaydeejay at the NZB Karaka
Mixed Sale in 2014. The mare was carrying her first foal.
Trish Dunell is well-known as the busiest race and sales
photographer in New Zealand.
She has been consistent in her praise and support for Niagara
(Encosta De Lago).
Miss Jaydeejay, herself a winner over 2200 metres,
visited him six times for four foals. FRINGES is her second last foal.
Her last is an unnamed 2YO colt by Ocean Park (Thorn Park).
FRINGES became the eighth individual stakes winner
for Niagara, whose winning strike-rate is a very respectable 62 per cent,
comprising 134 winners from 216 to race. A Group Two-winning son of Encosta de
Lago, Niagara took up stud duties in 2016.
His progeny is headed by Gr.2 Waikato Guineas winner Xbox
and another Group Three winner Fancify who won the Gr.3 Hong Kong Jockey Club
Stakes at Flemington and is also trained by Michael Hickmott.
FRINGES 3YO Bay Filly
Life Number: NZ00447342 Date
of Birth: 06/10/2022
Microchip Number: 985125000127351 DNA Typed: Y
by Niagara (AUS) 2008 from
Miss Jaydeejay (NZ) 2008
bred by Mrs P A Dunell
Career:
7=3-0-0 Prizemoney: $122,665.
Dist-Win: 1400/2546 1st Up: 1:1-0-0 2nd Up: 1:0-0-0
Good: 4:1-0-0 Soft: 3:2-0-0 Heavy: 0:0-0-0
1st of 12 MORP 9May26 2546m Soft6 S.A. CLASSIC
Gr3 $170,405 ($93,405)
Ben Melham 56.0kg Bar3 Rtg 63 2nd Certainly Quiet 56kg, 3rd Panda's Spectrum 56kg
Time
2:47.71 (600m 35.87) Mgn 0.18L x 1.05L, In Running 3rd@800m, 5th@400m, $10/$9.50/$10